Awake Liposuction Procedures in Beverly Hills, CA | Hakimi Plastic Surgery Hakimi Plastic Surgery

Overview Total Definer Lipo Fat Transfer Results Combining Procedures What to Expect Recovery

You don’t have to be asleep during surgery to get real body contouring results. Awake liposuction allows you to remove stubborn fat, refine your contours and stay comfortable throughout, all without general anesthesia.

Dr. Hakimi is one of the few board-certified plastic surgeons in the Beverly Hills area specializing in awake liposuction. This advanced technique is less invasive than traditional lipo, resulting in just two days of downtime and a quicker, smoother recovery.

Before & Afters

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LIPOSUCTION OVERVIEW

01 // What It Is

Liposuction is used to permanently remove stubborn fat throughout the body. It is most commonly used in the following areas:

Abdomen
Back
Flanks (“love handles”)
Arms
Hips
Thighs
Chin

02 // Why You Want It

You exercise regularly and watch what you eat, but are still bothered by pockets of stubborn fat. Liposuction is the most effective technique for sculpting and contouring your body.

03 // How We Do It

Dr. Hakimi utilizes the most advanced liposuction techniques to help you achieve your goals.

Awake Liposuction — Local anesthesia with oral medication
Total Definer Liposuction — General anesthesia
Fat Transfer — Local anesthesia; provides natural enhancement of the face and buttocks (Brazilian butt lift)

04 // Recovery Time

2 – 3 days; with our recovery protocol, you will see your results in 1 month

Awake Liposuction

What Is Awake Liposuction?

Awake liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes stubborn fat using local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. You are not fully asleep during surgery. Instead, oral medication is used to help you relax, and the treatment area is numbed to keep you comfortable while Dr. Hakimi sculpts with precision.

The goal is the same as traditional liposuction: to remove unwanted fat from areas that do not respond well to diet and exercise. The difference is the experience. Because awake lipo avoids general anesthesia, many patients are able to recover with less downtime than what might be expected from a surgical body contouring procedure.

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“Awake lipo changes everything about the experience. Patients don’t have to fast before surgery, they avoid the risks of general anesthesia, and they leave the office feeling like themselves, not groggy or nauseous.“

Dr. Hakimi

What Areas Can Awake Lipo Treat?

Awake lipo can be used to refine many of the areas where stubborn fat tends to linger, even with consistent diet and exercise. Common treatment areas include:

Lipo 360
Abdomen
Flanks, also called love handles
Chest
Back
Arms
Hips
Thighs
Chin and neck
Bra roll or underarm area
Lipedema liposuction in the legs and arms
BBL reduction

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How Does Awake Lipo Work?

01 // Before Your Procedure

Your awake lipo experience starts before surgery with a consultation and a personalized treatment plan. Dr. Hakimi evaluates your concerns, skin quality, body proportions and goals to determine whether awake liposuction is the right approach or whether another option, such as Total Definer Lipo, would be more appropriate.

02 // During Your Procedure

On the day of your surgery, awake lipo involves fewer pre-op restrictions than liposuction performed under general anesthesia. You’re able to have your morning coffee, eat a normal breakfast and arrive feeling excited for your transformation.

To begin your procedure, Dr. Hakimi makes small entry points and infuses the treatment area with tumescent solution. This part of the process takes time because the area needs to become fully numb before fat removal begins. Once the medication has taken effect, most patients feel pressure, movement or tugging rather than pain.

A thin cannula is then used to break up and remove unwanted fat. While Dr. Hakimi works, you remain relaxed but responsive. Some patients listen to music, some chat with the team, and others simply rest while the procedure is performed. If an area feels sensitive, you can say so, and Dr. Hakimi will adjust as needed.

03 // After Your Procedure

After awake liposuction, you leave our office the same day feeling awake and alert. Since general anesthesia is not used, there is no post-anesthesia fog, no breathing tube-related sore throat and less concern about nausea or grogginess. While you can resume most normal activities within 48 hours, you should still rest and take it easy once you’re home.

How Does Awake Lipo Compare to Traditional Liposuction?

Liposuction is not one-size-fits-all. One approach might make more sense for your body, your goals and the amount of sculpting you want done.

Awake lipo is often ideal for targeted contouring in specific areas, while traditional liposuction may be better for larger or more involved surgical plans. Here’s how the two approaches compare.

Awake Lipo vs. Traditional Lipo

Awake liposuction

Traditional liposuction

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia with oral medication

General anesthesia

Consciousness

Awake but relaxed

Fully asleep

Experience

No fasting, no breathing tube; numbing keeps you comfortable

Requires fasting and breathing tube; general anesthesia keeps you comfortable

Recovery

Less grogginess, patients walk out of the office alert

Post-op grogginess and lingering effects of general anesthesia

Best for

Targeted fat removal, Lipo 360, precision contouring

Larger areas; multiple areas in a single session

Downtime

2-day downtime; mostly a “social downtime”

Often longer, depending on scope of procedure

Is Awake Lipo Right for Me?

Awake liposuction is a great option for men and women who want to reduce stubborn fat and sculpt a more balanced shape without making the procedure a bigger deal than it needs to be. It is especially well-suited for people who are close to their goal weight but still have areas that haven’t responded to diet and exercise.

You may be a good candidate for awake lipo if you:

Want to sculpt and refine the abs, arms, flanks, back, thighs or other areas
Have a stable weight and a plan to maintain your results
Have firm, healthy skin, or understand that skin tightening may be recommended
Prefer to avoid general anesthesia when local anesthesia is appropriate
Are comfortable being awake but relaxed during your procedure
Do not smoke or are willing to stop before surgery
Have realistic expectations about what awake lipo can and cannot do

During your consultation, Dr. Hakimi will determine if your goals, anatomy and treatment areas align with awake liposuction. If you want several larger areas treated or need a more aggressive approach, Dr. Hakimi may recommend Total Definer Lipo under general anesthesia instead.

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What IsAwake Liposuction Recovery Like?

01 // First 24 Hours

You’ll go home shortly after your procedure without the grogginess and nausea associated with general anesthesia. You’ll be wrapped in compression garments and can expect swelling, soreness and drainage from the small entry points that lasts about two days. Use absorbent pads to help protect your clothing and furniture.

02 // First 48 Hours

As drainage subsides, most patients feel ready to resume normal activities, including desk work, errands, and simple tasks around the house. Wear your compression garments as directed, and start with your lymphatic massages — these will noticeably reduce swelling and improve your overall comfort.

03 // 1-2 Weeks

Compression garments remain important for helping the skin conform to your new contours. While you’ll feel back to normal by now, hot tubs, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided until cleared by Dr. Hakimi.

04 // 2-4 Weeks

Swelling will significantly decrease a few weeks after surgery, giving you a glimpse of your final results. Continued refinement may occur for up to six months as your contours settle and any residual swelling subsides.

05 // 1-2 Months

Compression garments come off after six weeks, and you can start enjoying your new body one to two months after surgery. If your liposuction was combined with Renuvion skin tightening, those results will start to appear after two to three months as collagen production increases.

What Results Can I Expect From Awake Lipo?

You’ll notice a difference immediately after your procedure, but early results will be partly hidden by swelling. That’s normal. Liposuction is a process of refinement, and your body needs time to adjust to its new shape. Most patients begin to see their final results about one month after surgery, with continued improvement as treated areas soften and smooth out.

The fat cells removed during awake liposuction are permanently gone. That means the treated area should stay sculpted as long as your weight remains stable. However, liposuction does not stop the remaining fat cells from expanding if you gain weight later, so healthy habits still matter if you want to maintain your results long-term.

Skin quality also plays a role in your final outcome. If your skin has good elasticity, it is more likely to retract smoothly after fat removal. If you have loose skin, Dr. Hakimi may recommend adding Renuvion J-Plasma skin tightening to help create a firmer, more defined result.

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Can Awake Lipo Be Combined With Other Procedures?

Yes. Awake lipo can be combined with other procedures when the goal is more than fat removal. Liposuction can sculpt targeted areas, but it does not dramatically tighten loose skin or add volume somewhere else. That is where combination planning can make your results look more complete and balanced.

As Beverly Hills’ leading expert in awake body contouring, Dr. Hakimi often combines awake lipo with BBL fat transfer to improve the shape and proportion of the buttocks without general anesthesia. He also uses this approach to fill in hip dips and create a smooth, hourglass figure. Renuvion skin tightening is another popular add-on that supports firmer contours, particularly for patients with loose skin due to pregnancy, weight loss or aging.

For patients who want to maintain their results after surgery, Dr. Hakimi also offers medical weight loss with semaglutide and tirzepatide. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are GLP-1 receptor agonists that reduce food cravings, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet.

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What Sets Dr. Hakimi Apart?

In Beverly Hills, Dr. Hakimi is known for his expertise in awake procedures, including awake liposuction, awake BBL and awake breast augmentation. His approach is designed for patients who want targeted fat removal and a surgical experience that avoids general anesthesia when local anesthesia is the right fit.

Awake body contouring expertise: Dr. Hakimi has performed thousands of procedures using local anesthesia, including awake lipo, awake BBL and awake breast augmentation.
Strategic treatment planning: Every surgical plan includes a skin quality assessment, body proportion analysis and a discussion of awake vs. general anesthesia lipo, so the approach fits your goals and anatomy, not the other way around.
Combination options: When appropriate, awake lipo can be combined with Renuvion skin tightening, fat transfer or awake BBL for more comprehensive results.
Accredited surgical setting: Awake lipo is performed in the Transformation Room, Hakimi Plastic Surgery’s AAAASF-certified operating room in Beverly Hills, with hospital-grade equipment, continuous monitoring and a dedicated recovery area.

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FAQ

Is awake liposuction painful?

No. Treatment areas are fully numbed with local anesthesia before fat removal, so awake liposuction isn’t considered painful. Most patients feel pressure, movement, vibration or tugging, but are able to chat and relax during surgery. If an area feels particularly sensitive, you can let Dr. Hakimi know so he can adjust.

What happens if I gain weight after liposuction?

This is a common question our patients ask. Every individual has a certain number of fat cells. When you undergo liposuction, you’re permanently reducing the number of fat cells in the treated area, so if you gain weight afterward, it often shows up elsewhere in the body. This is one reason Dr. Hakimi does not recommend “piecemeal” liposuction. Treating one isolated area without considering the rest of the body can create disproportionate results, especially if your weight changes later.

How much does awake lipo cost in Beverly Hills?

The cost of awake liposuction in Beverly Hills depends on the number of areas treated and whether your surgical plan includes skin tightening, fat transfer or awake BBL. A smaller, targeted area will usually be priced differently than Lipo 360 or a more customized body contouring plan. During your consultation, Dr. Hakimi will evaluate your anatomy and goals before providing a personalized quote. We offer financing through Cherry, PatientFi, CareCredit and Alphaeon, with flexible payment plans available for qualified patients.

Is liposuction permanent?

As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle after your procedure, the results of liposuction are considered permanent. Once fat cells are removed, they cannot regrow or otherwise come back. However, significant weight changes can cause the remaining fat cells to expand, even in treated areas, or make weight gain appear more noticeable in untreated areas.

Does it matter if I’ve had CoolSculpting, SculpSure or other nonsurgical treatments prior to liposuction?

Undergoing nonsurgical body contouring treatments such as CoolSculpting or SculpSure prior to liposuction can have an impact on the surgical process and your final outcome. These nonsurgical treatments can cause inflammation and scar tissue, which isn’t necessarily a major issue, but something that surgeons take into consideration. The presence of scar tissue can make the fat in these areas denser and less pliable, which might affect how easily it can be removed or transferred. Despite these considerations, many patients still achieve meaningful improvements from liposuction after nonsurgical treatments.

How much fat can be taken out with liposuction?

The exact amount of fat that can be safely removed depends on several factors, including your overall health and the areas being treated. However, in an outpatient setting, the limit in California is 5 liters (approximately 11 pounds) of total aspirate, which includes fat and fluid. This applies regardless of whether your procedure is done under local or general anesthesia.

Can I get awake lipo and awake BBL at the same time?

Yes, awake lipo can be combined with fat transfer, including awake BBL, for qualified patients. Dr. Hakimi can remove fat from areas such as the waist, flanks, abdomen or back, then transfer it to the buttocks or hips to improve shape and proportion without general anesthesia. The best candidates have enough usable fat and goals that can be safely treated in an awake procedure.

Will liposuction eliminate cellulite or tighten the skin?

Liposuction is designed to eliminate excess fat. It will not have a significant effect on cellulite or loose skin. If you have a large amount of loose skin, you can combine liposuction with Renuvion skin tightening for the best results. To reduce the appearance of cellulite, there are many nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments available. During your consultation, talk to Dr. Hakimi about your concerns so he can create a comprehensive treatment plan just for you.

Is awake liposuction safe?

Awake liposuction is considered safe and effective when performed by a highly trained, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Hakimi. However, as with any surgical procedure, it does carry some risks, including infection, bleeding, contour irregularities and changes in skin sensation. These risks can be minimized by closely following Dr. Hakimi’s advice before and after surgery. During your initial consultation, he will discuss the risks and benefits of liposuction in more detail to help you make an informed decision regarding your procedure.

Meet With Beverly Hills’ Awake Lipo Expert

At Hakimi Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Hakimi is known for helping patients achieve a sculpted figure with advanced body contouring options. His reputation as an expert in awake lipo has made him highly sought-after by those in Beverly Hills and beyond who prefer a less invasive way to permanently reduce unwanted fat.

If you want a more defined shape with a treatment plan built around your anatomy, comfort and goals, a consultation is the right place to start. Book online or call our office today at 424-239-5201 to speak with our team and find out what’s possible for you.

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