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Even with a healthy lifestyle, some areas of the body just don’t respond the way we want them to. Unwanted fat can linger around the midsection, flanks, thighs, or chin, making people feel like their shape doesn’t reflect their effort. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that offers a focused solution: precise, permanent fat removal that sculpts the body without changing who you are.
At Healy Plastic Surgery in Honolulu, liposuction is performed with a steady, expert hand by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeff Healy. You’ll meet with Dr. Healy one-on-one for every step of your journey from consult to surgery to recovery.
Our private, AAAASF-accredited surgical suite ensures your experience is comfortable, discreet, and personalized. And with lifetime follow-up care, you’ll always have access to the support you need, even years later.
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Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes unwanted fat from specific areas of the body using small incisions and a thin tube called a cannula. It’s not a weight loss solution. It’s a body contouring tool for people who are near their goal weight but want better definition by removing fatty tissue. Liposuction can be done as a standalone aesthetic surgery procedure or combined with other plastic surgery procedures to enhance overall contour.
It’s often used to sculpt the:
The goals of liposuction often vary slightly between men and women. Dr. Healy tailors each treatment accordingly to ensure results that look natural and balanced.
Men often seek liposuction to:
Women typically seek liposuction to:
In both cases, the goal is never to create an unnatural shape, but to highlight the best version of your body, using precise, expert contouring.
Liposuction is performed in our in-office, accredited surgical suite under sedation with local anesthesia or under general anesthesia. Dr. Healy begins by marking the areas to be treated and then makes small, discreet incisions.
A sterile solution is infused to minimize discomfort and bruising, and then fat is carefully suctioned out through a cannula. Depending on your goals, suction-assisted liposuction may target one or several areas in a single procedure.
An experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Healy’s technique focuses on smooth transitions and even removal. This aesthetic plastic surgery procedure typically lasts 1–3 hours, depending on the number of areas being treated. Most patients go home the same day.
Liposuction is used to treat areas where the body holds onto fat despite healthy habits. This may include:
Liposuction is also frequently used as part of combination procedures, including tummy tuck, body lift, or BBL, to improve overall contour and proportion.
Liposuction offers visible, long-lasting improvement in contour with relatively minimal downtime. For men, the focus is often on defining the jawline, flattening the chest, or narrowing the waist. This can create a more athletic appearance that aligns with how they feel internally. Patients often say they feel more confident in fitted clothing, swimwear, or simply when seeing their reflection.
For women, liposuction is often used to enhance curves, slim the waistline, smooth the thighs, or balance the upper and lower body, creating an overall more sculpted silhouette.
Regardless of gender, the goal is the same: natural-looking refinement that helps you feel more aligned with your body.
Good candidates for liposuction are healthy adults who are close to their goal weight but have areas of localized fat deposits they’d like to address. You should have good skin elasticity, no major medical conditions, and realistic expectations about what liposuction can (and can’t) do. Liposuction does not treat loose skin.
If you have significant skin laxity (often after weight loss or pregnancy), Dr. Healy may recommend combining liposuction with a skin-tightening procedure such as a tummy tuck. During your consultation, Dr. Healy will walk you through your options and help determine if liposuction (or a combination approach) is the right fit for your goals.
Most patients return to work or light activity within 3–5 days. You’ll wear a compression garment to help reduce swelling and support healing. Soreness is common (similar to the feeling after a tough workout) but manageable with over-the-counter or prescription medication.
Bruising and swelling are expected and gradually fade over a few weeks. Final results take shape over 2–3 months as your body heals and swelling resolves. You’ll see Dr. Healy personally at every follow-up to ensure smooth progress. With stable weight and healthy habits, liposuction results are long-lasting and rewarding.
The most noticeable change is a smoother, more defined contour in the treated area. You’ll likely find that clothing fits better and that you’re more comfortable in your body, whether at the beach, the gym, or just moving through daily life.
For men, results often emphasize angularity and muscle definition. A trimmer waist or more sculpted chest can significantly improve both appearance and confidence.
For women, results are often softer, focused on graceful transitions, improved curves, and harmony between the waist, hips, and thighs.
In both cases, the results are not exaggerated. You’ll still look like yourself—just leaner, more refined, and more aligned with how you want to feel.
Dr. Jeff Healy combines technical expertise with a calm, thoughtful approach to every procedure. As a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in body contouring, he knows how to create natural-looking liposuction treatment results without overdoing it.
Dr. Healy is also an associate professor at the University of Hawaiʻi medical school and an active community supporter through the Healy Healthcare Foundation, offering scholarships and participating in global medical missions. It's a commitment to care and community that you will experience firsthand throughout your surgery journey.
At Healy Plastic Surgery, you’ll always meet with Dr. Healy directly and your care plan will be made just for you. Our fully accredited, in-office surgical suite offers privacy and comfort, with easy access from anywhere in Honolulu and complimentary parking. And with our commitment to lifetime follow-up, you’ll never feel rushed or left on your own. This is body contouring with purpose: refined, respectful, and rooted in trust.
No. Liposuction is best for patients who are near their ideal weight but want to target specific areas of stubborn fat. It’s a sculpting tool to remove, not a substitute for weight loss.
Fat cells removed during liposuction are permanently gone. As long as your weight stays stable, your new contour will last for years. If you gain weight, other fat deposits in the area could grow, which could reduce the longevity of your results.
Will I have scars?Liposuction incisions are small (usually less than a centimeter) and placed in discreet areas. They typically fade well over time.
Common areas include the abdomen, flanks, thighs, chest, neck, chin, back, and upper arms.
Absolutely. Liposuction is often combined with tummy tuck, breast surgery, gynecomastia surgery, or BBL for more complete results.
Most people take 3–5 days off for desk jobs. If your work is physical, you may need a little longer. Dr. Healy will guide you based on your procedure and job type.
Fat cells removed during surgery don’t grow back. However, remaining fat cells can enlarge with weight gain, so stable habits are key to maintaining results.
Non-surgical options can help reduce small areas of fat, but liposuction remains the most precise, customizable option for noticeable contouring.
Cost depends on the number of areas treated and whether liposuction surgery is combined with other procedures. We’ll provide a clear quote at your consultation and financing options are available.
There are several types of liposuction techniques, each with its own strengths depending on the area being treated, the amount of excess fat deposits being removed, and your individual goals.
Tumescent liposuction is the most common approach and involves injecting a tumescent fluid mixture into the treatment area to numb the tissue, reduce bleeding, and make fat easier to remove. Tumescent liposuction is often the base technique used in combination with others.
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) uses a vibrating cannula that helps break up fat cells, making the removal process smoother and more precise, especially helpful in areas with dense tissue, like the chest or back.
Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) uses laser energy to liquefy fat before it’s removed. It can also stimulate mild skin tightening, which may be beneficial for patients with slight skin laxity.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) uses ultrasonic waves to break apart fat, especially useful in more fibrous or previously treated areas. It can be a strong option for male patients or those needing revision liposuction.
Dr. Healy is experienced in all of these techniques and will select the method or combination that’s best suited to your anatomy, safety, and aesthetic goals. His approach is always guided by what will deliver the best results for your body with the least disruption to your life.
Liposuction is used to remove fat, but it does not tighten or remove excess skin. If your skin has good elasticity, it will typically contract well after fat is removed. However, if you have significant skin laxity (such as loose skin from weight loss or aging), liposuction alone may not give you the smooth contour you're looking for.
In those cases, Dr. Healy may recommend combining liposuction with a skin-tightening procedure, such as a tummy tuck or body lift, depending on the area. During your consultation, he’ll evaluate your skin quality and give you honest guidance about what approach will deliver the most natural, lasting result.
Most patients describe liposuction recovery as sore or tender (similar to the feeling after an intense workout) rather than truly painful. During the procedure itself, you’ll be under anesthesia or sedation, so you won’t feel anything.
After surgery, discomfort is typically well-managed with over-the-counter or prescription medication, and most people are up and moving within a day or two. Dr. Healy uses techniques that minimize trauma to surrounding tissue, helping reduce post-op soreness and bruising. You’ll also wear a compression garment to support the healing process and improve comfort.
