Liposuction

Liposuction can be used on most of the body and is commonly used to remove fat in typical ‘problem’ areas such as the stomach, around the hips and bum, in the chest, the tops of the legs and thighs, around the upper arms (so called bingo wings) and on and around the face in areas like the chin and neck. Liposuction is not a cure for cellulite and won’t prevent the patient from putting weight on but it will help to reshape particular troublesome areas and create a slimmer silhouette.

There are a number of different liposuction treatments, some such as surgical liposuction requiring a general anaesthetic to be administered, and others which can be carried out using a local anaesthetic. Liposculpture is one example of the new style liposuction which can be carried out under a local anaesthetic as is the less invasive laser lipolysis.

For liposuction to be carried out, the surgeon must insert a hollow suction tube through a small incision in the area to be treated. This suction tube is used to break up the pocket of fat. The broken down fat is then removed from the body, usually via a syringe or sometimes via a vacuum pump. There is no disruption to the connective tissue or muscles and a very thin layer of fat will be left – this is important to prevent the skin appearing dimply and uneven following the liposuction treatment.

Liposuction is often not painful but the patient may feel some discomfort in the form of stinging or pressure as the fat is removed. The post procedure recovery time can take around a week and some bruising around the treatment area is to be expected. Swelling may also occur and some patients may see fluid seeping out from the treated area but this should not last for more than a few days.

While the procedure itself won’t feel painful, the area being treated will feel sore afterwards. Bruising will be seen and there may be signs of swelling but the recovery time will typically be no longer than five – seven days.

A healthy diet and regular exercise can help to maintain liposuction results. Some patients may find that a second round of liposuction is required either to achieve the full desired results or to maintain the achieved result.

Costs vary from £1,500 to around £5,000 depending on the area(s) being treated.