Liposuction

Liposuction or liposculpture is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted fat and may also sculpt the selected areas to the desired shape.

Surgeons at Sthetix Liverpool are highly trained to carry out liposuction, with surgeries carried out at a number of CQC registered hospitals in the North West. Having performed large numbers of this procedure, our surgeons are some of the most experienced and fully qualified Consultant Plastic surgeons in the country. As members of BAAPS, BAPRAS and/or ISAPS, surgeons are required to have demonstrated a high skill level, as well as completed accredited specialist training.

 

 

Who is suitable?

Some people at or near healthy weight often find they have stubborn areas of fat that won’t shift with diet and exercise. Liposuction is ideal for targeting these hard to shift areas of fat and can be a life changing procedure for the right person. It is not a weight reduction operation.

In some cases, pockets of fat are associated with loose, excess skin, and in these cases, liposuction alone may not correct the problem. For this, additional procedures involving skin excision, like tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), or skin tightening procedures such as Laser Lipo (SmartLipo Triplex) or Thermage may be required.

It is important to remember that liposuction is a major surgical procedure, and for this reason, a suitable candidate must be medically fit and psychologically stable. A detailed consultation directly with a Consultant Plastic Surgeon will provide you with the required information to make an informed decision.

 

 

Before surgery:

 

Prior to surgery you will be asked:

 

• To stop smoking. Smoking introduces toxins into the blood which increase the risk of healing problems, loss of skin and anaesthetic complications. It is essential that smokers stop well before the surgery date (at least 6 weeks) and do not start again until wounds have completely healed.


• To discontinue oral contraceptive pills (use alternative methods)/ HRT


• Not to take aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs as they increase the risk of bleeding


• Not to take off-the-shelf herbal medicines or nutritional supplements.

You will be required to attend a medical examination at a pre-operative assessment clinic where certain tests may be carried out to ensure your safety during anaesthesia and surgery.

 

The procedure:

The procedure is carried out either under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia (you are awake) with sedation. Liposuction may be carried out as a day case, which means that you can have the operation and go home the same day.  However, for more extensive treatments, an overnight stay may be necessary.

Liposuction involves making a number of tiny punctures in and around the area to be treated.

The common methods used in our Liverpool and Southport hospitals are advanced, power assisted liposuction or laser liposuction. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your surgeon will inject a fluid mixture containing a salt solution, local anaesthetic and adrenaline into the fatty area being treated. This helps reduce bleeding, bruising and swelling and makes it easier to remove the fat cells.

After this, a small puncture will be made in the skin and a thin metal tube called a cannula will be inserted.  This will be attached to a vacuum pump or a syringe and will be moved about within the fatty tissue to suck out the fat and the fluid.  For larger areas, more than one puncture may be made to reach all the fatty deposits that are being treated.

After liposuction, the treated area will be firmly strapped with bandages or elasticated tape. In most cases, you will be fitted with an elasticated support garment. This will help to reduce swelling and help your skin mould to your new shape.

 

 

Recovery:

 

You will be given painkillers to help relieve any discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off. Before you are discharged, your nurse will give you advice about caring for your stitches, hygiene and bathing.

 

You will be advised to keep yourself hydrated by drinking adequate quantities of fluids.

 

You will usually need to wear the elasticated garment or bandages for up to six weeks, depending on your surgeon's advice.  They can usually be temporarily removed for short periods to be washed or when you bathe.

• Returning to work:  Your surgeon will give you advice about resuming your normal activities.  If you only had small areas treated, a few days of rest may be all that is required. For larger operations, you may need 1-2 weeks to recover.



• Exercise:     You may need to avoid strenuous exercise for up to a month, but walking and gentle exercises are encouraged as soon as you are comfortable.


• Driving: When you can drive depends on where and how extensive the surgery was, and you should seek advice from the surgeon.

It may be several months before you can see the full results of your operation as the swelling can take a long time to completely settle down.  It helps if you have skin with good elasticity, which is more likely to shrink and fit the new shape.

 

 

Potential risks and Limitations:

The most common cause of dissatisfaction after liposuction is a mismatch what patients expect, and what can physically be achieved by this procedure. As a result of this, it is important to have realistic expectations and an understanding of what is physically achievable.

Liposuction is invasive surgery and depending on the extent of the procedure, may constitute a major surgical operation. As with any surgical procedure, after liposuction, patients experience some discomfort, swelling and bruising around the treated area. Potential risks include haematoma, infection, loss of skin, loss of sensation, persistent pain and uneven skin surfaces. In the presence of excess skin, liposuction alone may not correct the problem and skin excision or tightening procedures may be required. In such cases, liposuction alone may leave loose redundant skin.

 

 

After care:

Your wellbeing is our first priority.  To monitor your progress we will arrange appointments at appropriate intervals for follow-up examinations with your surgeon.  All your aftercare is fully included in the cost of surgery.

When you are discharged, care instructions will be given to you and you will have 24 hour access to trained staff who will be there to advise you should you have any questions or concerns.

2 weeks after surgery, one of our trained staff will see you and check your wounds. The surgeon who performed your surgery will see you after 6 weeks for a follow-up and as often as required until you are fully recovered. This follow-up is a standard and will be provided at no extra cost.

In the unlikely event of a problem, arrangements will be made for you to be seen by trained staff, and if required, by the surgeon who performed the procedure. As all our surgeons live and work locally, it is always possible to see your surgeon at relatively short notice, if required. Our surgeons don’t leave the country, or indeed the local area after performing the surgery. On the rare occasion that the surgeon leaves the local area for other commitments, there will always be another trained plastic surgeon from our team available to provide care.

In the unlikely event of a complication which is directly related to your surgery, we will provide or arrange further surgery and/or treatment at no extra cost.