Liposuction

Why do patients request liposuction?
The main reason why individuals request liposuction is to try and improve their body contour. The best results from liposuction come from patients who want to have isolated areas of fat treated. Patients who are at their ideal weight with small deposits of fat get excellent results.

Large volumes of fat can be removed but the risks from the operation increase.

Are there any reasons not to have liposuction?
Liposuction is not a way to lose weight. If weight loss is the priority most patients will be given dietary advice and asked to return when they have lost weight.

Other reasons not to have liposuction include previous medical history, taking drugs such as warfarin, aspirin and the contraceptive “pill”, and smoking

What does the operation involve?
Liposuction as its name suggests uses suction to remove fat from the body. The simplest form is just suction assisted liposuction. Other techniques use externally applied or internally applied ultrasound to dissolve the fat before it is sucked out.

The operation is normally performed under a general anaesthetic but small areas can be treated under a local anaesthetic.

Small incisions are made in the skin to give access for the liposuction canullae and large amounts of fluid are injected into the areas to be treated to help the liposuction and prevent bleeding.

What you need to know

How long does the operation take?
The length of the operation varies depending on how much fat is being removed. The maximum amount of fat that is usually taken out is around 4.5 litres. This takes around 2-3 hours.

How long am I in hospital?
Normally patients are in hospital overnight but if small areas have been treated then the operation is done as a day case. When very large volumes of fat are removed patients can stay in for 2 nights.

What happens when I go home?
Patients who have had liposuction are sent home in tight fitting pressure garments to help control the swelling and bruising. The garments also help the skin to retract to give a good contour.

Patients have swelling and bruising that lasts for around 2 weeks. The final result is not normally visible for 3-4 months after surgery as it takes this long for the final swelling to go down.

Patients normally refrain from driving for a few days and return to completely normal activities after 4-6weeks.

Patients are review in the clinic after 2 weeks and then 2-3 months after surgery.

How long do I need off work?
Most patients take 10-14 days off work.

Will the operation need redoing in the future?
As with all aesthetic surgical operations there is a risk that the operation will need repeating. With liposuction due to the way the operation is performed unevenness can occur and may need adjustment.

What are the risks and complications of the operation?

• Bleeding and haematoma formation can occur as can seroma formation, which is a collection of clear fluid under the skin
• Wound infection and wound breakdown can occur
• Numbness of the area treated occurs and can take up to 12 months to return
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Poor aesthetic result
• Damage to underlying organs (this very very rare).