Body Contouring, Atlanta
Liposuction in Atlanta
Precision removal of stubborn, diet-resistant fat, by female plastic surgeons. Not a weight-loss shortcut, and we will be honest about that.
CONSULTATION
Required
SURGERY LENGTH
1 to 3 hours
ANESTHESIA
General
SETTING
Northside, outpatient
BACK TO DESK WORK
About 1 week
SKIN
Removes fat, does not tighten skin
The Approach
Liposuction is not a weight-loss tool. It is a contouring tool.
If you eat well and exercise and still have a stubborn belly pooch, saddlebags, bra rolls, or a double chin that will not budge, that is exactly what liposuction is for. It permanently removes fat cells from specific areas to sculpt a smoother, more proportioned contour, in a single procedure.
Here is what we tell every patient upfront, because it is the key to being happy with your result. Liposuction is not a weight-loss solution and it is not a substitute for diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery. It is a body-contouring procedure, best for people at or near a stable weight with specific, resistant fat deposits. We would rather set that honest expectation than promise something the procedure cannot deliver.
Candidacy
Are You a Candidate?
The two things that matter most are a stable weight and good skin elasticity, and we assess both honestly rather than assuming them.
One safety point. If you take a GLP-1 weight-loss medication, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or a compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, tell us well before your surgery date. These medications slow how quickly your stomach empties, which raises the risk of aspiration under general anesthesia, so we require pausing them beforehand.
You are likely a good candidate if:
- You have specific, stubborn fat deposits resistant to diet and exercise
- You are at or near a stable weight you can maintain
- You have good skin elasticity, so your skin can retract over the new contour. If not, we will discuss BodyTite or a skin-tightening option
- You are in good health with no condition that impairs healing
- You are a non-smoker, or willing to quit before surgery
- You have realistic expectations: a better contour, not a lower weight
Scope
Where It Works, and What It Is Not For
Where it works
The abdomen, meaning the belly pooch and stubborn midsection. Hips and thighs, including saddlebags. Buttocks. The lower back and upper back, including bra rolls. Upper arms and underarms. Knees. And the neck and chin, for a double chin or jawline definition. Many patients treat more than one area in a single procedure for a balanced result.
What it is not for
It is not weight loss. It removes localized fat and contours, and it does not meaningfully lower the number on the scale or replace diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery. It does not treat cellulite, which comes from fibrous bands tethering the skin rather than from fat volume, so removing fat does not fix dimpling and can occasionally make it look slightly worse. And it does not tighten skin, which is a separate consideration and the reason BodyTite exists.
The Procedure
How It Is Done, and the Skin Question
Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia, usually using the tumescent technique: a medicated fluid is infused to numb the area and shrink blood vessels, and then a thin tube called a cannula loosens and gently suctions out the fat through tiny incisions. It takes 1 to 3 hours depending on how many areas you are treating.
Now the honest part patients most need to hear. Liposuction removes fat, but it does not tighten skin. After the fat is gone, your skin needs to retract over your new, slimmer contour, and how well it does that depends on your skin’s elasticity, which is affected by your age, genetics, and history. Patients with good elasticity see the skin conform beautifully. Patients with looser skin may be left with some laxity, and for them, fat removal alone may disappoint.
That is exactly why we offer BodyTite, which combines liposuction with radiofrequency energy that tightens the skin as the fat is removed. At your consultation we assess your skin honestly and tell you whether straightforward liposuction will give you the result you want, or whether BodyTite, or in some cases a skin-excision procedure like a tummy tuck, is the better path.
Choosing
Liposuction or BodyTite?
Liposuction
Fat only
- Removes fat through a cannula. Your skin retracts on its own, or it does not.
- Right when your skin elasticity is good and fat is the only problem.
- The result is essentially what it is once swelling resolves.
- Treats every area on our list, including larger areas.
BodyTite
Fat and skin
- Removes fat and heats the underside of the skin with radiofrequency so it contracts.
- Right when you have fat plus mild to moderate skin laxity.
- Skin contraction continues for months after the fat is gone.
- Tightens skin but does not remove it. A substantial hanging fold needs excision instead.
And if your skin has genuinely stretched past what tightening can fix, which is common after pregnancy or major weight loss, the honest answer is a procedure that removes skin: a tummy tuck for the abdomen, or a body lift after significant weight loss. We perform all of these, so our recommendation follows your body rather than the one procedure this page happens to sell.
Longevity
How Long Do Results Last?
Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the treated areas, and those cells do not come back. Your result is long-lasting as long as you maintain a stable weight, because the remaining fat cells elsewhere, and any left in the area, can still enlarge if you gain significant weight. Keep a steady weight with a balanced diet and exercise, and your new contour lasts for years.
Recovery
Recovery Timeline
Here is the whole arc, with the compression schedule, which is the part that needs planning around.
Surgery day
1 to 3 hours, outpatient. Someone drives you home and helps overnight. Compression garment on. Some drainage and soreness are normal.
First 2 to 3 days
Minimal activity. Soreness, swelling, and bruising. Compression garment worn around the clock. Do not submerge in water.
About 1 week
Sutures removed at your first follow-up. Most patients return to non-strenuous work. Continue around-the-clock compression.
10 to 14 days
The 5-pound lifting limit typically eases.
3 to 4 weeks
Around-the-clock compression usually transitions to about 12 hours a day for another 3 to 4 weeks.
4 to 6 weeks
Resume sports and the gym. Follow-up with the doctor around 6 weeks.
Months
Swelling continues to resolve and your final contour emerges over the following months, up to about 6 months.
Your Experience
Your Personalized Surgery Experience
Consultation
We assess your fat deposits and, importantly, your skin elasticity, map your areas, and tell you honestly whether liposuction alone will give you the result you want or whether BodyTite or another option fits better.
Surgery
One to three hours under general anesthesia, tumescent technique, tiny incisions placed discreetly.
Recovery
Compression, minimal activity, and our detailed protocol. Back to desk work in about a week.
Results
Improved contour visible within weeks, with the final result emerging as swelling resolves over several months, and lasting with a stable weight.
The Practice
Why Patients Choose Artisan
Honest about what liposuction can and cannot do
We tell you upfront that it is contouring, not weight loss, and we assess your skin honestly so you are not surprised by laxity afterward.
Liposuction and skin tightening under one roof
If your skin needs tightening, we offer BodyTite, and if you need skin removed, we perform tummy tucks and body lifts. Our recommendation fits your body rather than the one procedure we happen to do.
We prescribe the weight-loss medications too
Which means we understand the GLP-1 timing question and can coordinate it with your surgery rather than leaving you to work it out.
Female plastic surgeons, 25+ years
Precision and artistry for a natural, proportioned contour.
FAQ
Liposuction FAQs
Is liposuction a weight-loss procedure?
No, and this is the most important thing to understand. Liposuction removes localized, stubborn fat and improves your contour, but it is not weight loss and does not replace diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery. It is best for people at a stable weight with specific fat pockets that resist diet and exercise. Setting that expectation is what makes patients happy with the result.
Will my skin be loose after liposuction?
It depends on your skin’s elasticity. Liposuction removes fat but does not tighten skin, so your skin needs to retract over the new contour, which it does well if your elasticity is good. If your skin is looser, we may recommend BodyTite, which combines liposuction with radiofrequency skin tightening, or a skin-removal procedure. We assess this honestly at your consultation so you are not surprised.
What is the difference between liposuction and BodyTite?
Liposuction removes fat. BodyTite removes fat and tightens the skin at the same time using radiofrequency energy. If loose skin is a concern for you, BodyTite is often the better choice. We offer both and will tell you honestly which fits your body.
I take Ozempic or another GLP-1. What should I know?
Tell us well before surgery. GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, which raises the risk of aspiration under anesthesia, so we require pausing the medication and following our pre-op instructions. Because we run our own weight loss program, we will coordinate the timing with you.
Does it treat cellulite?
No. Cellulite comes from fibrous bands tethering the skin, not from fat volume, so liposuction does not fix it and can occasionally make dimpling slightly more noticeable. We will tell you honestly if cellulite is your real concern and discuss other options.
What are the risks?
Generally it is safe, and the real risks include contour irregularities or asymmetry, seroma, which is a fluid collection that compression helps prevent, temporary numbness, loose skin if elasticity is poor, infection, and blood clots. Your surgeon reviews all of it, and our technique and aftercare are designed to minimize them.
What areas can be treated?
The abdomen, hips and thighs, buttocks, lower and upper back including bra rolls, upper arms, knees, and the neck and chin. Many patients treat several areas in one procedure.
How long is recovery?
Most patients return to desk work in about a week, wear a compression garment around the clock for 3 to 4 weeks then part-time after, and resume the gym at 4 to 6 weeks. Swelling resolves and your final contour emerges over several months.
Are the results permanent?
The fat cells removed are gone permanently. Your result lasts for years as long as you maintain a stable weight, since remaining fat cells can still enlarge with significant weight gain.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes, frequently. Liposuction is a component of a mommy makeover and a body lift, and it is often added to other surgeries for a more complete result. We plan it together at your consultation.
The stubborn fat gone, and an honest plan for your skin.
Come in and we will map your areas, assess your skin honestly, and tell you whether liposuction or liposuction with tightening is right for you, cost included.