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Difference Between Liposuction and Liposculpture

If you’ve ever considered plastic surgery in Orange County, you have no doubt heard of liposuction. Liposuction is the leading fat removal method for body contouring. It is used by plastic surgeons all over the world, offering a safe, successful strategy for removing excess fat from the body.

You may not have heard about something similar – liposculpture. For many, when they imagine their bodies after plastic surgery, they are actually considering liposculpture, not liposuction, even though the two are in many ways interchangeable.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a plastic surgery technique where fat is first loosed up with injection of a fluid known as tumescent, and then a stainless steel tube (known as a cannula) connected to a vacuum pump is used to suck up the fat cells and fatty tissue that resides in between the skin and the underlying muscles. Fat normally resides in between skin and muscle in a connective tissue matrix of collagen and fibers as deep or superficial fat. Deep fat is the thicker layer and resides closer to the muscle. Superficial fat is the thinner layer and resides closer to the skin. Liposuction is typically performed only on the deeper and thicker fat in order to remove the excess fat without removing the more superficial fatty layer. In fact care is taken not to affect the superficial fat since this can lead to indentations, depressions, and ultimately contour irregularities. Liposuction can be used nearly everywhere on the body, and is one of the primary tools used to remove fat and give the body better shape. You can have:

  • Arm Liposuction
  • Calves Liposuction
  • Back Liposuction
  • Chest Liposuction
  • Belly Liposuction
  • Neck Liposuction
  • Lower face Liposuction
  • Saddlebags and Thigh Liposuction

What is the Difference Between Liposuction and Liposculpture?

To the plastic surgeon, there is essentially no difference between liposuction and liposculpture, at least in terms of technology. The term liposculpture, however, is used to describe liposuction with a very specific purpose – to give your body a “sculpted” look that most people picture when they imagine their body after plastic surgery. Liposculpture is usually performed in conjunction with liposuction. That means liposuction is first performed to remove some of the deeper fatty layer. Next liposculpture is masterfully performed by your plastic surgeon to remove the more superficial fatty layer. Your plastic surgeon may use the liposuction cannula, like the brush of a painter, to artistically create curves or depressions, or to etch a specific shape. For example, with a procedure like abdominal etching (a form of liposculpture focused on the belly), fat is carefully removed from the crevices in between the abdominal muscles, but some of the fat on top of the abdominal muscles is left in place in order to create a 6-pack look. Traditional liposuction often takes the fat from the entirety of the tummy, leaving the tummy flatter. With abdominal liposculpture, the abdominal muscles “appear” larger due to the overlying sculpted fat while other fat is removed, giving you the full, sexier 6 pack that many people hope to see after plastic surgery.

Choosing Between Liposuction and Liposculpture

There are advantages and disadvantages to both liposuction and liposculpture. It is really up to you to determine which results you are after. Liposuction alone without sculpture will reduce overall fat dramatically in one or multiple areas. It’s designed primarily to make you look smaller and in better shape, but not necessarily muscular or in ideal physical fitness. Liposculpture on the other hand is used to show case more of your muscle definitions, or to create more extreme contouring of the abdomen or back. Dr. Agha typically performs liposculpture of the abdomen during his high-definition tummy tuck procedure and liposculpture of the lower back during his High-Definition Brazilian butt lift surgery.

The best way to tell which option is right for you is to call Dr. Agha today at for a consultation. Liposculpture is still simply a form of liposuction, and is used more to be able to communicate with Dr. Agha about the specific look that you’re trying to achieve. As an Orange County plastic surgeon based in Newport Beach, Dr. Agha performs many liposuction and liposculpture surgery for men and women in Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Los Angeles and more. Call today to get started.

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Have your plastic surgery with one of the most respected and desired plastic surgeons in SoCal, Dr. Siamak Agha Internationally Renowned Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon with 20 years of experience in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He practices and lives in Newport Beach, California. Get a private and personalized consultation at our beautiful practice in Newport Beach, CA.

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