Liposuction. Image 11 of 11. Surgeon using a cannula (tube) to remove fat from a patient's buttock during a liposuction operation. This cosmetic surgery procedure removes unwanted fat from areas such as the hips, upper thighs and buttocks. The cannula is inserted through a small incision in the skin, and is used to break up fatty deposits. The residue is then sucked out down a plastic tube by a powerful vacuum into a storage container (right). For a sequence showing a liposuction procedure, see images M590/260 to M590/270.