Glossary

Here are definitions of medical terms related to liposuction.

Abdominoplasty: An operation that involves surgically removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen; commonly called "tummy tuck"

Anesthetic: A drug used to temporarily reduce or stop pain sensation

Body contour: Shape of the body

Cannula: A tube, which (for liposuction) connects to a handpiece that in turn connects to a suction pump

Cellulite: Collection of fat that causes the skin to look lumpy or dimpled; it does not go away with liposuction

Incision: Surgical cut

Large-volume liposuction: A type of liposuction that removes a large amount of fat and fluid from the body (more than 5 liters, or over 10 pounds)

Liposuction: A cosmetic surgery to improve body contour by removing pockets of excess fat from specific areas of the body

Lipoplasty: Another name for liposuction

Localized fat: Fat that is restricted to one or more spots

Super-wet liposuction: A liposuction method in which the wetting solution injected before the procedure is equal to the amount to fat removed

Tumescent liposuction: A liposuction method in which fat deposits swell (tumesce) after injection of a salt water-anesthetic solution that is two to three times the amount of fat removed

Ultrasound: A medical technique using sound waves for diagnosis or treatment; it is used in liposuction to produce heat that breaks up fat cells

Wet liposuction: A liposuction method in which the amount of wetting solution injected before the procedure is less than the volume of fat removed