Liposuction Surgery
About Liposuction Surgery
For a lot of people losing weight, toning up and achieving the figure they want requires a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise, but some can be left with stubborn pockets of fat that no amount of exercise or dieting can shift.
Liposuction surgery, also known as fat removal surgery, is designed to help remove these areas of fat and reshape particular areas of the body – remember it is not designed to be a quick weight loss tool!
Typical problem areas that can be treated with liposuction surgery include:
- Arms
- Inner and Outer Thighs
- Stomach (or Abdomen)
- Hips
- Knees
- Chin
Liposuction surgery can be performed on any area of the body and the technique is often used as part of other cosmetic surgery procedures such as the tummy tuck, breast reduction and male chest reduction.
You will need to book in for a free consultation where a nurse will assess your BMI (body mass index) to ensure the procedure is suitable for you. If you are very overweight it is likely that you will not be suitable for liposuction as there are physical limits to the amount of fat that can safely be removed from the body. Liposuction is a procedure best suited for body sculpting rather than weight loss.
BENEFITS OF HAVING LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
- Increased self confidence
- Motivation to pursue a healthier lifestyle
- Ability to have wider choice of clothes
- Feel more in proportion
THE PROCEDURE FOR LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
Liposuction or fat removal surgery is performed either under general anaesthetic or under local anaesthetic with sedation, and is often treated as a day case, meaning you will not have to stay in hospital overnight. The procedure usually takes between one and two hours to complete depending on the area being treated and how much fat is being removed. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the area being treated before inserting a thin plastic tube called a cannula. The other end of this cannula is attached to a powerful vacuum device which removes the fat quickly and efficiently.
LIPOSUCTION PRICES
Prices start from £3,110, but there is no set price for liposuction surgery as every single patient is different and treated on an entirely individual, case-by-case basis. In order to get a quote that is specific to you, find your nearest clinic and please book in for your free consultation with one of our nurses to discuss your requirements in complete confidence. The price you are given will include everything from the procedure itself, to the cost of your overnight stay and after care appointments – there are no hidden costs.
IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?
CHOOSING TO HAVE LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
There are many reasons why people choose to have liposuction surgery:
- Stubborn areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.
- A disproportionate figure - evident in women who are particularly pear-shaped and tend to store fat in the hip area, giving rise to a lack of self confidence and embarrassment
- A 'kick-start' into a more controlled eating or exercise regime.
- By removing areas of unwanted fat, this is often all that is needed to motivate and encourage a healthier lifestyle
WHO SHOULD HAVE LIPOSUCTION
The ideal liposuction candidate is at, or slightly below, their target weight, but with discreet resistant deposits of fat that so far have not responded to an appropriate diet and targeted exercise regime. Liposuction must not be thought of as an operation to lose weight, as the weight of the aspirated fat is very small in relation to total body weight. However, by targeting specific well-defined deposits of fat, clothes will fit better, and the figure is more in proportion which may give the appearance of significant weight loss.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE SURGERY?
You may be advised to lose some weight prior to your surgery to give you the best result to a particular area. At your Cosmetic Surgeon consultation you will need to discuss your expectations - the results will be far more successful if this is agreed with your Surgeon beforehand.
If you are a smoker, or take aspirin or any other medication, your Cosmetic Surgeon will wish to discuss this with you at your consultation. Your Cosmetic Surgeon will advise you when you are to discontinue and/or resume these activities.
THE DAY OF YOUR LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
Your Cosmetic Surgeon will visit you in your room and draw marks around the areas to be treated. He will also obtain your final consent and answer any last minute questions you may have. The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic, or local anaesthetic with sedation often as a day case, taking one - two hours. A very small incision is used to insert the cannula to extract the fat and sometimes this is closed with a stitch or dissolvable suture. When you wake up from your anaesthetic you will have a support garment applied. You will be offered painkillers and may be given antibiotics.
GOING HOME AFTER LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
Your Cosmetic Surgeon will discharge you. You will be offered painkillers and may be given antibiotics. You will need someone to accompany you/collect you to drive you home.
RECOVERY FROM LIPOSUCTION SURGERY
It is completely normal to experience swelling, bruising and soreness to the area after liposuction surgery but this should subside one to two weeks after the procedure. However, the full results of the surgery are often not seen until six weeks after surgery when the area returns to normal and the incisions have fully healed. Because the incisions made are so small, any scarring will be minimal and will fade quickly over time, leaving you with smooth skin in the treated area. Your surgeon will advise you on when you can commence normal daily activity and exercise, but you will normally be asked to take one to two weeks off work to recover. You will be required to wear a post-surgery support garment to help keep the treated area supported and protected.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
It is important that your decision to have a Cosmetic Surgery procedure is considered carefully. There are many points that should be considered before deciding to have any type of Cosmetic Treatment or Surgery.
There are also some possible risks, as with all surgical operations, which your Cosmetic Surgeon will talk through and explain to you at your consultation, answering any questions you may have. This is your opportunity to discuss your intended surgery in order that the Cosmetic Surgeon can ascertain your expectations as to what can realistically be achieved.
Our nurses advise you consider the following things before your surgery:
- Child care and post surgery activities including sleeping arrangements
- Have necessary post-operative garments
- How long will the effects of treatment keep me away from my usual activities?
- At what stage will I be able to judge the results of treatment?
- How long do the results last?
- When can I return to work?
At The Harley Medical Group our aftercare is second to none. You will have your own specially trained cosmetic surgery nurse to guide you through your procedure and aftercare. In fact with The Harley Medical Group you are looked after for life.
Our Cosmetic Surgeons are among the most skilled, qualified and experienced in the Cosmetic Surgery field and our fully qualified Cosmetic Surgery Nurses are specially selected for their expertise and approachability.
REAL LIFE STORIES
Carol Dempsey aged 33 had Liposuction Surgery at The Harley Medical Group. As a mother of three, aged 2, 14 and 16 she found that after she had her third child, she was carrying a lot of excess weight around her thighs and lower legs.
Read Carol's Liposcution Surgery experience here: