Dr. Forest S. Roth uses the tumescent technique: a dilute solution containing epinephrine (to minimize bleeding) and lidocaine (local anesthetic) is infused into the treatment area before fat removal. Small incisions — typically 2–4 mm — are placed in inconspicuous locations. A thin cannula (hollow tube) is passed through the incisions to break up and suction out the targeted fat, sculpting the contour precisely. The technique minimizes blood loss and supports a more comfortable recovery.

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It is a body contouring technique best suited for patients who are at or near their ideal weight but have localized fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. Ideal candidates for liposuction with Dr. Forest S. Roth are within approximately 20–30% of their goal weight, have good skin elasticity, and have realistic expectations about contour improvement — not overall weight reduction.

Fat cells removed by Dr. Roth during liposuction are permanently eliminated — they do not regenerate. The results are long-lasting when a stable weight is maintained. Significant weight gain after surgery can cause remaining fat cells in treated and untreated areas to enlarge, which may alter the contour over time. Patients who maintain a consistent healthy lifestyle after liposuction typically preserve their results for many years.

Liposuction incisions are very small — typically 2–4 mm — and Dr. Roth places them in natural skin creases or other inconspicuous locations whenever possible. Once healed, these entry points appear as small, faint marks that are difficult to detect. They do not require sutures in many cases and heal to near-invisible scars in most patients over 6–12 months.

Most patients treated by Dr. Forest S. Roth, MD, FACS return to desk work within 7–14 days. A compression garment is worn continuously for 4–6 weeks, which controls swelling and helps the skin conform to its new contour. Initial improvement is visible at 4–6 weeks as swelling resolves; the final, refined shape takes 3–6 months to fully emerge as residual swelling completely clears.

Traditional liposuction removes fat effectively but does not address skin laxity — the overlying skin retracts on its own based on its existing elasticity. BodyTite, offered by Dr. Forest S. Roth as an advanced option, delivers radiofrequency energy internally alongside fat removal to simultaneously contract and tighten the overlying skin. This makes BodyTite particularly valuable for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity who want improved contour without the more extensive scar of an excisional procedure. Dr. Roth recommends BodyTite for appropriate candidates — most often for abdominal contouring where patients want meaningful skin tightening without committing to a full tummy tuck.