Liposuction
A skilled plastic surgeon serving Houston and The Woodlands, Dr. Cassie Hartline combines surgical expertise with a patient-first approach to help individuals feel confident, empowered, and authentically themselves. She offers a full range of body sculpting procedures tailored to each patient’s goals, including liposuction, a popular option for refining body contours and achieving a more sculpted silhouette.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction (often called “lipo”) is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat from targeted areas of the body—such as the abdomen, love handles, thighs, back, or upper arms—to improve shape and proportion. It’s ideal for individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle but struggle with stubborn fat that won’t go away with diet and exercise alone.
Dr. Hartline offers VASER liposuction, a state-of-the-art, FDA-approved technique that uses ultrasound energy to gently dislodge fat cells. VASER allows for more precise sculpting, minimal trauma to surrounding tissues, and reduced swelling and bruising—resulting in smoother, more refined results and quicker recovery.
Common Treatment Areas
Liposuction is a versatile procedure that can be customized to address multiple areas of concern:
- Abdomen: Flatten and contour the midsection for a more defined waist.
- Flanks (“Love Handles”): Eliminate excess fat along the sides of the torso.
- Thighs: Slim inner or outer thighs for better leg proportion.
- Upper Arms: Improve definition and reduce arm bulk.
- Back/Bra Line: Smooth bulging fat along the upper or lower back.
- Chin/Neck: Reduce fullness and create a more defined jawline.
- Buttocks: Contour or balance the lower body in combination with other procedures.
Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction offers both physical and emotional benefits, including:
- Enhanced Body Contours: Achieve a more balanced, proportionate figure.
- Targeted Fat Reduction: Remove stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to exercise.
- Improved Confidence: Feel more comfortable and empowered in your body.
- Precision Sculpting: Especially effective with VASER for smooth, natural results.
- Customizable Approach: Treat multiple areas in one session or combine with other surgeries.
What to Expect During a Liposuction Procedure
Preparing for the Body Sculpting Procedure
Your journey begins with a personal consultation with Dr. Hartline. She’ll take time to understand your aesthetic goals, review your medical history, and assess your candidacy for liposuction. If you decide to move forward, her team will provide clear pre-operative instructions to help you prepare. For best outcomes, patients should stop smoking or using nicotine at least two months before surgery.
The Procedure
Liposuction is typically performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, though local anesthesia with sedation may be used for smaller areas. Dr. Hartline will make small incisions in the treatment area and insert a thin cannula to break up and suction out fat cells. With VASER technology, fat is gently emulsified before removal, improving precision and reducing trauma to surrounding tissues. Dr. Hartline is known for creating natural-looking results that enhance your existing contours.
Recovery and Results
You’ll need a trusted adult to drive you home after surgery. Dr. Hartline provides compression garments to support healing and reduce swelling. She often uses Exparel, a long-lasting, non-opioid injectable pain reliever, to keep you comfortable in the early days of recovery.
- First few days: Expect swelling, mild soreness, and limited mobility.
- First week: Many patients can return to light activities or desk work within 5–7 days.
- First 6 weeks: Avoid strenuous activity and exercise.
- Final results: Visible improvements begin within weeks, with full results in 3–6 months as swelling fully subsides.
Discuss Body Contouring Treatments with Our Houston Surgeon
Dr. Cassie Hartline is committed to helping you feel confident in your own skin through safe, tailored, and expert-performed body contouring procedures. If you’re ready to take the next step in your body confidence journey, schedule a consultation to explore what liposuction can do for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fat can be removed?
Most patients have between 2–5 liters of fat removed safely, though this varies depending on body size, health, and treatment goals. Liposuction is not a weight-loss procedure; it’s best for improving shape, not scale.
Is liposuction painful?
Discomfort is minimal and manageable. Dr. Hartline uses Exparel and other strategies to reduce pain during the first few days. Most patients describe soreness similar to a deep workout.
Can the fat return?
The removed fat cells are gone permanently, but weight gain can still cause the remaining fat cells to expand. A healthy lifestyle is key to maintaining results long-term.
Can liposuction be combined with other procedures?
Liposuction can be combined with other treatments such as breast augmentation and tummy tuck or in more extensive procedures that include multiple cosmetic surgery procedures like mommy makeovers for comprehensive body transformation, as well as non-surgical procedures like Botox and dermal fillers for facial rejuvenation in addition to removing unwanted pockets of fat.
What is the difference between a liposuction and a Tummy Tuck?
Liposuction removes fat but does not tighten skin or repair separated abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck is more appropriate when significant loose skin or diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles) is present, often after pregnancy.
Is financing available?
Yes. Dr. Hartline’s office offers financing options through trusted partners to help you move forward with treatment on a timeline that works for you.
1 PRS Global Open. Consensus-based Recommendations for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10335824/#. Accessed January 22, 2024.
2 ASPS. Who is a good candidate for liposuction? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/candidates. Accessed January 3, 2024.
3 Mayo Clinic. Liposuction. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liposuction/about/pac-20384586#. Accessed January 3, 2024.
4 ASPS. Liposuction Risks & Safety. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/safety. Accessed January 24, 2023.
Cassie Hartline M.D. has either authored or reviewed and approved this content
Page Updated: July 22, 2025