Liposuction London
Centre for Surgery offer Liposuction in London to help patients who are unable to shift pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Fat deposits can develop anywhere on the body and can be frustrating for those who are otherwise at an optimum body weight. The most common areas to find fat deposits are the abdomen, upper arms, thighs and the buttock region.
There can be a host of negative impacts from fat deposits:
- Negative body image
- Ill fitting clothing
- Lack of body confidence
- Diminished social confidence.
Fortunately there is a solution and one for which Centre for Surgery in London are renowned – liposuction.
Liposuction in London
Liposuction has evolved to become a very effective and minimally invasive procedure to restore desirable contours. With the reduction or even elimination of fatty tissue in targeted areas, the body takes on a more sculpted and leaner appearance. Liposuction is often performed alone but also can be combined with other body contouring procedures including tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift and gynecomastia correction.
Liposuction in London with Centre for Surgery, involves removing fatty deposits from underneath the skin in order to reshape certain areas of your body. Liposuction is also known as liposculpture, lipoplasty and suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL).
Centre for Surgery are experts in body shaping liposuction for both women and men.
Centre for Surgery uses the SAFElipo, which is a new method of fat reduction employing a multi-step process and uses power-assisted liposuction (PAL) to remove the body fat. This means you will have less scarring and side effects that can occur with traditional liposuction methods. This is considered a less invasive method and has a faster recovery time.
The PAL adds gentle vibration to the process to break up fat cells. The process is very selective so the connective tissue framework is preserved. An analogy is akin to plucking grapes off a vine whilst preserving the delicate structure of the vine.
Ultrasound and laser assisted lipo involve the application of heat to the tissues. PAL lipo is a heat-free method meaning the risk of burns is eliminated making it a much safer method of fat extraction. An easier extraction means a quicker procedure, less bruising and swelling and a faster recovery.
Liposuction allows for you to not only remove fatty tissue, but it will help to improve your body proportions and contours, leaving you with an increased self-image and body confidence.
Common areas for liposuction:
- Abdomen
- Flanks
- Thighs
- Hips and buttocks
- Upper arms
- Neck
- Calves and ankles
Centre for Surgery also offers liposculpture for men, abdominal etching, mons pubis liposuction, saddlebags, bra roll, neck, bingo wings and buffalo hump removal.
Always check that your surgeon is on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery before proceeding with a consultation. All our surgeons are fully accredited plastic surgeons and only perform procedures in CQC regulated facilities. Our clinic at 106 Crawford Street was recently inspected and rated as good across all 5 domains.
Learn more about the power-assisted liposuction technique which all our surgeons use as standard for all liposuction procedures.
If you also have loose skin but not keen on invasive surgery like a tummy tuck, arm lift or thigh lift, Centre for Surgery perform the BodyTite procedure which can contract skin without the scars of more invasive surgery.
All our surgeons are on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has an excellent information resource on cosmetic surgery.
Our surgeons continue to provide gold standard power-assisted liposuction for many patients who choose to have a procedure with us. The surgeon will always customise every liposuction procedure to your unique needs and preferences. Your surgeon will formulate an individualised treatment plan and carry out the most effective technique for you. The knowledge and skill we have developed in liposuction over many years make Centre for Surgery the pre-eminent choice for Liposuction in London.
10 REASONS TO CHOOSE US – CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
RealSelf Top Doctors
RealSelf top doctor status is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf doctor community. This status is earned by achieving consistently high patient satisfaction (from RealSelf reviews), getting excellent feedback on expert answers to patient questions, and after investing significant time in Q&A and other doctor activity. RealSelf top doctors are rated among the very best surgeons in the United Kingdom and USA.
What is included in my treatment package?
- As many preoperative consultations with your surgeon as you like to make sure the liposuction procedure is right for you
- Treatment at a specialist day surgery facility recently rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission
- Enhanced same day discharge with the added benefits of recovering in your own home thanks to TIVA anaesthesia
- 24/7 clinical support from your surgeon for first 48 hours and our expert postoperative support team
- Your very own dedicated patient coordinator as your point of contact thoroughout all stages of the patient journey
- In-depth preoperative medical assessment to make sure you are fully fit for your procedure
- Exceptionally high standards of postoperative care described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC with regular telephone and face to face checks
The top liposuction surgeons in London
Why choose our surgeons?
- Our body contouring surgeons are on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery
- Full membership of the UK and European association of plastic surgery
- Aesthetic fellowships in body contouring surgery
- A strong background in reconstructive surgery
- Dr Tillo, Dr Misra, Dr Mitsakos and Dr Erel are highly skilled plastic surgeons who specialise in aesthetic surgery of the breast and body
Our surgeons are full members of:
How to choose your plastic surgeon
Board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr Mitsakos, Dr Tillo, Dr Misra and Dr Erel have between them many years of performing expert liposuction. They have used all the liposuction techniques over the years including LASER lipo, VASER lipo, BodyJet lipo and Tickle Lipo.
All our surgeons agree that PAL lipo is the GOLD standard method of liposuction with the best long-term overall results.
If you are strongly considering a liposuction procedure, schedule a consultation with one of our expert surgeons. Our surgeons will use the consultation process to thoroughly assess you and explain the different techniques used for liposuction and which one would be best for you. Your surgeon will review your medical history and physically examine you. Your ideas, concerns and expectations will be addressed and before and after photos can be shown to give you an idea of what can be achieved with liposuction. The surgeon will answer any questions you may have in detail.
Once an assessment has been made, your surgeon will determine if liposuction is the right procedure for you. In many cases, the surgeon may not recommend any surgical procedure which is testament to their high standard of ethics and professionalism. You will receive a procedure quotation from your patient coordinator the next working day. It is highly recommended to take time to reflect on all the information and advice given by your surgeon and the ‘2 week cool period’ is ideal for this to take place. After your initial consultation, you can come in and see your surgeon as many times as you like to make sure liposuction is right for you.
Benefits of power-assisted liposuction (PAL)
PAL improves upon traditional liposuction in every respect:
- Improved surgeon precision for body sculpting and contouring
- PAL is not heat based, so patient burns are not a concern
- Shorter recovery time
- Less bruising, swelling and trauma
- Increased patient comfort and improved safety
- Greater cell viability for autologous fat grafting and reinjection
Using the power-assisted lipossculpture (or PAL) method, which involves using specially designed precision cannulas, body proportions and contours are improved. PAL Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure leaves small scars and has a shorter operating time compared to traditional liposuction with minimal bruising and swelling.
The SAFElipo method of liposuction used at Centre for Surgery is used for our signature procedure, the Brazilian Butt Lift or BBL. The BBL procedure utilises the two highly effective techniques of SAFElipo and EVL (expansion vibration lipofilling) in combination. Read more about BBL.
Why choose Centre for Surgery for your liposuction procedure
- Many years of experience in all types of liposuction – traditional, Laser, RF and power-assisted
- We own and manage our own surgical facilities. Properly performed liposuction takes time and should not be rushed. Our surgeons perform a maximum of two liposuction procedures in a day. We do not cram 5-6 procedures into one day like other providers. You want your surgeon to be well-rested and mentally and physically sharp to perform liposuction which is a very physically demanding procedure to get the very best results.
The benefits of outpatient cosmetic surgery
- Our surgeons live and work in London. We don’t work with ‘fly-in, fly-out’ surgeons from Italy. This is very important because whilst your surgeon takes all precautions to minimise complications, complications can and do occur and our surgeons are readily available to manage any issues if and when they arise. Excellent continuity of care is extremely important with a surgical procedure such as liposuction.
Risks of going abroad for cosmetic surgery
SCHEDULE A LIPOSUCTION CONSULTATION WITH CENTRE FOR SURGERY TODAY
If those stubborn pockets of fat are bothering you, schedule a consultation with us at Centre for Surgery by calling 020 7993 4849 and one of our expert patient coordinators will be pleased to assist you.
Is non-surgical liposuction able to achieve results as good as liposuction?
With non-invasive methods of body contouring such as Cool Sculpting®, the results are nowhere near what can be achieved with properly performed surgical liposuction. If you are looking for nothing more than a very subtle result after many sessions then non-surgical methods may work. Anything more than that and the chances of disappointment are very high, not to mention the substantial costs of undergoing multiple treatment sessions. Our surgeons regularly consult with patients who have previously had multiple sessions of non-surgical lipo and have often noticed little or no difference to their body shape.
Liposuction alternatives do exist, although for substantial areas of fat reduction we would recommend surgical liposuction. This is because this technique is more effective at removing fat cells, tightening the skin and permanently changing the shape than other liposuction alternatives. Non-surgical methods are not recommended if you are looking for significant visible results.
Another form of non-invasive fat removal involves the use of chemical injections involving deoxycholic acid (Aqualyx, Belkyra or Lipodissolve). These injections act to destroy fat however there are a number of key downsides of this form of treatment. The treatments can be very painful and a number of treatment sessions are required which adds significantly to the overall cost of treatment. It is also very difficult to precisely control the spread of the injections. This lack of control can also lead to a high risk of skin irregularities. We do not use chemical injections of any form for fat removal at Centre for Surgery.
As a results-based practice, Liposuction at Centre for Surgery in London is a one time and done procedure that allows our surgeons to sculpt and refine the body contours through the targeted removal of body fat to achieve results that are well beyond those achieved with non-surgical methods.
Why do we not use VASER liposuction?
Liposuction has evolved significantly from its early days of use when complication rates were unacceptably high. Vaser liposuction is a form of of ultrasound liposuction and the current technology is in its third generation. The early forms of ultrasound liposuction had many risks and complications from treatment were fairly common. The device could only be used for short periods of time due to the significant amounts of heat imparted to the tissues which increased the risk of skin burns. Even with the use of ultrasound liposuction, traditional forms of liposuction were still required to extract the fat. Vaser liposuction when launched in the UK, was heavily promoted to non-plastic surgeons and were often provided with the Vaser device, instructional courses on how to use it as well as ‘marketing toolkits’ on promoting the device to patients. A large amount of hype has therefore developed around the device. Vaser is promoted on the basis of being quicker and with smoother results and less postoperative discomfort – in our experience, this is simply not true!. Vaser often results in the formation of seroma (fluid filled collections beneath the skin). This is why MLD or manual lymphatic drainage is seen as essential after Vaser liposuction. MLD adds extra unnecessary cost for patients and is not mandatory for patients who have PAL liposuction at Centre for Surgery.
Surgeons at Centre for Surgery have used all the approved liposuction devices and believe that the ideal technique should be simple to use, gentle on the patients soft tissues and non-thermal (not generate heat leading to potential skin burns). Any doctor who has worked with the current latest generation Vaser device will tell you that the entire length of the Vaser probe gets very hot to touch after a short of time!. Our surgeons regularly see a number of patients who have developed complications from Vaser liposuction performed elsewhere. These include lumpy uneven results and even burns. Many of these cases often require more than just revision liposuction using PAL. They often need fat grafting and in severe cases, even dermolipectomy (excision of skin and fat) to address the Vaser deformity.
The success of liposuction depends on having a properly credentialed, fully trained and experienced plastic surgeon to perform your procedure. It is important to remember that it is the surgeon who creates beautiful results and not the device. Trained surgeons can achieve consistently good results with tried and tested devices such as power assisted liposuction which is exclusively used at Centre for Surgery in London.
Ideal candidates for liposuction
You will be a suitable candidate for liposuction if you have fatty deposits that you have been unable to reduce even with physical exercise and diets. Liposculpture is able to be performed in areas of the body such as chin, saddlebags, bra roll, mons pubis, thighs, arms, buttocks, abdomen and calves.
The skin should ideally be firm and elastic. This will minimise the occurrence of sagging, loose tissue after the procedure. Instead, an abdominoplasty is recommended for those with skin laxity.
Candidates will need to:
- Be physically and mentally healthy
- Not be considered obese
- Be at a stable weight for a minimum three months before the liposuction treatment. It is best to try and lose as much weight possible before the liposuction
- Have elasticity in the skin, as the skin will need to shrink after the procedure
Who is not a good patient for liposuction?
Patients who are:
- Obese
- Heavy smokers
- Have a lot of loose skin – no liposuction causes skin tightening
- Have cellulite – liposuction can often worsen the appearance of cellulite. If you are interested in cellulite reduction, our surgeons perform the CelluTite procedure.
Liposuction risks and how to avoid them
Liposuction is not a suitable treatment for obesity. There is no substitute for diet and exercise, but once the weight loss is complete, liposuction can be of significant benefit.
If you are considered to be a suitable candidate, you may wish to look at what finance options we have available for this procedure.
How to prepare for the liposuction procedure
As soon as you are booked in for your liposuction procedure, it is important that you commence preparation for your procedure. This ensures you will experience a smooth recovery and also to make sure you achieve the best possible results. If you have any questions about optimum preparation, you should call our patient advisor team at Centre for Surgery who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
At Centre for Surgery, liposuction is performed as a day case procedure. You need a responsible adult to escort you home because of the effects of the anesthesia. You will need to collect your prescription for antibiotics and pain medications before the day of the procedure. The follow-up appointments will be scheduled with the nursing team and your surgeon on the day of your procedure. It is crucial to attend all your postoperative appointments to ensure you are healing correctly. It is useful to have someone on hand for the first few days after your procedure to help you with everyday small tasks.
Liposuction patient marking
The liposuction procedure
Our surgeons perform liposuction as an outpatient procedure at either of our 2 locations central London or north London. This means you will be admitted and discharged on the same day thus allowing you to recover in the comfort of your own home. Liposuction is usually performed with TIVA general anaesthesia to ensure patient comfort. In some cases and for small well localised areas, a local anaesthetic may be used. Liposuction takes about an hour per area on average, so liposuction of 4 areas will take about 4 hours to do. Once the surgeon is happy with the amount of fat removed and is happy with the on table result, dissolvable sutures to be applied to the tiny holes which were made for cannula access. Finally, a well fitting compression garment is applied to reduce bruising and swelling and ensure proper healing takes place.
What are the different methods of performing liposuction?
Liposuction for body contouring has undergone many refinements over the course of the last 30 years. Patients now have access to a wide variety of different liposuction techniques and technologies to achieve aesthetically pleasing results. Your surgeon will determine the most appropriate method for you based on a full clinical assessment. Having said that, Centre for Surgery have developed a rigorous set of protocols utilising only the most effective techniques as explained below:
Tumescent liposuction
The basic foundation of liposuction whether performed under local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic is the injection of a solution of sterile saline containing local anaesthetic and adrenaline prior to the actual liposuction procedure. This solution is referred to as tumescent local anaesthesia and causes the fat tissue to become swollen or firm in character. The fat cells become enlarged with this solution and blood loss is minimised thanks to the added adrenaline. The subsequent use of specialised suction cannulas to gently remove the fat is greatly facilitated and made easier by the use of the tumescent anaesthesia. Tumescent anaesthesia is common to all forms of liposuction:
- Ultrasound assisted
- Laser assisted
- Power assisted
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction or VASER lipo uses a cannula which emits ultrasonic waves at a very high frequency which permits disruption of the fat cells. With fat cell disruption, the fat takes on a more liquified character which facilitates an easier extraction.
Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL)
Laser-assisted liposuction or laser lipolysis uses a very fine optical fibre which emits laser energy of a specific wavelength – most commonly 1064nm, 1320nm or 1470nm. Like Vaser, the laser energy disrupts fat cells leading to their breakdown which enables an easier extraction of fat.
The major downsides of ultrasound-assisted and laser-assisted lipo techniques
While both techniques have gained in popularity over the last 10 years, this is mostly down to the effective marketing methods employed by the manufacturers of these devices in targeting doctors. Both methods involve the generation of a significant amount of thermal energy and therefore there is a substantial risk of burns to the skin or soft tissue. Both methods also claim to simultaneously tighten the skin while also removing fat. The scientific evidence built up over the last 10 years does not support this claim. By causing liquefaction of the fat cells, the fat becomes useless for fat grafting applications whether to the breasts or buttocks because the fat cells have burst to leave an oily residue.
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL)
Power-assisted liposuction or PAL involves the use of a specially vibrating cannula to separate the fat cells which enables a mor efficient extraction. PAL also better respects the soft tissue framework compared with UAL or LAL leading to smoother results.
A useful analogy is like plucking intact whole grapes off the grapevine whilst preserving the structural integrity of the grapevine itself – PAL is inherently a much more gentle process.
With UAL and LAL, the grapes have burst and the grapevine would be damaged, both effects are due to the thermal effects of UAL and LAL technologies.
In Power-assisted liposuction, a vibrating cannula handpiece moves at 5000rpm to separate and aspirate fat cells as the cannula is gently moved back and forth. PAL is a quicker technique compared with UAL and LAL, and unlike ultrasound and laser can be used for all 3 applications below:
- Large volume liposuction
- Revision liposuction
- Fat grafting applications – breast and buttock contouring
The more gentle action of PAL means less force is used by the surgeon which mean less bruising and swelling leading to a quicker and more comfortable recovery.
At Centre for Surgery, power-assisted liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure for body contouring that is undoubtedly the current gold standard for performing liposuction in the view of our surgeons.
The results of PAL Lipo are evident even on the operating table. Both images below are actual on-table results. The result will continue to improve even more over time with skin contraction.
PAL lipo before and after:
Instant improvement in abdominal and flank contour visible in both cases. Home the same day and back to work in 2 days – such results not achievable with ‘fat freezing’, ‘non-surgical lipo’, ‘fat busting’ injections or any other non-invasive option.
Properly performed liposuction is a one time and done procedure that allows for higher volumes of fat cells to be removed as well as simultaneous contouring of the body.
SAFElipo™ is performed as an outpatient surgery, so you will be able to return home the same day as your liposuction procedure, once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.
What is SAFElipo and why it is the best technique for performing liposuction
SAFElipo is an innovative method performing liposuction which has become the preferred method of liposuction at Centre for Surgery. SAFElipo is gentler on the body and preserves the connective tissue framework permitting smoother results. Research has proven that SAFElipo is superior to traditional manual liposuction in a number of ways:
- Efficient fat extraction
- Improved skin contraction
- Preservation of vascular integrity
- Lipocontouring of many regions of the body
- Less risk of complications
SAFELipo (Separation, Aspiration and Fat Equalization) is a 3-step process
Centre for Surgery uses the SAFElipo™ procedure, which involves three precise steps:
Step 1 – Separation
Our surgeons will use power-assisted liposuction (PAL) which will separate the fat globules and cause a degree of emulsification. Local anaesthesia is simultaneously infiltrated during the separation stage. Unlike traditional liposuction methods, SAFElipo™ preserves the delicate connective tissue network and blood vessels. This step helps to loosen the fat cells, making them easier to be removed.
Step 2 – Aspiration
With step 1, the fat cells have been primed for efficient extraction. This step involves the suctioning of the fat cells using smaller and thinner specialised cannulas. This means the recovery process is much smoother with less bruising and swelling.
Step 3 – Fat Equalisation
The final Fat Equalisation step is crucial to achieving robust long term results. Fat equalisation minimises the occurrence of contour irregularities at the skin surface. Without suction being applied, the vibrating cannula precisely distributes an even layer of internal fat grafts immediately beneath the skin. This internal fat grafting acts to prevent the undersurface of the skin called the dermis from adhering to the underlying fascia. This undesired adherence of the dermis of the skin to the deeper connective tissue fascia is what results in contour irregularities. Step 3 is the best possible prevention strategy to make sure patients do get the wavy or bumpy appearance to their skin. The concept of internal fat grafting during all liposuction procedures is something our surgeons do routinely. It is like the polish part of a “car shampoo, wax and polish”.
Female liposuction before and after
Case 1:
HD lipo of abdomen
Case 2:
360 liposuction of abdomen and flanks.
Case 4:
PAL lipo of inner and outer thighs.
Case:
360 liposuction + fat transfer to buttocks.
Common areas of liposuction for men
Chin liposuction and neck liposuction
The accumulation of fat deposits in the chin and neck region is mainly genetic but with age, there tends to be an increased accumulation of fat in the region. It is very important that chin liposuction and neck liposuction is performed meticulously and gently to avoid the risk of injury to a branch of the facial nerve at the lower jaw region. Smaller cannulas are preferred as they create a smoother result. The skin of the neck and chin is thinner compared with other areas and in men, the skin is not as elastic compared with women.
Because of the skin thickness which is thinner in the neck, the possibility for skin retraction is less although the formation of internal scar tissue following neck liposuction will cause some skin retraction leading to a better defined jawline. Chin liposuction can be combined with FaceTite and Morpheus8 for significant skin retraction with results approaching that of a mini facelift. In patients over the age of 55, liposuction may need to be combined with skin excision in the form of neck lift surgery. There are a number of non-surgical treatments for this region including Ultherapy, also known as high intensity focussed ultrasound or HIFU, but their claims of treatment efficacy are not borne out by actual results and the results are very modest at best.
Arm liposuction and thigh liposuction
Similar to female patients, these are common areas for liposuction in men. In those who have significant skin laxity from significant weight loss, liposuction may be combined with an arm lift or thigh lift.
Male breast liposuction
Liposuction of the male breast is a highly effective treatment for the removal of localised fat deposits in the male chest area. This is also known as pseudo-gynecomastia. In true gynecomastia, where glandular tissue is prominent, in many cases male breast liposuction needs to be combined with surgical removal of the glandular tissue for effective contouring of the area.
Stomach liposuction (liposuction of abdomen)
Men commonly develop bulging of the abdominal area and this can be due to fat beneath the skin (subcutaneous fat) or fat surrounding the internal organs (visceral fat). Only subcutaneous fat can be effectively treated by stomach liposuction. Many men will have a combination of both types of fat deposit. Visceral fat is better treated by good diet and exercise and habits. A male tummy tuck can be used in combination with abdominal liposuction for patients with both type of fat distribution.
Men who have lower levels of body fat and are looking for definition of the abdominal muscles (also known as a 6 pack) will not achieve definition with stomach liposuction although thinning of the fat layer is possible. For these patients, HD lipo and abdominal etching are ideal treatments for precision contouring. A programme of regular exercise is required to maintain and enhance the results.
Male flank liposuction is also commonly performed for reduction of male ‘love handles’. Liposuction of the abdomen can also be used for the flanks for creation of a V-shaped appearance in many men.
Hip liposuction, inner knee liposuction, calf liposuction
Lipocontouring of these areas is much less commonly performed compared with the areas above. Treatment of these areas requires a surgeon very experienced in precision contouring using very small cannulas especially in the calf and ankle region. There is a small but significant risk of nerve injury if liposuction is improperly carried out in the calf and ankle area.
Male liposuction before and after
Case 1
Case 2:
PAL lipo to chest + excision of gynecomastia tissue.
Case 5:
Debulking liposuction of abdomen (2500cc removed).
Revision PAL lipo to abdomen – 1500cc removed. First procedure performed in Turkey. Home the same day and back to work 2 days later.
Case 8:
PAL lipo to abdomen. 1600cc removed.
Liposuction of the male chest is commonly performed in combination with glandular excision for gynecomastia correction.
Read our latest testimonials from our amazing patients
Microlipo before and after
Microlipo is a specialist technique with the main advantage of being performed as an awake procedure. For smaller, more localised areas and in selected patients, Microlipo can be an excellent option with far superior results to non-surgical methods of fat removal.
The above 4 cases were performed with an advanced form of local anaesthesia known as the ‘tumescent technique’. Patients were ready for discharge 30 minutes after their procedure and back to work the next day with minimal disruption to their activities of daily living.
Recovery after Liposuction
As liposuction is a surgical procedure, you may have to take two to three days off work. However, if you have had liposuction in multiple areas, you may require additional time off work.
After the liposuction, you will be able to notice swelling, however, this will begin to reduce in 7-10 days. You will have to avoid strenuous physical exercise for two weeks, after which mild exercise is permitted. You will be able to resume your usual physical activities after four to six weeks. While swelling will eventually settle, it can often be present for three to five months.
Risks and complications of liposuction
Liposuction has been performed with an impressive safety record for over 30 years and is considered by plastic surgeons to be a very safe procedure when performed correctly. All procedures at Centre for Surgery are performed by fully qualified and experienced plastic surgeons to get the best possible results. Although complications with liposuction are generally rare, they can still occur. Your surgeon will discuss with you in detail at your face to face consultation, all the potential risks and complications associated with the liposuction procedure.
Potential risks of liposuction
- Anaesthesia risks
- Seroma or haematoma
- Numbness which can temporary or permanent
- Bruising and swelling
- Poor wound healing
- Stretch mark development
- Exacerbation of cellulite
- Surgical site infection
- Visceral perforation
- Asymmetry
- Contour irregularities
- Skin laxity
- Kidney or liver problems
- Fat embolism
- Skin laxity – In some patients, liposuction may exacerbate pre-existing skin laxity which may then require skin removal in a second procedure.
Common side effects of liposuction
It is important to recognise that side-effects are distinct from risks and complications. Side effects are expected consequences of a cosmetic surgery procedure as opposed to complications which ought not to happen with good pre- and post-op care.
Side effects to expect with liposuction:
- Postoperative discomfort – the treated areas will often be quite sore and tender to touch in the first few days following liposuction.
- Fluid leakage – it is entirely normal to have leakage of tumescent fluid from the incision sites especially the lower ones for the first 24-48 hours following liposuction.
- Bruising and swelling – Everyone will develop bruising to varying extents. Most bruising should settle after 2-3 weeks. Swelling can be minimised by continuous wearing of the compression garment for 6 weeks. The garment should not feel too tight. The compression garment should only be removed for showering or for washing the garment.
- Itching – this is very common and the temptation to scratch the affected areas should be resisted.
- Skin changes and numbness – it is not uncommon to experience a degree of skin discolouration or numbness of the liposuction areas for a few days after the procedure. It should settle after a month or two.
- Scars are kept as small as possible and every attempt is made to place them in natural skin folds. Scars can take up to one year to mature and at Centre for Surgery, we specialise in using scar gels and brown taping to optimise scar aesthetics. Avoidance of direct sun exposure will also help to reduce visible scarring.
Top tip after liposuction
Regular and light massage to the areas where liposuction was performed is generally thought to optimise healing and recovery. In a small number of cases, especially after revision liposuction, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may be advised by a specialist MLD therapist over a number of sessions.
Everyone will have different treatment outcomes depending on the amount of fat extraction and the specific areas of treatment.
How to minimise scars after liposuction
The incisions with liposuction are very small in size – often just a few mm. It is still important to take care of your incision areas to optimise scar appearance. A key point is to avoid traumatising the incision sites and leave them well alone as well as keeping the dressings on for the recommended duration of time. Steristrips may have been used to cover the incisions. Steristrips should be allowed to fall off on their own. The nursing team may remove them at your follow-up appointment. Avoid wearing tight fitting clothing which may catch on the incisions. The vast majority of incisions will heal well in about 2 weeks with compliance with the postoperative instructions. Once the incisions have healed, your surgeon may be able to advise you on optimum scar appearance methods. Silicone gels and medical grade brown tape are often used to improve scar cosmesis. It is also important to avoid or minimise sun exposure to improve scar healing.
Choosing the right compression garment for liposuction
Wearing a Liposuction compression garment is crucial to getting the best outcomes after liposuction. The purpose of a compression garment is to provide extrinsic and balanced pressure over the liposuction treatment areas. The compression garments come in a variety of designs and styles.
Benefits of liposuction compression garments
- Reduce bruising over the treated areas
- Reduce swelling
- Improve blood flow and vascularity which aids healing
- Facilitating proper skin retraction and reduce the risk of skin laxity
- Contouring of the treated areas
Compression garments must be worn continuously for a period of time after any liposuction procedure. The recommended duration of application depends on the areas that are treated as well as the volume of liposuction performed. Bigger volumes extracted require longer periods of wear to achieve optimal results.
For patients to get the best results, the compression garment should have a firm fit but not too tight as a overly tight fitting can restrict body movement or even cause localised pressure sores or breathing difficulty in some cases. The post-liposuction swelling is due to excess tissue water collecting in the cavities created by liposuction. Swelling does gradually resolve and in some cases, the patient may need to switch to a smaller garment for the best fit.
Improperly fitting garments can prolong swelling and lengthen the recovery process. Excessive pressure can also disrupt the normal lymphatic drainage pathways in the body leading to prolonged inflammatory changes in the liposuction treatment areas. Be sure to notify your plastic surgeon if you feel your liposuction compression garment does not feel like it fits correctly.
SAFElipo for liposuction correction
Liposuction using laser or ultrasound destroys fat cells by the generation of very high temperatures under the skin. The downside of this is that heat also destroys the intricate connective tissue framework and blood vessels that surround the fat cells to be suctioned.
Properly performed liposculpture with natural looking results is the result of preservation of these vital structures. The risks of scarring and adhesions leading to uneven rippled skin is a significant risk of liposuction performed with Ultrasound or Laser
Be very weary of providers offering ‘local anaesthetic only liposuction’. Whilst a local anaesthetic may be suitable for very small areas in appropriate patients, it is not advised to have large areas treated with local anaesthetic only. Surgeons at Centre for Surgery do offer Microlipo to carefully selected patients. The most common reason for poor results in our surgeon’s experience is liposuction performed under local anaesthetic in sub-standard facilities by non-surgeons often in a Harley Street location. It is highly probable that such practitioners lack the formal credentials to perform the procedure in accredited settings where the full range of anaesthesia options are available. Unnatural contours and lumpy, wavy skin are risks of liposuction when performed by improperly trained practitioners. Centre for Surgery offer a general anaesthetic option in most liposuction cases and this allows our surgeons to achieve their best results in controlled conditions and where the anaesthetist can focus on keeping the patient comfortable throughout.
Centre for Surgery also offer laser lipolysis and microlipo under local anaesthetic for suitable candidates using only the safest protocols by board-certified surgeons.
If you’ve had lipoplasty elsewhere and are unhappy with the results, there is now a robust solution with SAFElipo performed by a fully qualified plastic surgeon. Please note there will be a non-refundable consultation fee for all revision liposuction consultations.
SAFElipo is ideally suited for revision liposuction as the vibrating cannula respects the soft tissue as it effortlessly glides through the tissues and is highly selective for fat cell extraction. The cannula generates no heat and with the use of specially designed exploded tip cannulas, the fat is separated and emulsified. This generates an even bed of tissue which reduces scarring. The procedure is completed with microcannulas to smoothen out the skin without lumps or waves.
Liposuction before and after
Case 1:
Extensive 360 liposuction of abdomen, flanks and back + bilateral breast reduction. Home the same day and the patient made an excellent recovery.
Power assisted liposuction + BodyTite
PAL Lipo before and after – 1 week later
The cases above illustrate early results only one week after the procedure. Patients vary in the amount of bruising and swelling but you’ll get a good idea of what to expect early in the recovery process.
Can liposuction be combined with other body contouring procedures?
Liposuction is very commonly combined with other procedures:
With many excisional procedures, doing the liposuction component first helps to contour the area before the skin is surgically removed – combining the 2 techniques of liposuction and skin excision can produce very impressive results compared with either technique performed in isolation.
Centre for Surgery also specialise in the BodyTite procedure which is a minimally invasive approach to skin tightening without the traditional long scars from tummy tuck, arm lift or thigh lift.
Can fat be used from liposuction to add volume to other areas of my body?
For patients who are considering volume enhancement such as breast fat transfer or buttock fat transfer then your surgeon will often recommend combining liposuction with fat transfer for optimum results. Liposuction would then be used to harvest the appropriate quantity of fat that would then be processed before re-injecting into the breasts or buttocks to enhance volume.
Further reading on liposuction
Liposuction cost
There are a number of factors which will determine the overall cost of your liposuction procedure and the final quotation will be given after your face to face consultation with your specialist plastic surgeon.
- Number of areas to be treated
- Local or general anaesthesia
- Liposuction combined with fat transfer or abdominoplasty
- Primary or revision liposuction
Why not call 0207 993 4849 and speak to one of our expert patient coordinators who may be able to give you a rough costing prior to your liposuction consultation.
Always remember that price should never be the determining factor when it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon for liposuction. We feel that safety and quality of service should be your number one priority and instilling in you the confidence that our team will look after you before, during and after your procedure to the best of their ability.
Spread the cost of your liposuction treatment
Centre for Surgery are fully approved to offer finance for liposuction via our specialist finance partner, Chrysalis Finance.
You no longer need to use your savings to pay for your liposuction treatment – you can apply to spread the cost of your procedure with Chrysalis Finance using their simple 1,2,3 application to pay for your procedure.
Don’t wait until you have enough money for your treatment, apply today and (subject to status) pay for your procedure easily in monthly instalments, using one of their payment options.
Chrysalis Finance is the only ethical provider who focus solely in the provision of specialist financing for medical procedures.
FAQs
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What is Liposuction?Liposuction is a surgical technique used to remove unwanted pockets of fat from the body. Excess fat is removed using a specialised device called a cannula which is connected to a high power vacuum. The extraction of fat beneath the skin surface creates a smoother and more contoured appearance to the treated area.
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What is Vaser liposuction and why is this not offered at Centre for Surgery?Vaser liposuction is a third generation form of ultrasound liposuction that employs the use of veru high frequency acoustic waves to shatter and emulsify fat cells. This is claimed to make the fat cells then easier to extract via traditional liposuction.
Vaser liposuction is not performed at Centre for Surgery due to its overhyped claims and growing evidence base of poor outcomes in untrained hands. -
What areas can be treated with liposculpture?Liposuction can be used on the body areas listed below:
Chin and neck
Upper arms
Male chest
Female breast reduction
Abdomen and flanks
Back
Hips
Buttocks
Knees
It is important to keep mind that every individual has a distribution of body fat that is determined by genetic factors. Although good diet and exercise habits can have an effect on body fat levels, the overall body proportions of fat will not alter significantly. This is where liposuction can exert a positive body change through the targeted removal of excess fat deposits on any region of the body using fine cannulas. Liposuction can be used on small areas as well as multiple large areas up to maximum of 5L in a single procedure. -
What does PAL lipo involve?PAL lipo is performed under a general anaesthetic although you may be suitable for other forms of anaesthesia if appropriate. The areas to be treated will be marked before the procedure. The marked areas are injected with a special local anaesthetic solution which also helps to soften the fat cells to be extracted. The local anaesthetic solution is also known as tumescent anaesthesia and helps to reduce bruising and swelling after the procedure. The surgeon makes small incisions to permit access for liposuction cannula. The cannula vibrates which helps to break down the fat more efficiently whilst allowing simultaneous extraction. At the end of the procedure, the areas are dressed with a sterile dressing and a compression garment is applied.
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Can liposuction be combined with a tummy tuck?Yes. With proper patient selection and with meticulous preoperative preparation, a liposuction and tummy tuck can be combined and is actually the most common method of performing a tummy tuck at Centre for Surgery. This type of tummy tuck is referred to as a Brazilian tummy tuck.
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What are the anaesthesia options for liposuction?Liposuction using PAL is mostly performed under TIVA general anaesthetic. You will be comfortably asleep for the duration of the procedure and the anaesthetist will closely monitor you throughout using sophisticated brain monitoring to adjust the depth of anaesthesia as appropriate throughout the procedure. TIVA anaesthesia results in a faster recovery with a lower risk of dizziness and grogginess compared with traditional general anaesthesia.
For liposuction of smaller areas in appropriate patients, liposuction can be comfortably performed under local anaesthesia using a variant called tumescent local anaesthesia. You also have the also have the option of oral sedation and also a gas/air mixture known as Nitronox which is the same anaesthetic used at dental practices. Once the local anaesthetic has been injected, it is left to work for 20-30 minutes and this will enhance the anaesthetic action for optimum comfort. With tumescent liposuction under local anaesthetic, there is no need to undergo preoperative fasting and patients are often less nervous as they are able to have their usual daily cup of tea/coffee before the procedure.
Your surgeon will discuss the full range of anaesthesia options at your consultation. -
How is suitability for lipoplasty determined?If you have pockets of fat resistant to diet and exercise then you be an ideal candidate. Liposuction should not be viewed as a method of weight loss.
You should ideally be as close to your ideal weight as possible
In addition, the skin should be firm and have elasticity to it in order to shrink following the procedure.
Your surgeon will fully assess you at an in-depth consultation where a full medical history will be taken and you will undergo a physical examination.
You should be a non-smoker with good overall health. -
How long does liposuction take ?Liposuction procedures can take anything from 1-4 hours depending on the areas treated and the amount of fat to be removed.
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Is liposuction a permanent method of fat removal ?Liposuction is a permanent method of fat removal when combined with a sensible programme of diet and exercise. The treatment areas that have had liposuction do not grow back. All patients should aim to maintain a stable weight to get optimal results. If you were to gain large amounts of weight following liposuction, then your physical appearance will change due to extra fat storage in other areas of the body that had not had liposuction.
Body shape can be affected by a number of factors:
Genetics
Pregnancy and childbirth
Aging
Weight gain
The key is to maintain a stable weight in order to maintain the results of of your liposuction body contouring procedure.
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What is the most effective form of liposuction?There are many methods of liposuction including laser lipo, VASER lipo, BodyJet lipo, Tickle Lipo etc. Many of these methods are performed by non-plastic surgeons.
The gold standard of liposuction is currently Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL lipo) which is what all surgeons at Centre for Surgery currently use. -
How much is liposuction?The cost of liposuction at Centre for Surgery depends on the number of areas to be treated. Liposuction of one area costs £3500. For liposuction of extra areas, the cost will be less for each extra area. Your patient coordinator will be able to give you an accurate idea of liposuction pricing after gathering some important pieces of information such as your body mass index, overall state of health and number of areas to be treated.
Centre for Surgery have the full range of liposuction options including power assisted liposuction. Our surgeons are experts in body contouring techniques and regularly use liposuction to contour and shape body areas either alone or in combination with more powerful techniques such as an abdominoplasty which also involves the removal of excess skin and tightening the abdominal muscles.
Your liposuction treatment package includes all preoperative and postoperative care along with dedicated support from our team of expert nurses.
We also have state of the are laser technology for optimising the appearance of scars and non-surgical skin tightening modalities including TightSculpting using the amazing Fotona laser. These would be optional extras. -
Are there any alternatives to liposuction?In some cases, liposuction may not be the best option for you.
If you have loose/ sagging skin, a skin excision procedure may be more appropriate such as abdominoplasty, arm lift or thigh lift. Liposuction is specifically for localised fat deposits in those with good skin quality. In some cases, liposuction could even worsen appearance in those with pre-existing skin laxity. -
Is liposuction a safe procedure?There are risks with any surgical procedure, but liposuction is known to possess a very favourable safety compared with more major procedures such as abdominoplasty surgery.
Your surgeon will go through with you fully all the possible risks of the liposuction procedure.
Risks include bleeding, bruising, loss of sensation, scarring, contour abnormalities, seroma and haematoma.
In experienced hands, the risk of these complications are very low. -
Is liposuction a painful procedure to have?Patients will usually have general anaesthetic for their liposuction procedure which minimises any pain or discomfort felt.
You may feel some discomfort after the procedure which is treated with pain relief medication. -
Laser Lipo v SAFElipoUnlike laser liposuction, SAFElipo™ does not involve any heat. Laser lipo carries a slightly higher risk of side effects such as uneven, wavy skin due to the heat produced by the laser fibre as it melts the fat.
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How do I prepare for liposuction?Stop smoking four weeks prior to liposuction.
Stop certain medications as directed by your surgeon.
Use an antiseptic wash before surgery to reduce the risk of infection. -
How long before I can return to work?On average between 2-3 days to 1 week depending on the size of the procedure.
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How long is the recovery?Bruising and swelling will be present, but should begin to resolve in about 10 days. You can resume mild exercise in about two weeks, and full activity can be resumed in about six weeks.
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Will I feel dizzy after liposuction?If a large amount of fat is being removed (5 L+) then there may be symptoms of lightheadedness and dizziness and potentially other more serious symptoms. This is why we do not perform large-volume liposuction which is defined as the removal of more than 5L of fat in a single treatment session.
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What is the maximum amount of fat that can be removed in one session?High volume liposuction is defined as the removal of more than 5L of fat in a single liposuction procedure. High volume liposuction is not performed at Centre for Surgery.
Our surgeons limit their liposuction volumes to a maximum of 5 litres. If any more fat is removed, the risk of complications increases significantly. Therefore if you think you have more than 5L of fat you want removed, you may need more than one session of liposuction. -
Is it normal to be draining fluid after the liposuction surgery?It is normal to have reddish coloured fluid draining from the incision sites for the first 24-48hr after the liposuction procedure. The procedure involves injection of tumescent fluid to help break up the fat, minimise bleeding, and ease the suctioning of the fat. Some of this fluid is removed during the liposuction, some is absorbed by your body, and some of it drains out following the surgery. Patients sometimes think they are bleeding when in fact it is just the normal drainage after liposuction.
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What kind of scars can I expect after liposuction?Scars are liposuction are tiny compared to many other types of body contouring procedure such as a tummy tuck. Small holes of up to 5mm in width are usual and are used to facilitate the insertion of the infiltration and aspiration cannula. These small incisions are sutured closed at the end of the procedure and usually leave very inconspicuous scars barely noticeable to most people. Your surgeon will take great care to ensure that incisions are made in natural skin folds where possible. The surgeon will also aim to use the least number of incisions to attain the optimum aesthetic result. The incisions are protected during the procedure with special skin sleeves to minimise and even eliminate skin friction at the port sites. This leads to much better healing with a lower risk of unsightly scarring.
For those who are prone to develop excessive scarring such as hypertrophic and keloid scarring can benefit from our expertise in scar revision techniques for optimum cosmesis. We have the full range of medical grade lasers to flatten scars and treat red scars.
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Are there any risks associated with liposuction?The main risks following liposuction include bleeding, infection, swelling and blood clots, but these are very rare.
The surgeon will take all appropriate precautions to minimise the risk of complications developing. -
Can liposuction improve the appearance of cellulite?Cellulite is seen in a range of individuals and often has a genetic link. It can occur even in very slim individuals. Cellulite is due to areas of fat that prolapse outward between the lattice shaped connective tissue framework beneath the skin. Weight gain may also exacerbate the appearance of cellulite.
Liposuction is commonly though to help with cellulite reduction but can in a small number of cases actually have the opposite effect of worsening cellulite. Liposuction is for the removal of localised fat deposits.
Centre for Surgery offer the CelluTite procedure to address mild, moderate or severe degrees of cellulite.
What To Expect
The consultation
When you have a consultation with your surgeon, a number of measurements are taken of the body areas where fat is to be removed and an assessment will be made of the soft tissue quality. Those who have good skin elasticity then you will be a good candidate for liposuction. Your surgeon has is skilled in all types of liposuction including power assisted liposuction and the most appropriate choice will be made based on your physical examination. The surgeon will also give information on the location of the small incisions for the liposuction and also whether the liposuction is to be combined with another procedure such as a tummy tuck.
High-resolution photos will be taken and your surgeon may also use computer digital imaging. Your surgeon will take time to discuss the important risks and potential complications of liposuction surgery and what you can expect in the postoperative period.
The surgeon will also take a full medical history which includes previous operations, current list of medicines taken and any potential allergies. This information will be used to decide on your fitness for the liposuction procedure. If you are deemed to be a suitable candidate for lipo surgery then we would recommend to spend a period of time to reflect on all the information given. We always recommend a minimum of a '2 week cool off period' for to weigh up your options.
All our prospective patients are more than welcome to have as many follow-up consultations after their initial consultation to make sure you are fully empowered with all the information to make an informed decision for proceeding with liposuction surgery at Centre for Surgery.
Before your procedure
Once you have decided that liposuction is right for you, our preoperative assessment team will be in contact to prepare you for surgery.
The following are recommended actions to take:
- For 6 weeks beforehand, it is highly recommended to stop smoking as active smoking is associated with a number of risks including delayed wound healing which could result in wound infection.
- You should also avoid aspirin and all medicines containing aspirin for at least one week prior to the liposuction procedure.
- For 6 hours before the liposuction procedure, you should refrain from eating any food or any type of drink apart from sips of clear fluid (water and tea/coffee without added milk) which is allowed for up to 2 hours before the procedure.
On the day of your procedure
Please aim to arrive for your liposuction procedure at the confirmed time. One of our nursing team will admit you for the procedure and will carry out a number of tasks including checking your blood pressure and other vital signs including pulse and temperature and then getting you changed into single-use clinic wear. The anaesthetist will then come in to assess you to make sure you are fit for TIVA anaesthetic and will also prescribe a number of pre-medications which are given by your nurse to help your recovery after the liposuction procedure. You will then be seen by your surgeon who will confirm the procedure to undertaken and you will sign the informed consent form. Skin marking and photos may be taken at this point.
Liposuction is a very commonly performed procedure at Centre for Surgery and is carried out under TIVA general anaesthesia as a day case. Liposuction of smaller areas can be carried out under local anaesthetic. The procedure takes approximately 1-3 hours to carry out. During liposuction surgery, your surgeon will make small incisions in the marked body areas The fat tissue is surgically removed using specialised cannulas to contour the marked body areas before closing the skin with dissolvable sutures.
Once you have woken up from the TIVA anaesthetic, our nurses will closely monitor you for 1-3 hours afterwards to make sure you make a full recovery. You will be given a fruit juice drink or a hot drink as you prefer to build up your energy levels. Once you are assessed as fit for discharge, you will require a responsible adult escort to take you home in a car or taxi and to look after you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.
After your procedure
After your procedure, our dedicated postoperative support team are available round the clock to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Our team will call you regularly for the first 2 weeks after your procedure to make sure your pain levels are well controlled and your healing is progressing as normal.
The recovery after liposuction is usually very straightforward with minimal discomfort that can be effectively controlled with tablet painkillers and the majority of our patients are very comfortable by the end of week 1. Your doctor may recommend a period of approximately one week off work. You should minimise any excessive physical activity for the first 2 weeks after surgery to help with the healing of the incisions and reduce swelling.
You will be required to wear a supportive compression garment for a full 6 weeks to make sure healing is optimal, and also so that scars heal with best results.
You will attend for a postoperative check up with one of our nursing team at 7-10 days to review your surgical wound sites and ensure proper healing is taking place. Recommendations on treatments for scar healing may be given for optimal cosmesis. At 6 weeks you should begin to see your final results and you will see your surgeon for a comprehensive review and make sure your results are in line with your expectations.