What does lipectomy mean?
A lipectomy is an operation in which fatty tissue is surgically removed from the body, most often to address excess subcutaneous fat beneath the skin. The term is especially associated with body-contouring procedures involving areas such as the abdomen, thighs, and flanks. In medical language, a lipectomy denotes the excision of tissue; liposuction more specifically refers to fat removal performed by suction. Although both terms can be used informally for cosmetic fat reduction, lipectomy is more formal and may also be used when surgery involves removing fat alongside other tissue. The word is most often encountered in clinical descriptions, surgical reports, and discussions of cosmetic or reconstructive procedures rather than everyday speech.
nounThe surgical removal of fatty tissue from the body, especially excess subcutaneous fat.
- The surgical removal of fatty tissue, particularly excess subcutaneous fat.
"The procedure involved a lipectomy to remove excess tissue from the patient's abdomen."
"She underwent a lipectomy to remove excess fatty tissue around her abdomen."
"The surgeon explained that a lipectomy differs from other body-contouring procedures because it involves excising tissue rather than merely reducing it."
The standard plural is lipectomies.
"The surgeon has performed hundreds of lipectomies over the course of her career."
Lipectomy is the formal medical term behind the familiar idea of surgically removing unwanted body fat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lipectomy come from?
Lipectomy was formed in modern scientific Latin from elements meaning “fat” and “excision” or “cutting out.” Its components come ultimately from Greek: lipos, meaning “fat,” and ektomē, meaning “a cutting out.” The same Greek root for fat underlies words such as lipid, lipophilic, and lipoma.
How lipectomy is actually used
The term is primarily used in medical and surgical contexts. Although it can refer broadly to surgical removal of fat, it is less common in general conversation than the more familiar term liposuction.
Easily confused with lipectomy
Lipectomy is the general term for surgically removing fatty tissue, whereas liposuction specifically describes removing fat by suction.