Liposuction Miami

Medically reviewed by Moises Salama, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon · Reviewed October 2026

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction permanently removes stubborn pockets of fat that diet and exercise don’t change, through small, hidden incisions. It reshapes the body rather than reducing weight. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Moises Salama, in practice since 2009, performs liposuction at Elite Plastic Surgery in Hollywood, serving Miami, on its own or as part of a BBL, tummy tuck or mommy makeover. After swelling subsides, the treated areas look slimmer, more sculpted and better proportioned.

Liposuction by Area

Lipo 360 in Miami

Lipo 360 is one of our most requested procedures. It treats the whole midsection in one surgery, the upper and lower abdomen, the flanks and the upper and lower back, for a tapered waist from every angle. It is also the first step of a Brazilian butt lift. Read more about Lipo 360 in Miami →

Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction in Miami?

The best candidates want targeted fat reduction rather than overall weight loss. You may be a good candidate if you:

• Have pinchable pockets of fat that resist diet and exercise.
• Are within about 20 pounds of your goal weight.
• Have good skin elasticity with little sagging.
• Keep a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle.
• Don’t smoke, or are willing to stop before and after surgery.
• Want to refine your shape after weight loss or pregnancy, with realistic expectations.

Patients with significant loose skin may do better with a tummy tuck or body lift.

What Liposuction Can and Cannot Do

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck vs. Skin Tightening

If your skin has lost its snap, liposuction alone can leave it looser. Dr. Salama will tell you honestly if a tummy tuck or J-Plasma skin tightening would serve you better.

Liposuction Techniques Dr. Salama Uses

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) is Dr. Salama’s standard method: a gently vibrating cannula loosens fat so it can be removed with more control and less trauma to the surrounding tissue, which means less bruising, a shorter recovery and no heat.

VASER (ultrasound-assisted) liposuction uses ultrasound energy to soften fat before removal. Dr. Salama uses it for high-definition sculpting, removing fat around the natural muscle lines to bring out definition in the abdomen, flanks or chest. See VASER lipo etching.

These are the two methods Dr. Salama uses; he does not offer laser liposuction. He chooses the method, or combination, for your anatomy and goals.

Video: high-definition abdominal and chest etching.

How Liposuction Is Performed

Liposuction usually takes one to three hours, depending on the number of areas treated.

1. Anesthesia. Local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the areas and your plan.
2. Small, hidden incisions. Tiny incisions are placed in natural creases or discreet spots.
3. Loosening and sculpting. A thin cannula breaks up the fat using PAL or VASER, and Dr. Salama sculpts each area.
4. Fat removal. The loosened fat is suctioned out, with attention to smooth transitions and natural proportions, not just volume.
5. Closing and compression. The incisions are closed and a compression garment is applied to control swelling and support your new contours.

Liposuction Safety Standards

Liposuction is safest when the amount removed matches the patient. Florida limits liposuction in an office surgery setting to 4,000 cc of supernatant fat (the fat itself, not the fluid used during surgery) in one procedure, and Dr. Salama follows that limit, planning the volume around your health, not just your goal. Surgery takes place in a state-certified surgical facility with board-certified anesthesia, your medical history is reviewed beforehand, and you are followed closely during recovery.

Liposuction Recovery in Miami

Lymphatic massage, which can start a day or two after surgery, helps reduce swelling and shape the result; our massage therapists support your recovery. Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection at the incision sites.

Video: liposuction recovery with Dr. Salama.

Are Liposuction Results Permanent?

Yes. The fat cells that are removed don’t grow back. The fat cells that remain can still grow if you gain weight, and the extra weight may settle in untreated areas, which can change your proportions. Keeping a stable weight is the best way to keep your result.

Liposuction After Ozempic and GLP-1 Weight Loss in Miami

Many patients lose a lot of weight with Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro but still have stubborn pockets of fat or little definition. Liposuction refines the result by:

• Targeting resistant fat that weight loss alone didn’t shift.
• Evening out proportions after major weight loss.
• Enhancing muscle definition by removing the fat layer that hides it.
• Pairing with a tummy tuck or skin tightening when loose skin is present.
• Lasting results: removed fat cells are gone for good with a stable weight.

Risks of Liposuction

All surgery has risks. With liposuction they include swelling and bruising, numbness, contour irregularities or asymmetry, fluid collection (seroma), skin color changes, infection, burns with energy-assisted devices, blood clots and anesthesia risks. They are reduced by careful patient selection, safe volume limits, board-certified anesthesia, compression, lymphatic massage and close follow-up.

How Much Does Liposuction Cost in Miami?

Liposuction in Miami typically costs between $4,000 and $8,000 for one or two areas, and up to $15,000 or more when several areas are treated in one surgery. Price is driven mostly by the number of areas. Nationally, the surgeon’s fee alone averages $4,300 to $7,500, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

What your liposuction quote includes

Your written quote from Elite Plastic Surgery lists the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia fee and your post-operative care, so the cost of each treated area is clear before surgery.

What changes the price of liposuction

• Number of areas. The abdomen, flanks, back, arms, inner and outer thighs, knees and chin are each priced as areas. Each one adds time.
• Size of each area. A chin or knees takes less time than a full abdomen.
• Anesthesia type. Some small areas can be treated with lighter anesthesia, which lowers the cost.
• Energy-assisted techniques. VASER adds to the cost of standard liposuction.
• Combining areas in one surgery. Treating several areas at once usually costs less than separate procedures.

Does insurance cover liposuction?

No. Insurance does not cover cosmetic liposuction. Financing through CareCredit, United Medical Credit and Alphaeon Credit lets you pay over time. View our financing options.

Why Choose Dr. Moises Salama for Liposuction in Miami?

• Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery; member of ASPS and The Aesthetic Society.
• Body contouring, Lipo 360 and BBL are the focus of his practice.
• State-certified surgical facility, board-certified anesthesia and lymphatic-massage therapists for recovery.
• Bilingual team: hablamos español.

“I recently had liposuction and BBL with Dr. Salama and I give him and his team a very confident 5 star.”Actual patient

“He performed 360 liposuction and BBL on me. Procedure went smooth, had very little pain afterwards. His pre and post op instructions and care is very thorough.”Kirsten · Verified Google review

See liposuction before-and-after cases → · BBL and Lipo 360 results →

Liposuction Frequently Asked Questions