Liposuction in Houston, Texas, can help refine areas of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise, creating more proportionate body contours.
Dr. Eric Ruff is a Houston-trained plastic surgeon with advanced experience in aesthetic body contouring. He practices alongside Alfonso Barrera, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon and Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, offering trusted surgical care at West Houston Plastic Surgery.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, removes localized collections of fatty tissue to give you a smoother and slimmer body contour.Â
For the best results, you should be a relatively normal weight with extra fat localized in specific areas such as the hips, buttocks, and abdomen.Â
Liposuction is also effective in removing fat deposits from the back, legs, ankles, arms, face, and neck. This procedure is not a weight loss operation, but a body contouring procedure.
Who Is a Candidate for Liposuction?
Liposuction is designed for healthy men and women who want to improve body contours by removing stubborn fat. You may be a good candidate if you meet the following criteria:
- Close to your ideal weight:Â Within approximately 30 percent of your ideal body weight
- Stable weight:Â Not actively trying to lose a significant amount of weight
- Diet-resistant fat:Â Localized fat deposits that do not improve with diet and exercise
- Good skin elasticity:Â Firm skin with minimal excess, since liposuction removes fat, but not loose skin
- Healthy lifestyle:Â Regular exercise and balanced nutrition habits
- Realistic expectations:Â Understanding that liposuction shapes and contours the body, but is not a weight loss procedure
Common treatment areas include the abdomen, hips, buttocks, love handles, thighs, calves, ankles, back, arms, neck, and chest (including male breast enlargement).
Liposuction Consultation
Your consultation is designed to focus on your goals and determine whether liposuction is right for you.Â
During your visit, you may be asked to look in a mirror and point out the areas you would like improved. Photos may be taken for planning purposes, especially if the treatment areas include the back or buttocks. Dr. Ruff will also evaluate your skin elasticity and overall contour to determine what results are realistic.
You’ll discuss your current weight, long-term goals, and any future plans, such as pregnancy, that could affect your outcome.
Be prepared to review your full medical history, including prior surgeries, medical conditions, allergies, and medications. Conditions such as high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, or diabetes should be discussed, as they can influence surgical planning and safety.
How Does Dr. Ruff Perform Liposuction?
Liposuction is performed using a thin, hollow tube called a cannula to remove unwanted fat. Here’s how the process typically works:
Step 1: Small Incisions Are Made
Dr. Ruff makes small, carefully placed incisions in the treatment area to allow access for the cannula.
Step 2: Fat Is Loosened
The cannula is inserted beneath the skin to gently loosen the targeted fat. Depending on your needs, different techniques may be used:
- Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL):Â A vacuum device removes the loosened fat.
- Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL):Â A small motor helps the cannula move back and forth for more efficient fat removal.
- Ultrasound or Laser-Assisted Liposuction:Â Energy is used to break down fat before it is removed with suction.
Step 3: Fat Is Removed, and Contours Are Refined
Once the fat is loosened, it is carefully suctioned out to create smoother, more balanced contours.
During your consultation, Dr. Ruff will explain which technique, or combination of techniques, is best suited to your body and goals.
Before & After Liposuction
Liposuction Combined With Tummy Tuck
While liposuction is a procedure that removes excess fat, it cannot tighten skin or underlying muscles. In the cases that patients want to accomplish both, Dr. Ruff can combine liposuction with a tummy tuck. To start surgery, Dr. Ruff will remove all of the excess fat in the area. Then, he will move on to the tummy tuck portion of the procedure. This involves removing excess skin and tightening abdomen muscles. This combination allows patients to benefit from both procedures while reducing the recovery time they would experience had the surgeries been done separately.
What Our Patients Have to Say
"Thank you so much for taking such wonderful care of me. I appreciate all your time & effort. You are the best."
"Thank you all for the quality of service you give to your patients. You were wonderful!"
What Are the Different Types of Liposuction?
There are several different liposuction techniques that can help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
- Ultrasound-assisted:Â Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is sometimes used in conjunction with traditional liposuction. During ultrasound-assisted lipo, a small metal rod is inserted into the treatment area. This rod produces energy, which helps to break down stubborn fat cells.
- Suction-assisted:Â Suction-assisted lipo is the most commonly used technique. It involves an injection of tumescent fluid (a combination of water and salt). A small tube is then inserted under the skin, which is attached to a vacuum. The fat is then extracted via suction through the tube.
- Laser-assisted:Â Laser-assisted liposuction uses laser energy delivered through the cannula to help break down fat before it is removed. In some cases, the heat from the laser may also promote mild skin tightening in the treated area.
Why Choose West Houston Plastic Surgery?
Dr. Eric Ruff brings focused expertise in aesthetic body contouring to every liposuction procedure. A Houston native, he completed a highly competitive integrated plastic surgery residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch, where he trained extensively in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. His background includes experience at nationally recognized institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center and Shriners Hospital for Children. Dr. Ruff has published in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to surgical textbooks, and presented his research at professional meetings.
He practices alongside Alfonso Barrera, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience serving the Houston community. Dr. Barrera has held leadership roles within state and local plastic surgery societies and is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. Together, they operate in a fully accredited on-site surgical facility, allowing patients to undergo liposuction in a private, controlled setting focused on safety and comfort. Their combined experience and attention to detail help patients feel confident throughout every stage of the surgical process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our practice performs all aesthetic surgery procedures, including liposuction and body contouring, at our Accredited Ambulatory Surgical Facility (AAAASF).
Liposuction is performed under intravenous sedation and local anesthesia, without the need for general anesthesia. This means that you will not experience pain during the procedure, and there will be minimal pain afterward. This method of sedation provides added safety and faster recovery.
When performed by a board-certified medical professional, liposuction is very safe. However, since it is an invasive procedure, there are possible risks to having liposuction performed. Some of the most common risks associated with liposuction include:
- Infection
- Fluid buildup
- Numbness
- Bruising
- Asymmetry in contours
- Fat embolism
- Allergic reactions
Liposuction surgery usually improves contours. In some instances, it may be used in a circumferential fashion, thinning an area. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several months to get an accurate picture of the results of your surgery.
Liposuction requires small incisions to insert the cannula, the thin tube used to remove the fat. These incisions are placed carefully and typically heal well, fading over several months and becoming minimally noticeable for most patients.
The results of liposuction surgery are usually long-lasting, but they may be affected by weight gain, aging, pregnancy, and lifestyle factors.
Fat cells that are removed during liposuction are permanently eliminated. However, the remaining fat cells in the body can still enlarge if you gain weight. Maintaining a stable weight through healthy eating and regular exercise helps preserve your results long term.
Most patients return to light activities within a few days and resume work within about a week, depending on the extent of treatment. Swelling and bruising are common in the first few weeks. While you may notice improvement early on, final results typically become more visible over several months as swelling gradually resolves.
Yes. A compression garment is usually worn for several weeks after liposuction. It helps reduce swelling, supports the treated areas, and encourages the skin to conform to your new contours. Dr. Ruff will provide specific instructions based on your procedure and treatment areas.
Schedule A Consultation
During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your goals, ask questions, and learn whether liposuction is the right option for your body and expectations.
To learn more about liposuction, please call (713) 468-5200 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric Ruff at his office in Houston, TX.
