7 Healthcast: Cosmetic concerns

Susan says she's got places on her body that just doesn’t slim down, despite exercise and diet.

"The worst part for me are the fat pads that won't go away from my sides, which I think are called love handles," she said.

Consultation with your doctor before surgery is key, as liposuction is not about being perfect.

"If they don't have reasonable expectations, if you're not going to really help them or give them what they want, you really wouldn't want to do it," said plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Roberts.

Susan's procedure is done under general anesthesia.

Fluid is pumped into the targeted areas to improve fat removal and minimize bleeding. Small incisions are made and the doctor uses a cannula, a hollow device about the width of a pencil, to suck out the fat.

There are no regulations regarding training to do liposuction, so it's important your doctor has experience.

"The big thing we worry about is getting too superficial where you might suck out the fat right near the skin which can leave rippling," Dr. Roberts said. "And if you go too deep you can damage the deeper structures. So you want to stay in the proper plane and try and smooth everything out."

"I think this is a personal decision that makes me feel better," Susan said.

Dr. Roberts says after surgery, patients wear compression garments to help with healing and can usually return to their everyday lives within a few days.

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