Buttocks, thighs and abdomen can be stubborn areas to lose excess fat or skin. Liposuction and body contouring can help slim and reshape those stubborn areas. During tumescent liposuction — the most common type of liposuction — the surgeon uses a thin tube (cannula) attached to a vacuum to remove fat from under the skin. In some cases, the surgeon may insert the cannula through several points to treat an area from different angles.