What is liposuction?
Liposuction, also known as lipectomy or lipoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that involves removing unwanted fat deposits from beneath the skin in specific areas, such as the buttocks, hips, thighs, neck, and chin, to alter the body’s natural contours. It is not designed as an alternative weight-loss method, and patients should have already reached or are close to reaching their goal weight. Liposuction is often combined with other surgeries where removal or redistribution of fat is needed, including breast surgeries, torsoplasty, abdominoplasty, thighplasty, and many others.
What can liposuction do for you?
Liposuction is a popular procedure which men and women may seek for the following reasons:
- Removal of unwanted fat deposits that don’t respond to a healthy diet and active lifestyle
- Permanent removal of fat cells that will not come back after surgery
- Can treat a variety of areas, and can be combined with other surgeries
- May be performed in combination with fat grafting techniques
- Treats conditions such as gynecomastia, lipoma, and post-traumatic psuedolipoma
Each patient will have their own reasons for seeking the procedure, and results will vary. This means a discussion with Dr Matt Starr is important to establish your goals and potential outcomes.
Am I a suitable candidate for liposuction?
To ensure patients receive tailored and appropriate care for their circumstances, they should meet specific criteria before undergoing liposuction. The procedure is often suited for individuals who are not obese, who have recently experienced massive weight loss or are at their goal weight. We recommend that patients maintain their weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet, as liposuction is not a controlled weight loss solution.
Another essential element is the elasticity of the patient’s skin, as ideally, the skin will shrink back to its original place after liposuction. Patients with significant excess skin, which can form due to natural ageing, pregnancy, and massive weight loss, may need to have the skin excised with liposuction. We also encourage individuals to have realistic expectations for their surgery, ensuring that their results are achievable and that they will be happy with the outcome.
Consultation with Dr Matt Starr
During your initial consultation with Plastic Surgeon Dr Matt Starr, which is required before undergoing any surgery, you will discuss your reasons for wanting liposuction, your expectations, and what you hope to achieve with such a procedure. It is an opportunity for patients to detail their concerns and ask any questions they may have regarding liposuction. Dr Starr will provide you with vital information about what will happen before, during, and after your surgery. You will need to provide your medical history, current health and lifestyle routines, and disclose any medications you are currently on or previous surgeries you may have had. Dr Starr will need to assess your chosen treatment areas to see how much excess fat and skin may be present there to ensure that you are close to, or have achieved, your goal weight and discuss your ongoing diet and exercise routine. All information you provide will be vital in helping Dr Starr determine a procedure plan that addresses your desired outcomes, health, and lifestyle.
The procedure
Liposuction is usually a day procedure performed under local or general anaesthetic, with surgery time dependent on the amount of fat to be removed and whether any excess skin needs removing. A few small incisions are made first in the chosen area for liposuction. After this, a fluid is injected to help soften the fat and prevent potential bruising. Then, a small, thin tube, known as a cannula, is inserted, removing the fat between skin and muscle. This process is completed multiple times in the chosen areas until the required fat has been removed. The tiny incisions are then closed with sutures to finish the procedure.
In some cases, if liposuction is being performed with other procedures, the removed fat may be reinjected elsewhere on the body. This is when the recipient site is prepped, and the removed fat is put through an advanced purification process to eliminate any fluids. Once complete, this purified fat is reinjected into the desired areas where patients may have experienced volume loss. Typically, these areas include the cheeks, breasts, and buttocks.
Recovery & aftercare
Directly following liposuction surgery, patients may experience swelling, numbness, and some pain, but these are typical symptoms expected to subside after several weeks. Pain medication may be prescribed to help manage any discomfort. Patients are also fitted with compression garments on the surgical sites to help reduce bruising and swelling and help support the body’s new contours. Patients usually can return to work after a few days of rest, but if the liposuction was performed extensively in multiple areas, they might need a couple of weeks to recover. It can take up to six months for the final outcome of your liposuction surgery to be revealed.
General aftercare instructions for liposuction surgery can include the following:
- Take sufficient time off work – generally 1-2 weeks
- Wear all prescribed compression garments
- Take all prescribed medications and creams
- Limit exercise and activity to walking and incline walking for roughly six weeks
- Start walking and moving a couple of days after surgery to prevent blood clots and other complications
- Do not shower until 24 to 48 hours post-surgery
- Do not take baths for the first two weeks
- Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
- Attend all post-operative appointments
What are the risks or complications associated with liposuction?
Patients should be aware that no matter the procedure, whether cosmetic or medical, risks and complications could potentially arise. This may be the case if there are health complications or patients do not adequately follow their aftercare plan. Liposuction surgery has the following potential risks and complications associated:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Changes to skin sensation and temporary numbness
- Uneven skin, rippling, or dimpling
- Poor scarring
- Excess bleeding
- Fluid accumulation under the surgical site
- Skin colour changes
- Fat necrosis – this only applies if fat is being redistributed elsewhere
- Infection
