Flank liposuction is a body contouring procedure that eliminates excess fat from both sides of your abdomen. If you are struggling to reduce the appearance of rolls on the sides of your body, colloquially known as love handles, we can safely reduce their appearance with liposuction.

Dr. Riccardo Frati is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has decades of experience helping patients transform their figures. Liposuction is a well-tolerated treatment that can quickly balance your proportions for a more athletic look.

Contact our office in London, Highgate, Birmingham, or Manchester at +44 20 3633 2619 to learn more about how flank liposuction can enhance your best features and balance your proportions.

About Flank Liposuction

Liposuction is an effective body contouring procedure, and in 2021, surgeons performed approximately 491,000 treatments to help patients sculpt their bodies and eliminate excess fat. ⁽¹⁾ As you age and your metabolism changes, reducing excess fat with exercise can become more difficult. There are several different types of liposuction we can perform to help you reduce it depending on your needs and aesthetic goals.

Tumescent Liposuction

During a tumescent liposuction procedure, we infiltrate the treatment area with tumescent fluid to swell the excess fat cells, making them easier to remove. Tumescent fluid contains epinephrine, saline, and lidocaine to reduce bleeding for a smoother procedure. ⁽²⁾

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction dislodges your fat cells with ultrasonic vibrations in the tumescent fluid. VASER (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) is a type of UAL that emulsifies your fat to enhance your muscle definition for a toned figure. The energy waves vibrate throughout the treatment to remove fat while protecting your surrounding tissue. We can strategically target excess fat and preserve surrounding nerves and blood vessels with this method.

SmartLipo

SmartLipo, colloquially known as laser lipolysis, removes fat and tightens your skin with laser energy that disrupts the molecular structure of adipose (fat) cells. During the treatment, heat from the laser energy stimulates collagen production and liquefies the excess fat. We remove it with gentle suction to help you achieve a smoother body.

360 Liposuction

360 liposuction, also known as circumferential liposuction, is a procedure that removes excess fat from the entire midsection. The areas where we perform liposuction will depend on your aesthetic goals. During 360 liposuction, more patients prefer to have liposuction on the abdomen, back, and flanks for a more slender physique. We can balance your proportions with the procedure by targeting areas where you have stubborn fat deposits. In just one appointment, we can treat the front, back, and sides of your body for a better-defined silhouette.

Flank Liposuction Benefits

Flank liposuction has several benefits, and with the procedure, you can:

Flank Liposuction Candidates

The best candidates for flank liposuction would like to remove excess fat along the flanks for a smoother, more athletic look. They are in good health, exercise regularly, and are within 30% of a healthy body mass index (BMI). If you are not within 30% of a healthy BMI, we can provide the resources you need to lose weight before your treatment. If you have a condition that could affect your recovery, we may recommend another body contouring procedure to help you achieve your dream body.

Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Frati will ask about your aesthetic goals, lifestyle, and current medications to determine whether or not flank liposuction is the best fit for you. It is important that you have realistic expectations about what we can achieve with the procedure. Depending on your desired look, we may recommend additional procedures. To learn more about corresponding procedures, see our blog. Each procedure is personalized and customizable for your needs.

How to Prepare for Flank Liposuction

To prepare for flank liposuction, you will need to undergo a pre-op lab test and:

Overall, you will need to prepare to take good care of yourself during your recovery and prioritize your well-being. Resting, eating healthily, and exercising will all be key to a full recovery and long-lasting results.

Flank Liposuction Procedure

During the procedure, we will administer a local anesthetic and oral sedation. Dr. Frati will mark your skin for liposuction and make a tiny incision to insert a cannula. First, he will introduce tumescent fluid to the treatment area to swell the fat cells for easier removal. Next, he will remove the excess fat cells with gentle suction that preserves the surrounding tissue. The type of liposuction you have will depend on your specific needs. The procedure can take up to 2 hours depending on the amount of fat you wish to remove.

Flank Liposuction Recovery

After flank liposuction, you will need approximately one week to rest at home and recover. Most patients take 5-7 days off work and you will need to wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and help your body heal. After roughly one month, you can stop wearing your compression garment. You will need to stay hydrated, eat healthy meals, and get plenty of sleep during your recovery. You will also need to avoid vigorous exercise for 4-6 weeks for the best results. After 3 months, you can enjoy the full effect of the treatment for slimmer, smoother flanks.

Flank Liposuction Results

You can enjoy the results of your flank liposuction appointment immediately. After flank liposuction, you can reduce the appearance of love handles for a slimmer, more athletic waist and torso. Flank liposuction permanently removes the excess fat so you can easily maintain your contour with regular exercise and a healthy diet. You can enjoy a smoother, more sculpted body and more athletic appearance for many years if you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Corresponding Procedures

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a procedure that removes excess droopy skin from the abdomen and tightens abdominal muscles for a smoother, younger-looking midsection. After weight changes, it is common for the skin to become stretched. With a discrete incision along the underwear line, we can remove your excess skin. Many patients combine liposuction with a tummy tuck to achieve a more slender, sculpted figure. A tummy tuck is specifically designed to remove moderate to severe excess droopy skin for a smoother, slimmer contour.

Mummy Makeover

A mummy makeover is a collection of body contouring procedures that eliminates excess fat and skin after pregnancy to reverse its effects on your body. During a mummy makeover, we can augment your breasts, lift the breast tissue, sculpt your buttocks, and perform a tummy tuck for a slimmer abdomen. A mummy makeover is customizable, and the combination of procedures we perform will depend on your needs. We can discuss your goals during your consultation to design a procedure for your desired look.

After Weight Loss Surgery

If you recently lost weight, we can perform flank liposuction as part of after-weight-loss surgery. After you lose a significant amount of weight, you may notice that you have pockets of fat or droopy skin that was stretched from weight changes. With liposuction, we can spot treat your body and remove fat from the abdomen, thighs, and upper arms for a slimmer, more contoured physique. We can also perform a panniculectomy to reshape your abdomen after massive weight loss.

The Cost of Flank Liposuction in London

The cost of flank liposuction will depend on the amount of excess fat you have and your aesthetic goals. If you wish to have corresponding procedures, we can provide an all-inclusive quote during your consultation. Contact our offices in London, Highgate, Birmingham, or Manchester at +44 20 3633 2619 to get started on reaching your aesthetic goals.

FAQ

References

1. “Liposuction Complications in the Outpatient Setting: A National Analysis of 246,119 Cases in Accredited Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Open Forum, vol. 6, 28 Nov. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860384/#:~:text=Suction%20lipectomy%20(liposuction)%20is%20one, https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad107.
2. Chang E, Mello K, Paskal S, Dill M, Miner LA. The Development and Implementation of an Evidence-Based Tumescent Liposuction Protocol, Online Educational Course for Perioperative Staff, and Discharge Instructions: a Quality Improvement Project. Journal of periAnesthesia nursing/Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing. 2024;39(1):24-31. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2023.06.094