Liposuction in Buckhead & Atlanta

Many people in Buckhead and across Atlanta struggle with areas like the abdomen, thighs, or “love handles” that remain despite a healthy lifestyle. Liposuction—also called lipoplasty or suction-assisted lipectomy—uses gentle suction to permanently remove stubborn fat cells and sculpt a more refined, balanced figure. This proven procedure can help you achieve a slimmer waist, flatter abdomen, or more defined thighs that align with your body’s natural proportions.

At Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center in Buckhead, Dr. Carmen M. Kavali and Dr. Teri N. Moak—both board-certified plastic surgeons—combine precision and artistry to deliver beautiful, natural results. Dr. Kavali is a 5-star rated physician with over 495 verified reviews on Ratings.MD, featured by NewBeauty, FOX 5 Atlanta, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her dedication to safety and transparency in plastic surgery. Dr. Moak, also a board-certified plastic surgeon, brings extensive experience in advanced aesthetic techniques and individualized care. Together, they help Atlanta patients feel more confident in their shape with results that enhance, not alter, their natural beauty.

Liposuction is ideal for patients at or near their healthy weight who want to address localized fat deposits resistant to exercise and diet. It’s not a weight-loss solution but a contouring tool to achieve smoother, more proportional results. According to the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic, once these fat cells are removed, they do not return—though maintaining your results depends on a stable lifestyle and healthy habits.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a minimally invasive surgical technique that removes excess fat from targeted areas using a thin, hollow tube called a cannula, connected to a suction device. Only tiny incisions—often just a few millimeters—are required, and these are placed discreetly in natural folds or hidden areas. The cannula is gently maneuvered beneath the skin to loosen and remove unwanted fat cells while preserving the surrounding tissues.

Modern liposuction typically involves the tumescent technique, where a sterile saline solution with anesthetic and epinephrine is infused into the fatty layer before suction. This method reduces bleeding, improves precision, and shortens recovery time. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) confirms that tumescent anesthesia remains the safest and most effective approach for most patients.

Liposuction can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the area treated. Most procedures are done on an outpatient basis at our fully accredited surgical facility in Buckhead. For larger or multiple treatment areas, your procedure may be performed under general anesthesia with a brief overnight stay for optimal safety and monitoring. Once the fat is removed and your contours refined, incisions are closed with fine sutures. Scarring is minimal—typically faint and well-concealed within natural creases—allowing patients to confidently enjoy their results.

Body Contouring, Not Weight Loss

It’s essential to understand that liposuction is about sculpting—not losing weight. Most patients only lose a small amount of weight from this procedure, but the improvement in shape and proportion can be dramatic. The goal is to refine how your body looks and feels, helping clothing fit more comfortably and creating smoother transitions between areas like the waist, hips, and thighs.

Liposuction can be performed on nearly any area where excess fat accumulates, including:

• Abdomen and waist
• Flanks (“love handles”)
• Thighs and hips
• Upper arms and back
• Under the chin and along the jawline
• Buttocks, knees, and even calves
• Chest area for men with gynecomastia

However, liposuction does not tighten loose skin or remove cellulite dimpling. If you have moderate skin laxity or stretch marks—such as after weight loss or pregnancy—your surgeon may recommend combining liposuction with a tummy tuck, body contouring, or Mommy Makeover. In certain cases, a arm lift or thigh lift may further enhance contour and definition.

Benefits of Liposuction

Liposuction can dramatically enhance both your appearance and confidence. When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak, patients can expect:

• Targeted fat reduction: Removes stubborn fat pockets that don’t respond to diet or exercise, such as belly fat, saddlebags, or bra rolls.
• Improved contours: Sculpts a smoother, more proportional silhouette so clothes fit and drape beautifully.
• Permanent fat removal: Eliminates fat cells permanently—though maintaining results requires a healthy lifestyle.
• Minimally invasive, minimal scarring: Performed through tiny incisions that heal quickly and fade over time.
• Boosted confidence: Enhances body image and self-esteem by aligning your outer appearance with how you feel inside.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

The best candidates for liposuction are healthy adults within about 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and realistic expectations. Liposuction works best for individuals with specific areas of excess fat that are resistant to healthy habits.

You may be a strong candidate if you:

• Are in good physical health and close to your goal weight
• Do not smoke (or are willing to stop before and after surgery)
• Have good skin elasticity and muscle tone
• Seek to enhance body contours, not lose weight

Liposuction is not designed for obesity treatment or overall weight loss. To ensure your safety and best outcomes, our surgeons emphasize medical clearance, proper preparation, and post-procedure support. If skin laxity or volume loss is also a concern, we may recommend pairing liposuction with complementary procedures such as a tummy tuck or comprehensive body contouring.

How Liposuction Is Performed

Surgery Setting & Anesthesia

Liposuction at Monarch Plastic Surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure in our accredited Buckhead facility, ensuring convenience and safety. Depending on your goals and treatment areas, it can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. For small, isolated areas, patients may remain comfortably awake with a numbing solution. For larger or combined procedures, general anesthesia ensures you remain completely relaxed.

Our surgeons frequently combine liposuction with other enhancements, such as Mommy Makeover surgery or body contouring, for a more comprehensive transformation. If significant fat is removed or multiple areas are treated, you may stay overnight for observation to ensure optimal comfort and recovery.

Marking & Preparation

Before surgery, Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak will mark the treatment areas to guide precise fat removal and symmetry. In the operating room, a tumescent solution—a mixture of saline, anesthetic, and epinephrine—is gently infused into the fat. This step reduces bleeding and bruising and facilitates smoother, more controlled fat extraction.

Fat Removal Process

Through tiny incisions (usually less than a quarter inch), the cannula is inserted to dislodge and suction out unwanted fat. Using meticulous technique and an artistic eye, our surgeons sculpt the treated area to achieve smooth, natural contours while avoiding overcorrection. In Atlanta’s warm climate, patients often look forward to confidently wearing fitted clothing or swimwear, and our surgeons strive to ensure a seamless, balanced outcome.

Completion & Closure

After achieving the desired shape and ensuring both sides are balanced, the incisions are closed with fine sutures—or left open briefly for drainage when appropriate. A supportive compression garment is applied immediately to reduce swelling and help your skin conform to its new contour. Because liposuction incisions are so small, scarring is minimal and typically fades over a few months. Before you leave, our team provides detailed instructions for caring for your incision sites, managing swelling, and ensuring a smooth recovery.

Liposuction Techniques & Technology

At Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center in Buckhead, Dr. Carmen M. Kavali and Dr. Teri N. Moak tailor the liposuction approach to your anatomy and goals. Modern methods are selected (and often combined) to improve efficiency, reduce tissue trauma, and optimize your results.

• Tumescent Liposuction:
  The most common approach. A saline solution with local anesthetic and epinephrine is infused into the fat before suction, making the area firmer, reducing bleeding, and easing fat removal. This technique has significantly improved safety and recovery.
  Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL):
  Uses ultrasonic energy delivered through a specialized cannula to emulsify fat, which is then gently suctioned. A well-known form is VASER® liposuction, designed to target fat while helping spare surrounding tissues—useful in fibrous areas (back, male chest) or for high-definition sculpting.
  Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL):
  Also known as “Smartlipo” and similar devices, a laser fiber heats and breaks down fat prior to suction and can provide a mild skin-tightening effect by stimulating collagen—often helpful in smaller areas or touch-ups.
  Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL):
  A mechanized cannula oscillates rapidly to loosen fat with less manual force, potentially reducing bruising and operative time—especially effective in larger-volume areas while allowing precise control.
  Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL):
  The foundational technique that uses vacuum suction to remove fat. In modern practice, SAL is almost always combined with tumescent anesthesia; energy-assisted options (ultrasound/laser/power) may be added when beneficial.

Each method has advantages, and your surgeons may combine techniques—for example, using ultrasound or laser to soften fat before suction—to achieve smooth, natural-looking contours with minimal downtime. During your consultation, Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak will outline a personalized plan and may recommend pairing liposuction with complementary procedures like
tummy tuck or comprehensive body contouring for the most refined outcome.

Recovery and Results

Immediate Post-Op & Home Care

After liposuction, mild to moderate soreness, swelling, and bruising are normal. These sensations may feel similar to post-workout soreness and typically improve within a few days. Most patients find discomfort easily manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter medication. Soreness and swelling are most noticeable in the first 48–72 hours and then steadily decrease.

You’ll return home wearing a snug compression garment or elastic bandages around the treated areas to help control swelling and support your new contours. This garment is typically worn 24 hours a day for several weeks, ensuring optimal healing. Some mild drainage from the incisions is common for a day or two—your surgeon may place small drains or leave incisions slightly open to allow fluid to escape, which can help speed recovery.

Dr. Carmen Kavali and Dr. Teri Moak will provide personalized post-op instructions, including how to care for incisions and drains, how to minimize swelling, and when to return for follow-up visits. Our Atlanta-based team maintains close communication with each patient, ensuring you heal safely and comfortably during this phase.

Downtime & Getting Back to Activities

One of the advantages of liposuction is its relatively fast recovery, especially for small to moderate areas. Most Buckhead patients return to work and light activity within a few days to a week. If multiple areas are treated, you may prefer 5–7 days of downtime for comfort. Swelling—sometimes even in untreated areas—is normal and subsides gradually within the first week. Gentle walking is encouraged soon after surgery to promote circulation, but strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for several weeks. Most patients can resume light cardio in about 2–3 weeks, and more intense exercise between 4–6 weeks, depending on your surgeon’s guidance.

Appearance During Recovery

It’s important to have realistic expectations for the healing process. Swelling and fluid retention may temporarily mask your final results, and some areas may feel firm or uneven during the early stages of recovery. Bruising typically fades within 1–2 weeks, and swelling begins to decrease noticeably after the first week. By 3–4 weeks, most patients start seeing a clear improvement in contour, though full refinement can take several months as the body continues to adjust.

When Will I See Results?

The fat removed during surgery is gone immediately, but swelling initially conceals your new shape. You’ll begin noticing a slimmer, more contoured appearance after a few weeks. By about three months, most patients see the majority of their liposuction results as swelling resolves and the skin adapts to its new contours. Final results typically appear between 3–6 months. Our follow-up appointments at Monarch Plastic Surgery ensure your recovery is progressing smoothly and your results continue to refine beautifully.

Maintaining Your New Shape

One of the great advantages of liposuction is that the fat cells removed are permanently gone—your body does not regenerate those same cells. However, maintaining your results requires a commitment to healthy habits. Remaining fat cells can still expand with significant weight gain, so staying active and eating a balanced diet are essential.

Many patients feel newly motivated to maintain their figure after surgery. Our surgeons recommend hydration, good nutrition, and a consistent exercise routine to preserve your contours and promote skin health. Think of liposuction as a reset point—it jumpstarts your confidence and gives you a refined foundation to maintain through fitness and wellness.

Scar Care

Because liposuction incisions are so small, scars are rarely noticeable. Most fade to fine, nearly invisible lines within several months. We place incisions in discreet locations, such as natural creases or areas covered by swimwear. After surgery, you’ll receive detailed scar care instructions, which may include avoiding sun exposure, applying silicone gel or scar cream, and gentle massage once healing allows. Following these guidelines ensures that any marks remain minimal.

Most of our Buckhead and Atlanta liposuction patients are pleasantly surprised by how little scarring they have—allowing them to enjoy their results with complete confidence.

Risks and Safety

When performed by board-certified surgeons like Dr. Carmen Kavali and Dr. Teri Moak, liposuction is considered very safe. Studies show that serious complications occur in less than 1% of cases. Our Buckhead surgical facility is fully accredited, and we maintain rigorous safety protocols at every step—from anesthesia monitoring to infection prevention and post-op care.

Potential Complications

• Contour Irregularities: Rarely, uneven fat removal or reduced skin elasticity can cause minor surface irregularities. Experienced surgeons minimize this risk and can correct small asymmetries with touch-up treatments.
• Loose Skin: After fat removal, some patients may notice mild skin laxity, which usually improves over time. If additional tightening is needed, procedures like a tummy tuck or arm lift can provide further refinement.
• Fluid Accumulation (Seroma): Temporary fluid pockets may form under the skin. If necessary, they can be easily drained in-office and typically resolve quickly.
• Numbness or Sensation Changes: Temporary numbness or tingling is common and usually fades as the nerves heal over several weeks.
• Infection: Postoperative infections are extremely rare (<1%). Antibiotics are prescribed to prevent this complication, and following our care instructions minimizes your risk.
• Bleeding or Hematoma: Because of the tumescent technique and minimal incision size, bleeding is uncommon. Mild drainage or light bruising is normal.
• Blood Clots: To prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), we use compression devices during surgery and encourage gentle movement as soon as possible.
• Fat Embolism: An extremely rare but serious event where fat enters the bloodstream. Strict adherence to safe surgical volume limits and careful technique virtually eliminate this risk.
• Visceral Injury: Internal injury from the cannula is exceedingly rare when performed by experienced, board-certified surgeons like Dr. Kavali and Dr. Moak.

During your consultation, our team will review all potential risks, answer your questions, and ensure you fully understand the process. Following your personalized pre- and post-operative plan—including avoiding smoking, certain medications, and early overexertion—helps ensure a safe recovery. At Monarch Plastic Surgery, patient safety, transparency, and results are our highest priorities.

Liposuction performed at Monarch Plastic Surgery is a safe, effective way to enhance your shape under the care of nationally recognized surgeons. Our Buckhead facility adheres to the highest medical standards, and our entire team is dedicated to ensuring your experience is comfortable, precise, and rewarding.

Take the Next Step

If you’re considering liposuction in Buckhead or Atlanta to achieve a slimmer, more sculpted shape, we invite you to schedule a personal consultation at Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Carmen M. Kavali and Dr. Teri N. Moak, will evaluate your goals, answer your questions, and design a fully customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Liposuction can be a truly life-changing procedure when artfully performed — those stubborn areas that have bothered you for years can finally be refined, allowing you to feel more confident in and out of clothing. Whether you’re interested in body contouring alone or combining liposuction with a tummy tuck, body contouring, or Mommy Makeover, our team will ensure you receive the highest level of safety, precision, and care.

We proudly serve patients throughout Buckhead, Sandy Springs, and the greater Atlanta area in our state-of-the-art facility.

We look forward to guiding you on your cosmetic journey and helping you look and feel your absolute best.