Can You Get an Hourglass Shape from Liposuction of the Flanks Alone?

Question: Will I get an hourglass shape from liposuction to the flanks?

Answer: The thinner patient requires an expert at liposuction to remove as much fat as possible while leaving the skin smooth.  This is all a question of balance and proportions.  Fat can be taken from many different areas of the body including abdomen, sides, back, bra rolls, thighs, arms, underarms, etc.   

You have to consider not only which areas will have perhaps the best fat, but also you have to consider which donor sites will have the fewest problems afterward with the liposuction.  In general, the abdomen and thighs are preferred, but, if those sites are not available, other areas can be used.  Creative liposuction with fat transfer to the hips can make them appear lifted, and rounder.  If the waist was smaller at one time, the waist can likely be reduced to those same measurements or smaller provided the muscular and fascial integrity has remained the same. 

Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Los Angeles, CA