Liposuction (body contouring)

Liposuction is a very common cosmetic procedure - it is the number one procedure carried out in the United States. We can use it on most parts of your body to remove unwanted areas of fat.

Liposuction is designed to improve your body contour. You should note that it is not designed for weight loss.

We sometimes use liposuction along with other surgery to remove excess fat, for example, with mini-abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or arm and thigh reduction.

Why might you consider liposuction?

Liposuction relies entirely for its effect on your skin’s ability to contract after fat has been removed from under it.

You could consider liposuction:

if you have pockets of excess fat that you want to remove from various parts of your body
if your skin is resilient enough to contract after fat removal.

What liposuction cannot do

Liposuction is not suitable:

for removing 'internal' fat, like that found in the typical male 'beer belly'
if you have skin with a tendency to show stretch marks.
Liposuction is less reliable if you are older, as your skin will not contract so well after fat removal.

Your specialist will check your skin's suitability at your initial consultation and advise you.

The operation

You have liposuction with local or general anaesthetic, depending on how many areas we are working on and how much fat is to be removed.

We make small incisions in your skin and insert suction tubes of varying size into the fat layer below. The unwanted fat is sucked out through the tubes.

After the operation

You usually have liposuction in small or moderate amounts as a day procedure. For larger amounts you will need to stay in hospital overnight.

Once your incisions are closed, you have a tight-fitting garment put on to reduce swelling. You will need to wear this garment for at least 6 weeks.

For the first week, you will need to wear it 24 hours a day every day - if you take it off at all during that time, the swelling is likely to be so rapid that you will not be able to get the garment back on!

Everyone feels some pain and discomfort after liposuction. Your specialist will discuss this with you. You will need at least 2 weeks off work following moderate or major amounts of liposuction.

You need to get mobile as soon as possible after the operation. Most people are back to normal levels of activity after 3 to 4 weeks. However, you need to restrict vigorous exercise such as gym work for at least 6 weeks.

Your specialist will inform you fully at your consultation about what to expect.

The end result

You will have small scars where the liposuction tubes have been inserted. Most scars are hidden in natural skin creases.

The outcome for you is an improvement in your body contour and symmetry.

Your specialist will give you a realistic idea of what can be achieved.

Risk of complications

As with all surgery, complications are always a possibility. Liposuction has been treated by the popular press as a simple, fail-safe procedure, able to be done by anyone. It is not. The reality is you need properly qualified surgeons to carry out liposuction.

Your specialist will inform you fully at your consultation of any risk of complications.

Arrange a consultation

Options for abdominal reshaping

Use the links below to find out more.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
Mini-abdominoplasty with or without liposuction

Options for arm and leg reshaping

Use the link below to find out more.

Arm and leg reshaping