Information about the procedure
Removal of localised fat deposits and contouring of the body through small incisions.
On this page
What it involves
Liposuction removes fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise. The procedure is carried out through small incisions using fine cannulas, with which the fat is broken up and suctioned out.
It is not a weight-loss method and does not address excess weight. Liposuction refines the contour in people with a relatively stable weight and localised problem areas.
Skin quality determines the result as much as the amount of fat removed. With good elasticity, the skin contracts and redrapes over the new contour. With poor elasticity, it remains loose and can sometimes look worse than before.
Types and approaches
Conventional tumescent liposuction
The tissue is infiltrated with a solution that reduces bleeding and makes suction easier. This is the standard and most versatile method.
Liposuction combined with fat grafting
The harvested fat is processed and used to add volume elsewhere — the buttocks, breasts or face.
Areas
Most commonly the abdomen, flanks, outer and inner thighs, back, area under the chin, lateral chest wall and upper arms.
Who it is suitable for
Suitable for
- Localised fat deposits that persist despite diet and exercise
- Good skin quality and elasticity
- A stable weight, close to normal for your build
- Disproportion between different areas of the body
- Realistic expectations about how much can be changed
Not suitable, or postponed, in cases of
- Significant excess weight — surgery is not a substitute for weight loss
- Poor skin elasticity with marked excess skin
- Unstable weight, or ongoing dieting with rapid changes in weight
- Blood clotting disorders, severe heart or lung disease
- Expecting cellulite to be removed — liposuction does not treat it
Preparation
- Assessment of the areas, skin quality and a realistic volume for removal
- Pre-operative tests and, for larger volumes, a consultation with an anaesthetist
- Stopping smoking
- Stopping blood thinners, as agreed with your doctor
- A compression garment ready for after surgery
How it is performed
Small areas are treated under local anaesthesia with sedation. Larger volumes and multiple areas require general anaesthesia. The procedure takes from 30 minutes to about three hours.
The incisions are a few millimetres long and are placed in natural creases or inconspicuous areas.
A compression garment is put on immediately after the operation and worn day and night for the first few weeks. It is not optional but part of the treatment — it determines how the skin redrapes.
Recovery
- The first 48 hoursLeakage of pink-tinged fluid from the incisions — expected and normal. The area feels bruised, as if after a heavy blow.
- The first weekBruising and swelling peak. Walking and light activity are encouraged. Most patients return to office work after 3–7 days.
- 2–4 weeksThe bruising fades. The area is still swollen and sometimes firm to the touch — this is a normal stage of healing.
- 1–3 monthsSwelling subsides considerably and the new contour begins to show. Firm areas soften, sometimes helped by massage or lymphatic drainage.
- 3–6 monthsFinal result. Judging the result before this point is misleading.
Pain and discomfort
For the first two or three days, the treated areas feel heavily bruised and achy, like muscle soreness after exercise, rather than sharply painful. The discomfort eases quickly. The compression garment feels tight, but it actually reduces pain. Standard painkillers are usually sufficient.
Risks and complications
Every intervention carries risks. Listing them does not mean they are expected to occur — it allows you to make an informed decision.
- Contour irregularities or rippling
- Asymmetry between the two sides
- Loose skin where elasticity is insufficient
- Prolonged swelling and firm areas
- Long-lasting changes in sensation
- Fluid collection (seroma)
- Infection — rare
- With very large volumes: fluid imbalance and fat embolism — rare but serious
Results and longevity
Fat cells that have been removed do not grow back. However, the remaining cells can enlarge if you gain weight, so the result depends on maintaining a stable weight.
With significant weight gain after liposuction, fat is distributed in a new and sometimes unexpected pattern.
The result can be assessed no earlier than the third month, and definitively at six months.