The American Society of Plastic Surgeons counts liposuction as the most performed cosmetic surgery in the country, and in a mommy makeover it is usually the shaping piece: the waist, the hips, the back. Here is what it does, what it cannot do, and what to ask a Dallas plastic surgeon before adding it to a plan.
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Mommy Makeover Dallas is a free referral service, not a clinic or surgical practice. A request sent from this page goes to an independent plastic surgery office in the Dallas area, which sets its own prices and is responsible for its own care.
What liposuction does
Cleveland Clinic describes liposuction as removing fat cells from areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is “not a weight-loss solution.” Good candidates are near their average weight, have good skin elasticity and do not smoke.
ASPS counted 317,196 liposuction procedures in 2025, the fifth year in a row at the top of its list. It notes liposuction can be done alone or combined with other procedures for fuller body contouring.
Liposuction or a tummy tuck?
This is the question most mothers bring to a consultation. Liposuction removes fat, but it does not remove loose skin or repair separated stomach muscles. When the issue is skin that hangs or muscles that pulled apart in pregnancy, a tummy tuck is the piece that treats it, and liposuction is often added around it to shape the waist and flanks.
| Liposuction | Tummy tuck | |
|---|---|---|
| Removes fat | Yes | Yes, with the skin |
| Removes loose skin | No | Yes |
| Repairs separated muscles | No | In most cases |
| 2024 ASPS fee range, surgeon only | $4,300 to $7,500 | $8,000 to $13,500 |
Techniques
Cleveland Clinic lists four main techniques. Ask your surgeon which one they use, how it works, and why they suggest it for you.
- Tumescent: the most common technique
- Ultrasound-assisted (often called VASER)
- Laser-assisted
- Power-assisted
It can be done under local or general anesthesia. Large-volume cases may need an overnight hospital stay, and ASPS says removals of more than about five liters need special care.
What “lipo 360” means
“Lipo 360” is a marketing name, not a medical term. Offices use it for liposuction around the whole midsection rather than one area. If a quote says lipo 360, ask exactly which areas are included, how long it would add to surgery time, and what it changes about recovery.
Using the fat elsewhere
Fat removed by liposuction can be moved. In fat transfer breast augmentation, Cleveland Clinic says purified fat is injected to add about one or two cup sizes. Moving fat to the buttocks (a Brazilian butt lift) carries a specific warning: a 2018 multi-society task force reported a death rate of about 1 in 3,000, the highest of any aesthetic procedure, from fat entering or going below the muscle, and advised injecting only into the layer under the skin. Ask any surgeon who suggests it how they follow that advice.
Wondering whether liposuction belongs in your plan?
Recovery
These are general ranges from Cleveland Clinic for liposuction on its own. Your surgeon will give you your own timeline; combined with a tummy tuck or breast surgery, the longer recovery sets the pace.
| Stage | General range (Cleveland Clinic) |
|---|---|
| Back to work | A few days, for outpatient cases |
| Compression garment | Several weeks |
| Regular activity | Within about 6 weeks |
| Swelling settles | 3 to 6 months |
Treated fat cells do not come back, Cleveland Clinic says, but weight gain can still add fat to remaining cells. Results hold up when your weight stays stable.
Risks
ASPS lists irregular contours, rippling or loose skin, fluid buildup, blood clots (deep vein thrombosis), heart or lung complications, damage to deeper structures, infection, changes in sensation, cannula breakage, and burns from ultrasound devices. Combining liposuction with other pieces lengthens surgery, and ASPS notes longer operations add risk, including blood clots.
What it costs
ASPS reports a 2024 national range of $4,300 to $7,500 for the surgeon’s fee alone for liposuction. Its 2023 national average surgeon’s fee was $4,711. Anesthesia, the facility and garments are extra, and the number of areas treated changes the fee. Providers set their own prices; see what a mommy makeover costs.
Questions to ask
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Is liposuction the right piece for me, or do I have loose skin a tummy tuck would treat?
- Which areas, and which technique, do you suggest?
- How much would this add to my total time under anesthesia?
- Where do you operate, and is the facility accredited?
- How long will I wear a compression garment?
- What does your quote include?
- Will I need help at home with my children, and for how long?
Check certification on the American Board of Plastic Surgery lookup and the physician’s license on the Texas Medical Board lookup. Offices north of the city are covered on the Frisco and Plano page.
This site gives general information, not medical advice. A licensed provider decides with you whether a treatment suits you.
Questions people ask
Is liposuction a way to lose weight?
No. Cleveland Clinic calls it “not a weight-loss solution.” It suits people near their average weight who want to shape areas that do not respond to diet and exercise.
Can liposuction fix loose skin after pregnancy?
No. Liposuction removes fat, not skin. Loose skin and separated muscles are what a tummy tuck treats.
Does the fat come back?
Treated fat cells do not return, Cleveland Clinic says, but weight gain can still add fat to the cells that remain.
What is lipo 360?
A marketing name offices use for liposuction around the whole midsection. Ask exactly which areas a quote includes.
How long until I see the result?
Swelling takes 3 to 6 months to settle, Cleveland Clinic says. Your surgeon will tell you what to expect for your plan.
Who will I talk to if I send a request?
An independent plastic surgery office in the Dallas area. Mommy Makeover Dallas is a free referral service, not a medical provider.