Liposuction carries a long track record of success for patients with good skin elasticity who are close to their ideal body weight and hoping to refine their appearance. We use it weekly to make a major difference in our patients’ overall contours, reshaping areas like the thighs, hips, and abdomen.
While large-volume liposuction is well known for its dramatic effects, the procedure is quite versatile and “mini” liposuction can be utilized to contour in precise locations on the body, like the bra line, ankle, or inside the knee. These small refinements can create impactful results that our patients deeply appreciate—we call it Low-Volume, High-Impact Liposuction.
What is Low-Volume, High-Impact Liposuction?
Low-volume, high-impact liposuction, also known as mini liposuction, refers to targeting smaller pockets of fat with liposuction to provide visible improvement in body contours without the associated recovery time of a larger-volume liposuction procedure. While it technically involves surgery, it is minimally-invasive and treating certain areas only requires a local anesthetic.
“Liposuction is quite versatile and can be utilized to contour precise areas of the body, including the bra line, ankle, or inside the knee.”
This class of liposuction procedures deserves special attention and recognition as many patients do not realize that removing a small volume of fat from a bothersome area can have such a notable impact on their appearance. Low-volume, high-impact liposuction also delivers faster and more precise results than non-surgical alternatives like CoolSculpting® at a comparable cost.
Where is Low-Volume, High-Impact Liposuction Used?
There are a number of specific body areas where a small-volume liposuction procedure can lead to a subtle yet stunning result:
Double Chin
Liposuction can achieve a gorgeous refinement of the jawline. Double chin surgery can include multiple surgical and non-surgical options, like injectable deoxycholic acid for small areas and face- or neck-lifts for repairing skin laxity. But for patients with good skin elasticity, we recommend liposuction, in which a simple incision and local anesthetic are all that’s required to restore the natural contour of your chin.
Sloping Neck
While excessive fat can create a double chin in some patients, others have stubborn fat that creates a sloping transition between the chin and neck. As our before and after photos illustrate, this subtle change lends definition to a person’s look.
Bra Bulge
Liposuction around the middle circumference of the rib cage, or bra line, can alleviate the bulge that you may experience above or below your bra band. This results in a more smooth look when wearing body-skimming knits and other closely fitted tops.
Underarm Bulge
Liposuction can be the perfect, minimally invasive procedure to reduce the size of the pocket of fat in front of the armpit. Reducing this area may even enhance the contours of your breasts. In your consultation, our experienced surgeons will determine if there is enough fat in this area to proceed with liposuction.
Cankles
If there is fat in an area of your body, it can be reduced. In the ankle, however, swelling (or water retention) is often the culprit—not fat. In your consultation, we will make this distinction in order to determine if liposuction can reshape your ankle contours. If you are a good candidate, you may choose to combine a subtle ankle liposuction procedure with liposuction of the inner knee or thigh for a full leg recontouring.
Knobby Knees
We perform liposuction on the thighs fairly often, but occasionally, a patient asks us how to get rid of fat around their knees. While most inner-thigh liposuction includes the inside of the knee, some patients find that merely a small area of liposuction inside of the knee (as opposed to behind the knee, which is not typical) provides a powerful change in their legs’ profile.
How do surgeons use fat transfer to restore volume?
Cosmetic surgeons are more and more frequently using a patient’s own fat to plump and contour other areas of the body. After fat is extracted via liposuction, the surgeon can purify it and then inject your fat in places where you seek additional volume. Fat transfer can be used to enhance the buttocks, breasts, or it can be used as a facial filler. Low-volume liposuction doesn’t always offer enough fat for re-injection, but it may provide enough fat to enhance the face and other small areas.
How much does mini liposuction cost?
The cost of liposuction will vary based on the size of the area(s), the number of office visits you require, and which type of anesthesia you choose. Generally speaking, patients can expect to spend as little as $2,000 for a single area of low-volume liposuction, or as much as $16,000 for a more extensive, larger-volume liposuction procedure. Be sure not to base the final decision about your surgery on the price alone. A highly-qualified cosmetic surgeon will charge a fair price to complete your desired procedures safely and effectively in an accredited surgical facility. If you receive a quote that is below average, the doctor may be cutting corners, which can increase your risk of serious complications.
It should also be noted that non-surgical fat-freezing alternatives may sound less expensive at the outset, but three or more treatments may be required to achieve your goals. Results also take months to appear after each fat-freezing treatment.
Schedule Your Consultation
Liposuction is a surgical procedure, and we encourage prospective patients to ask questions and learn as much as they can about the necessary preparation, process, and recovery. Even if you’re opting for mini liposuction alone, it’s critical to find a very skilled surgeon.
Whether you’re nearby in Grosse Pointe or plan to visit our cosmetic surgeons from the Detroit metro area, we will be happy to answer your questions about liposuction during a personalized consultation. We welcome patients looking to form a relationship with an experienced cosmetic surgeon, as well as those exploring their cosmetic options for the first time. Call us at 586-773-6900, request a virtual consultation, or contact us online today.
