Flabby flanks, also known as “love handles”, are not something most people want to have. They affect your natural curves and make you appear bulkier than you really are. Thankfully, flank liposuction can get rid of these handles and grant you a better appearance with a more fetching contour.
Flanks are one of the common areas that people prefer to target with liposuction in Turkey. They extend from the bottom of the rib cage and hip. Thus, they are technically residing in the lower mid-body, not in the upper back.
Flank liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure to remove fat from flanks. Other noninvasive procedures are available to remove the fat bulges from the area. According to a study, flank fat bulges can be removed by using cryolipolysis, which is safe and effective, but may not reach the effectiveness of flank lipo.
What Is Flank Liposuction?
Flank liposuction or flank lipo is a surgical procedure to remove stubborn fat in the lower midsection, which forms the “love handles”. The pockets of fat in this area are very resistant and very challenging to remove with conventional means such as diet and exercise.
If you’re seeking a smaller waist, this procedure might be the right one for you. You can also lose around 5 liters of excess fat, but keep in mind that this procedure isn’t a weight loss surgery. Important to notice here that flank lipo is different than back lipo. Click here to read more about back liposuction.
Benefits of Flank Liposuction
Both men and women can undergo the procedure to get a shapelier body without weirdly looking “love handles”. The benefits that you can get include:
- Provide a better-contoured waist with overall proportions
- Give you the opportunity to try new clothing options that fit much better
- Is a minimally invasive procedure with limited downtime
- Remove flabby flanks and slim down the fat on both sides of the body
- Sculpt the body and turn it into a V-shaped figure, especially in men
Candidates for Flank Liposuction
The procedure is an ideal choice for people who meet the following criteria:
- Healthy, without critical medical conditions, and with elastic skin
- Have realistic and attainable expectations about the procedure
- Have fat deposits in the flank or waist region
- At or near their ideal weight (not obese)
The procedure of Flank Liposuction
The steps of this procedure differ according to the liposuction technique used by the surgeon. For instance, some clinics rely on Vaser liposuction to gently remove fat from the flank area. Other clinics, on the other hand, rely on tumescent liposuction to do the job.
Vaser liposuction is precise and can achieve great results. Tumescent liposuction is also great to remove subcutaneous fat. Regardless of the technique used, the steps of flank lipo may include:
Anesthesia
To spare you any unwanted pain or discomfort, your surgeon will put you under anesthesia. Once you’re sleeping, they will start cleaning and marking the surgical site.
Making the Incisions
Your surgeon needs to make small incisions in your flank to provide access to a liposuction cannula.
Cannula Insertion
Depending on the technique used, your surgeon may use a cannula to dislodge fat cells and extract them from your body.
Closing the Incisions
Finally, your surgeon should seal the incisions with dissolvable stitches. They also may wrap the treated area with bandages.
Flank Liposuction Before and After Pictures
Flank lipo is a life-changing body sculpting procedure for many people. The degree of change may differ from one case to another, but they all agree on the extent of improvement provided by this procedure.
Below are selected flank lipo before and after images. You can also click here to check other liposuction before and after images.
Abdominal and Flank Liposuction
Targeting both the abdominal area and flanks is a possible choice for those who seek better contouring and overall shape improvement. However, targeting more than one area by liposuction is not cheap and may require more downtime.
Some surgeons also provide flank lipo along with tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. Combining these two procedures may improve both the abdomen and flank and may not increase potential complications such as fluid building up under the skin (seroma). A study investigated the matter of combining both procedures and didn’t find evidence to associate them with seroma formation, but the researchers found a link between being obese and a higher risk of complications after the surgery.
Abdominal and flank liposuction can remove fat semi-permanently from your body, and their results can last for years, especially if you maintain a normal weight by following a healthy lifestyle.
Nonetheless, you can choose to have lipo 360, also known as circumferential liposuction, which targets the midsection to create a more contoured shape and a smaller waistline. If you’re a plus-sized person, you can choose plus-size lipo 360, which combines plus-size liposuction with circumferential liposuction.
Flank Liposuction Recovery
After the surgery, you may feel your flanks swollen and sensitive, but that’s usually temporary. To get a smooth, seamless recovery after the procedure, your surgeon may recommend you stick to the following instructions:
- Avoid putting extra pressure on the surgical site and try to sleep on your back at night.
- Wear a compression garment to reduce the swelling and stabilize the results. You may need to continue wearing it for 1-2 weeks after the procedure.
- Take painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications as directly only by your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous activities in the month following the procedure.
- Expect to see immediate results after the procedure, but the full results may need 1 or 2 months to fully appear.
- You can back to your normal daily activities after 1-2 weeks of the surgery.
Flank Liposuction Cost
The cost of flank lipo is somewhat average since this is a fairly small area that can be easily targeted by Vaser lipo or traditional lipo. Nonetheless, the overall pricing is highly dependent on different factors, such as doctors’ experience or reputation and location. Liposuction cost in Turkey remains the cheapest option on the map.
Turkey is often regarded as the paradise of liposuction due to the affordable treatment offered in the country for international patients. You can easily find experienced doctors who perform flank lipo and other types of plastic surgery at affordable costs.
The table below provides the estimated cost of flank lipo in different countries:
| Turkey | 2500-4000 US dollars |
| United States | 3500-6000 US dollars |
| United Kingdom | 3100-5000 US dollars |
| South Africa | 3000-6000 US dollars |
| Germany | 3200-5000 US dollars |
| Canada | 3400- 7000 US dollars |
Risks of Flank Liposuction
The risks of flank lipo are similar to other kinds of liposuction that target other body areas. The likelihood is developing complications after the surgery is low, but some cases may show side effects such as:
- Infection and fever
- Poor healing
- Visible scars
- Blood clots
- Loss of sensation
The Bottom Line
Flank lipo is an underrated procedure that can actually bring great results and eliminate love handles and fat pockets around the midsection of your body. The procedure is minimally invasive and less traumatic compared to other surgical procedures that target the same area.
International Clinics provides different kinds of liposuction, including flank lipo and thigh lipo using diverse techniques. Thousands of international patients choose to visit Turkey every single year to undergo plastic surgery in our clinics. You can contact us directly by using the contact us buttons below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to Sleep After Flank Liposuction?
You must avoid sleeping on your abdomen or sides if these positions put additional pressure on the surgical site. Sleeping on the back might be the right choice but avoid this position too if it affects the surgical stitches.
How Much Fat Can Be Removed with Flank Liposuction?
The amount of fat removed by flank liposuction varies among cases, but many patients can lose up to 4-5 liters of fat through the procedure.
How Painful Is Lipo Flanks?
Lipo flanks isn’t a painful procedure, but you may feel minor discomfort after the surgery. Surgeons often prescribe painkillers to patients who complain of pain in the treated areas.
Does Flank Lipo Include Back?
Flank lipo is different from back lipo. However, surgeons can combine flank and back lipo, but this may involve extended downtime and more costs.
Are Flanks the Same as Love Handles?
Love handles are often referring to large, bulging flanks. So, technically, flanks and love handles are basically the same things.
Does Coolsculpting Work on Flanks?
Coolsculpting can work on flanks and eliminate the fat pockets in that area. However, results obtained by Coolsculpting may not be satisfactory compared to those of flank lipo.
What Happens If You Get a Tummy Tuck Without Lipo Flanks?
A tummy tuck doesn’t typically include lipo flanks in the first place. The procedure targets the abdominal fat and muscles, not the fat in the flank region. However, some people prefer to get both procedures at the same time to get better results.
