BODYLUXE’S AWAKE LIPOSUCTION APPROACH
BodyLuxe offers FormSculpt awake liposuction in Chicago using tumescent local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. Patients typically remain awake and able to communicate while Dr. Farrugia shapes either a connected 360-degree contour or selected areas such as the arms, thighs, knees, chin, neck, or bra rolls. Your consultation turns the area you want to change into a personalized surgical plan.
FormSculpt at a glance
- Treatment: surgical liposuction through small access sites.
- Anesthesia: tumescent local anesthesia, with individualized medication for comfort when appropriate.
- Options: FormSculpt 360 or targeted-area treatment based on your goals and anatomy.
- Next step: show Dr. Farrugia the area you want to change and receive an individualized plan and quote.
What is FormSculpt awake liposuction?
FormSculpt is BodyLuxe’s branded approach to surgical liposuction with tumescent local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia. It can refine one focused area or connect neighboring areas so the overall contour looks balanced. Explore FormSculpt 360 for the midsection, arm liposuction, or the full procedure guide to find the area you want to change.
If your main question is what staying awake means, read our awake liposuction guide. It explains awareness, comfort planning and recovery considerations.
FormSculpt 360 and targeted FormSculpt
Targeted FormSculpt focuses on one or several selected areas. FormSculpt 360 considers the abdomen, waist, flanks and selected back regions as a connected contour. The exact areas are chosen with you and listed clearly before surgery; the name “360” does not automatically include every possible area.
Treatment areas
FormSculpt 360 areas
Upper and lower abdomen
Waist and flanks
Selected back regions identified in the individualized written treatment plan
Targeted FormSculpt areas
Upper arms
Inner thighs
Knees
Submental chin, neck and jawline contouring
Armpit or front bra-roll extensions when clinically appropriate and specifically included in the treatment plan
Your plan is built around your body rather than a preset package. During consultation, Dr. Farrugia helps identify which areas are most likely to make a meaningful difference for your proportions and goals.
Real FormSculpt results
Actual BodyLuxe patients. Individual results vary.
Targeted abdominal FormSculpt liposuction
Abdominal FormSculpt result. Individual results vary.
Personally planned and performed by Dr. Farrugia
Dr. Farrugia meets with you, evaluates your anatomy and goals, creates the treatment plan, performs the markings, and personally performs the liposuction. The BodyLuxe nursing team supports your preparation, comfort, and aftercare, while Dr. Farrugia remains involved through follow-up.
Is FormSculpt a good fit for the change you want?
FormSculpt is designed for localized subcutaneous fat that remains despite a reasonably stable weight. Good planning starts with what you see and feel: the area that bothers you, how your skin has changed, previous surgery or liposuction, and whether the contour comes from fat, skin, muscle, or abdominal-wall anatomy. Dr. Farrugia will tell you what liposuction can improve and when another procedure—or no procedure—would serve you better.
Your consultation is a straightforward conversation about what you want to change. You will leave knowing whether FormSculpt fits, whether another option makes more sense, and what the proposed treatment would include.
How your FormSculpt plan comes together
Dr. Farrugia performs the candidacy assessment, markings, and liposuction and remains involved in follow-up. Tumescent local anesthesia numbs the treatment area; additional medication may be used for anxiety, pain control, and comfort when appropriate. For FormSculpt 360, the written plan may connect the abdomen, waist, flanks, and selected back areas. Targeted FormSculpt focuses on the specific regions named in your plan and quote.
Your written plan lists the exact treatment areas, anesthesia and comfort plan, and expected recovery considerations before surgery.
After surgery, the BodyLuxe team guides day-to-day recovery and Dr. Farrugia remains involved in follow-up.
A practical recovery timeline
Soreness, bruising, swelling, firmness, temporary numbness, and drainage from the access sites can occur early. Short walks begin as directed, while compression, work, exercise, travel, and follow-up are individualized. Some desk-based patients return within several days to about a week; larger or combined plans may require longer. Early changes appear as swelling falls, with a more meaningful contour assessment commonly around three to six months.
Patients are encouraged to begin short, frequent walks after surgery as directed. Soreness, bruising, swelling, firmness, temporary numbness and some drainage from access sites may occur early.
Compression garments are worn according to your postoperative instructions, commonly for several weeks. They should feel supportive rather than painfully tight; the team explains what is normal and when to call.
Some patients with desk-based work may return within several days to approximately one week. Others need one to two weeks or longer. Physical work, extensive treatment and combined procedures generally require additional time.
Light walking is different from exercise. Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and high-impact activity resume only after clearance and may remain restricted for several weeks.
Swelling may increase during the first several days and then gradually improve. Firmness, altered sensation and residual swelling can persist for weeks or months. Early contour changes may become visible as swelling decreases, but the result should not be judged during the early postoperative period.
A more meaningful contour assessment commonly occurs around three to six months. Maturation may take longer after extensive treatment, prior liposuction or uneven swelling.
What liposuction can—and cannot—change
Visceral fat
FormSculpt removes subcutaneous fat that can be reached beneath the skin. It does not remove intra-abdominal or visceral fat. A protruding abdomen caused substantially by visceral fat may not flatten with liposuction, and weight management or other medical care may be more appropriate.
Skin laxity
Liposuction removes fat but does not remove substantial excess skin. Skin retraction varies with age, tissue quality, stretch marks, prior weight change, pregnancy and individual healing. Loose skin may remain, become more apparent after deflation, or require a separate procedure.
Muscle separation and the abdominal wall
Liposuction does not repair rectus diastasis, abdominal-wall laxity or a hernia. A patient whose abdominal contour is substantially caused by muscle separation or structural abdominal-wall changes may require another operation or referral.
Previous liposuction and scarring
Previous liposuction, abdominal surgery and internal scar tissue can make dissection and contouring more difficult and less predictable. They can increase procedural complexity, limit the amount that can reasonably be treated, increase the likelihood of residual irregularity and make staging or declining treatment appropriate.
When we may recommend more than one session
Treatment may be staged when the requested surface area, anticipated total lipoaspirate, body size, prior surgery, scar tissue, procedural duration, local-anesthetic considerations or combined procedures make one session inappropriate.
When skin-removal surgery may be a better fit
Excisional surgery may be more appropriate when substantial loose skin, an overhanging fold, poor skin recoil, major post-weight-loss laxity or abdominal-wall repair is the dominant issue. Liposuction is not a substitute for a tummy tuck or another skin-excision procedure when fat removal alone is unlikely to address the patient’s concern.
Body size and individualized planning
There is no single BMI cutoff. Body size can affect treatment planning, whether staging is helpful and overall cost. We will explain honestly what those factors mean for you.
Understanding the tradeoffs
Expected early effects can include soreness, bruising, swelling, drainage, firmness, temporary numbness or altered sensation, and contour changes caused by swelling.
FormSculpt is surgery. Important risks include bleeding or fluid collection, infection, delayed healing, scarring or pigment change, prolonged swelling or altered sensation, contour irregularity or asymmetry, skin injury, blood clots, medication or anesthesia complications, and possible revision. Liposuction removes accessible subcutaneous fat; it does not remove visceral fat, repair muscle separation, eliminate cellulite, guarantee skin tightening, or prevent later body changes. Dr. Farrugia reviews the risks and limitations specific to your health and treatment extent before you decide.
Before surgery, Dr. Farrugia reviews the risks most relevant to your health and treatment extent, answers your questions, and explains what to watch for during recovery.
FormSculpt is for contouring, not weight loss. It removes accessible fat beneath the skin; it does not remove visceral fat, repair muscle separation, or guarantee skin tightening.
Questions patients often ask
What is FormSculpt?
FormSculpt is BodyLuxe’s approach to liposuction using tumescent local anesthesia while you remain awake and able to communicate.
Are patients awake during FormSculpt liposuction?
Yes. Patients typically remain awake and able to communicate. Tumescent local anesthesia numbs the treatment area, and medication for anxiety and comfort may be used when appropriate.
What is the difference between FormSculpt 360 and targeted FormSculpt?
Targeted FormSculpt treats one or several selected areas. FormSculpt 360 plans connected areas around the abdomen, waist, flanks and selected back regions together. Your plan and quote will list exactly what is included.
Can FormSculpt treat one area instead of Lipo 360?
Yes. Targeted FormSculpt can focus on one area or a small group of connected areas when that approach fits your anatomy and goals.
Who may be a candidate for FormSculpt?
Good candidates are generally healthy, have localized areas they would like to reshape and understand what liposuction can and cannot change. Dr. Farrugia will evaluate your individual health, anatomy and goals.
Is FormSculpt a weight-loss procedure?
No. FormSculpt is intended to contour localized deposits of subcutaneous fat rather than treat obesity or produce weight loss.
Is financing available?
Pay over 2 years with zero interest using Cherry Payments or CareCredit (for eligible clients). Terms apply.
When can I return to work after FormSculpt?
Some patients with desk-based work may return within several days to approximately one week. Others need one to two weeks or longer. Physical work, extensive treatment and combined procedures generally require additional time.
When can FormSculpt results be evaluated?
A more meaningful contour assessment commonly occurs around three to six months. Final settling may take longer after extensive treatment, prior liposuction or uneven swelling.
Start with the area you want to change
Tell us what you would like to look different and what matters most to you. Dr. Farrugia will evaluate the contour, explain whether targeted FormSculpt or FormSculpt 360 fits, and provide a written plan with realistic expectations.
Clinically reviewed and approved by Daniel J Farrugia, MD PhD FACS
Last clinically reviewed: August 8, 2026
BodyLuxe is located at 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 3620, Chicago, Illinois 60611. Call (312) 999-5505 or request a consultation online to start the conversation.
Request a FormSculpt ConsultationThis page provides general education; your consultation, written plan, and informed-consent discussion provide the details specific to you. You can also read the American Society of Plastic Surgeons patient guide to liposuction.