Lipo-
suction
Sculpt and contour stubborn fat deposits that resist diet and exercise — abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, back, or chin — with permanent fat cell removal and a smoother, more defined body contour.
What Is Liposuction?
✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD · Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS) · Last reviewed May 31, 2026
Liposuction (lipoplasty) permanently removes fat cells from specific areas of the body using a thin, hollow tube (cannula) connected to a vacuum. Unlike diet and exercise — which shrink fat cells but leave them in place — liposuction physically removes fat cells from the body, producing a permanent reduction in fat in the treated area.
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque performs liposuction in Austin, TX on common areas including the abdomen, flanks (love handles), inner and outer thighs, back, upper arms, bra rolls, and submentum (under the chin). Multiple areas can often be treated in a single session. Liposuction is typically performed under IV or general anesthesia to provide the highest level of definition and comfort; some smaller, single-area cases can qualify for local anesthesia. Tumescent solution is infiltrated to minimize bleeding and allow precise fat removal.
For patients seeking athletic, sculpted definition, Dr. Levesque offers hi-definition (HiDef) liposuction — advanced contouring around the underlying musculature to reveal a naturally toned look. He trained in this technique with Dr. Alfredo Hoyos in Bogotá, the surgeon who pioneered hi-definition liposculpture, and offers liposuction 360 for circumferential contouring in both men and women. Renuvion radiofrequency skin tightening can be combined with liposuction to improve skin contraction in the treated areas.
Liposuction is most effective in patients who are at or near their healthy weight with localized fat deposits that are disproportionate or resistant to diet and exercise. It is not a weight-loss procedure — it is a contouring procedure for patients who have achieved a healthy weight but struggle with specific areas of fat distribution. Patients left with loose, hanging skin after major or GLP-1 weight loss usually need skin removal rather than fat removal — often a lower body lift — since liposuction alone cannot tighten excess skin.
Results are gradual as post-operative swelling resolves over 4–6 months. The final contour is visible when swelling has fully resolved. Fat cells that are removed do not regenerate — but the remaining fat cells can enlarge with weight gain, so maintaining a stable weight protects results.
HiDef Liposuction — 4D Athletic Definition
For patients who want more than fat removal — true athletic, sculpted definition — Dr. Levesque performs high-definition (HiDef) liposuction, an advanced technique that contours fat around the underlying muscles to reveal a naturally toned, defined look. He offers Lipo 360 for circumferential contouring of the midsection in both men and women, and can combine it with Renuvion radiofrequency skin tightening for improved skin contraction.
Dr. Levesque trained in high-definition liposculpture with Dr. Alfredo Hoyos in Bogotá — the surgeon who pioneered the technique worldwide. Very few surgeons in Austin offer HiDef liposuction at this level.
Precision Sculpting. Permanent Fat Removal.
Liposuction results are determined as much by artistry as by technique. The goal is not simply fat removal, but three-dimensional contouring that creates smooth, natural transitions — avoiding the lumpy, over-suctioned appearance that results from aggressive or imprecise technique. Dr. Levesque's approach is systematic and conservative: remove what is needed, feather transitions, and avoid over-correction.
He frequently combines liposuction with other body procedures — tummy tuck, breast surgery — for comprehensive body contouring in a single recovery period. When liposuction is performed alongside a tummy tuck, the combination produces results that are significantly more complete than either procedure alone.
What to Expect
From your first consultation to your final result, here's how the process works at Levesque Plastic Surgery.
Consultation
Dr. Levesque evaluates your areas of concern, assesses skin quality (good skin tone is important for smooth results), and determines whether liposuction alone or combined with tummy tuck or other procedures will best achieve your goals.
Surgery Day
Tumescent solution is infiltrated. A thin cannula is used to precisely remove fat through small (3–4mm) incisions. The procedure takes 1–3 hours depending on the number of areas treated. You go home the same day.
Recovery & Results
Compression garment is worn for 4–6 weeks. Bruising and swelling peak at days 3–5 and resolve significantly within 2–4 weeks. Final contour emerges at 4–6 months as all swelling resolves.
Liposuction Before & After
All photos are of Dr. Levesque's own patients, presented with permission. Hover each card to see the after.
Am I a Candidate?
Here's a general guide — Dr. Levesque will assess your candidacy personally at consultation.
Good Candidates Typically Have:
- Localized fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise
- Good skin tone and elasticity in the treatment area
- Stable weight for 6+ months — near goal weight
- Realistic expectations — contouring, not weight loss
- Good overall health; non-smoker or willing to quit ≥4 weeks
Factors That May Affect Candidacy:
- Expecting liposuction to produce significant weight loss
- Poor skin laxity — excess skin will be worsened without concurrent skin tightening
- Active smoking — increases healing complications
- Significantly overweight — diet and exercise first; liposuction after
What Does Liposuction Cost?
Liposuction cost at Levesque Plastic Surgery depends on the number and size of areas treated and whether it is performed under IV/general anesthesia or, for smaller cases, local anesthesia.
Multiple areas treated in a single session are typically priced as a package — more cost-effective than separate procedures.
Dr. Levesque provides a transparent quote at consultation. Financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, Cherry, and PatientFi is available.
Get Your Quote →Financing Partners
Your Recovery, Week by Week
Liposuction recovery is quicker than most surgeries, but the final contour takes months to fully emerge as swelling resolves.
What Patients Say
Dr. Andre Y. Levesque, MD
Liposuction, in Dr. Levesque's hands, is precision sculpting — not aggressive fat removal. His approach produces smooth, natural contours by removing fat methodically at multiple levels and feathering transitions carefully. The goal is a result that looks like the body the patient always had, just refined.
He regularly combines liposuction with tummy tuck and breast procedures for comprehensive body contouring in a single recovery period — the most efficient way to achieve transformation across multiple areas.
Schedule with Dr. LevesqueLiposuction FAQ
Glossary & Medical References
- Tumescent technique
- Infiltrating the fat with a dilute fluid before suction to minimize bleeding, reduce discomfort, and improve safety — the modern standard for liposuction.
- High-definition liposuction
- Selective, artistic fat removal that reveals the natural muscular architecture beneath (etching) for a more athletic, defined result rather than simple debulking.
- Cannula
- The thin tube used to loosen and suction fat through tiny incisions that typically heal nearly invisibly.
- Lymphatic massage
- Gentle post-operative massage that helps move swelling out of the tissues so the final contour appears sooner and smoother.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Liposuction procedural overview & safety. plasticsurgery.org
- American Board of Plastic Surgery — board certification standards. abplasticsurgery.org
- Peer-reviewed literature on liposuction techniques and safety (PubMed). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Individual results and recovery vary. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon about your specific situation.
Request a Consultation
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