Liposuction Before and After Images

Liposuction is a procedure suited to body sculpting, rather than weight loss. There are limits to the amount of fat that can be safely removed from the body, so if you are very overweight you may not be a suitable candidate. The goal is to use liposuction to remove localized bulges that are non-responsive to diet and exercise

You will go home on either the same day as your surgery or the following day, depending on the extent of your liposuction.

When you get home you should limit your movements to around the house for two to three days, to ensure you recover as quickly as possible.

You won’t have any stitches to remove, as all sutures are fully dissolvable.

However, you’ll see Dr Hunt five days after your liposuction procedure so he can check how you’re feeling and ensure you’re recovering nicely. You’ll then have further visits at three and six weeks, and again at three, six and 12 months.

You’ll only need a few days off work.

Ultimately, the reward comes from looking in the mirror and seeing the results – improved shape and appearance of the treated area – and from the knowledge that the fat has been permanently removed. So long as you maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise after your recovery, you’ll enjoy the benefits of one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for the rest of your life.

In men, the areas classically affect the abdomen, potentially the chest with the love handles being one of the most commonly treated areas. In women, the fat distribution is more likely to be disproportionate around the legs with the inner thigh, outer thigh, and knee being the commonest areas performed. Liposuction is also applicable and very helpful for patients with excess fat deposits in areas such as the neck, under the chin, in the upper arms, on the back, the upper back above the bra strap or the lower back above the belt line.

Liposuction is performed for my patients in a fully accredited hospital by myself as a fully accredited surgeon. The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic provided by an anaesthetist to ensure the patient is adequately cared for while I am performing the surgical procedure. For smaller areas, other surgeons may choose to perform liposuction under a form of local anaesthetic or sedation, though in my patients, I find it more comfortable for them and more reassuring for me to know that they have been looked after by a fully trained anaesthetist under general anaesthetic in a fully accredited hospital.

There are different techniques for liposuction and these have evolved since the procedure was first described in the 1960s by Dr Illouz, a French plastic surgeon, who initially used the procedure on one of his female patients. Since that time, evolution in the technique has led through dry liposuction, through wet, through superwet, to techniques that involved ultrasound as well as mechanically assisted devices. In my practice, I used a mechanical liposuction performed with a superwet technique. As a philosophy, I want my patients to have the optimal outcome they desire. If that means as a surgeon, I need to do more physical hard work to achieve that outcome, it is a price I am happy to pay to ensure my patients are delivered a good outcome.

Performed under a general anaesthetic, liposuction can be carried out on any part of the body where fat collects; the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, neck, arms, breasts, knees, calves, ankles and even beneath the chin. I start by inserting a small tube beneath the skin of the area to be treated and then attach a suction pump, which is used to suck out the excess fat stored between the skin and muscle.

Once you have decided to undergo liposuction the procedure will be carried out in hospital under a general anaesthetic administered by a highly qualified and experienced anaesthetist. Small incisions will then be made into the targeted areas and a multitude of removal methods are available to rid your body of the undesirable fat deposits.

In liposuction, a small incision is made in the skin to allow access for a liposuction cannula. These are long, thin stainless steel tubes at the end of which are small holes which have sharpened edges. As the cannula is moved backwards and forwards below the skin and applies suction, small parcels of fat will be suctioned into the holes and then with the backwards and forwards motion, those parcels of fat will be removed. Once the fat has been removed it is removed permanently. Fat cells do not split and divide and multiply after the age of puberty, so the number of fat cells you have is fixed. What they can do though is increase in volume, so, like the balloon analogy, they are either full of fat and enlarged when you are carrying excess weight, or empty and small when you are lean. Liposuction will permanently remove some of these fats from the area treated, and once these fat cells have been removed with liposuction they are removed permanently.

The procedure will take variable amounts of time depending on the degree of liposuction that needs to be performed. Potentially for small areas such as under the chin, the procedure may take 30 to 45 minutes. For larger areas such as the abdomen, hips and flanks the procedure may take two hours and for more extensive liposuction it may well be a three-hour procedure. Following this, patients will often go home as it is a day surgery procedure though for the larger areas that have been treated, patients will potentially stay in hospital for one night for patient comfort and safety.

I am often asked what is the maximum amount of fat that can be safely removed and it is advised by multiple surgical boards internationally that 5 litres is the maximum volume that should be removed in a single surgery sitting. When you think about it this way, then it really does become clear that liposuction is not a weight reduction program, it is more one of correction of disproportionate fat distribution. When patients looked at it in this light, they usually have a clear understanding of what is possible and not possible and that is when they become valid candidates for the procedure. I do think the patient understanding is the key to a good outcome and as long as the patient is well-selected and the treatment is appropriately provided, the liposuction provides a reliable and effective outcome in the majority of crisis.

After the operation, the area that’s been treated will be bandaged. While it’s likely that you will feel a little sore, you can usually leave the hospital that same day. However, it’s advisable that you take one to two weeks off work following the procedure and don’t plan to do very much, as this will help speed recovery. Aftercare is very important, which is why I like to do plenty of checkups with patients in the days and weeks following the procedure, to ensure comfort and recovery is optimal.

You should only need to take a few days off work to recover after liposuction, though it does depend on the scale of the surgery. The more rest you have after the operation, the quicker your recovery time. Reducing activity and drinking plenty of fluids will ensure you’re back on your feet faster.

As with all surgery, there are a number of things you can do to speed up your recovery time, like plenty of bed rest, limiting physical activity, eating well, drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of sleep. Clear your schedule of work and social commitments for the advised length of time and follow your surgeon’s instructions to ensure you recover speedily and with no complications.

In terms of the long term result from liposuction, patients can expect a permanent removal of fat in the area that has been treated. They do though need to maintain a good diet and exercise program as all areas of the body will potentially be able to store fat if excess weight gain is the case. In my practice, I choose to perform liposuction that I feel will deliver patients the maximum results with the maximum predictability and importantly, the maximum safety.

The permanent removal of the fat leads to some of the myths associated with liposuction. Patients may feel that the fat has ‘come back in a different area’. This is not the case as the fat cells do not move. If the patients continue to intake a large amount of calories, then the body will store these extra reserves. As the body cannot store these reserves in the fat cells that have been removed, the body will store them in fat cells in other locations. For these reasons, patients who do not maintain a good diet and exercise program and a stable weight following liposuction may feel that the fat has ‘moved to another area’.

Liposuction can also be used in combination with other procedures such an abdominoplasty. A lipoabdominoplasty is a combination of a tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty with liposuction and it has really become the gold standard in terms of abdominal contouring. In body contouring surgery, such as brachioplasty or arm reduction or lower body-lift and thigh-lift, liposuction is also a valuable tool that is used at the same time to maximise the outcome of those procedures.

Performed effectively and safely, it is a very reliable procedure for patients who are looking to improve body contouring in specific areas of the body though is not to be regarded as a weight loss program. Patients do need to be realistic about their outcome from liposuction and it is not simply a case of removing as much fat as is possible. Patients who are on a stable diet with a good exercise program who are then troubled by a specific area with disproportionate deposition of fat, are patients who are good candidates for liposuction.

Many people don’t consider liposuction because they’re worried about the level of pain or the risks of a general anaesthetic, and this stops them from properly assessing the pros and cons of the procedure. All surgical procedures carry some risk, but it’s worth noting that liposuction has a great safety record overall and if carried out by a skilled surgeon those risks are hugely mitigated. What’s more, when it comes to the pain, I work with you to provide pain relief to greatly increase your comfort during the recovery period.

I am often asked how painful liposuction is. During the superwet technique, we will place local anaesthetic into the fluid to minimise the postoperative pain and discomfort. Most patients will go home the same day of their procedure and will be happily managed with oral analgesia ranging from paracetamol and sometimes to some stronger agents for possibly a number of days or up to a week. This will depend on individual patient needs, the number of areas treated and the extent of the liposuction performed. I do tell my patients that they can expect to see the results of their liposuction at the 6-week mark. It is true though that there were still be some swelling at this point and the potential improvement and gains can extend out to the 3 if not 6, and sometimes 12 months mark as a there is a further resolution of swelling and firmness in the tissues.

In my practice, it is going to be when they have an understanding of the procedure, the likely outcome and the potential downside. For me, that will take an initial consultation to assess whether they are a valid candidate for the procedure where we will provide them with some information for their consideration and discussion with their family and friends. At a second consultation, I will confirm that the procedure is appropriate for them and that they are fully aware of the surgical undertaking and the likely downside and recovery time required. Once the patient has passed that test, in my mind, that they fully understand the procedure, they are a valid candidate for liposuction. As I mentioned, I will perform the procedure in hospital under general anaesthetic for maximum safety.

The price of liposuction varies a lot depending on many factors. The amount of fat that needs to be removed, the type of anaesthesia, duration of surgery, and location all go into calculating the costs of liposuction. Dr Hunt will give you an estimate of the full costs once you come in for your consultation.

Tumescent liposuction leaves very small, almost invisible scars. The wounds of liposuction are only a few millimeters wide. They usually heal very well, and within a year, almost leave no trace at all. No one should be able to see lipo scars unless they’re searching for them.

You can lose a few kilograms after liposuction since fat is being removed. However, liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. The target is not to reduce the number on the scale and rather to contour your body.

No. Liposuction does not affect your appetite or your metabolism. It will not help you lose weight easier, however, it might encourage you to go on a diet and start doing sports.

Liposuction can indeed help make your stomach look flatter. It can reduce the fat under your belly skin, and once the skin shrinks it would look flatter and tighter.

Liposuction is usually done under general anaesthesia. This means that you will be asleep during the operation and won’t feel a thing. Sometimes, local or regional anaesthesia can be used for lipo. You can discuss this with Dr Hunt during your consultation.

This is a liposuction technique that targets the whole mid-section. A 360 liposuction contours the belly, hips (love handles), and back. It gives you a well-toned torso without any excessive fatty curves.

Liposuction is not a treatment for cellulite, however, it can decrease its appearance.

In some patients, deep fat layers are the cause behind their protruding belly. This area can’t be targeted by liposuction or tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty. The only solution is weight loss.

In a lot of patients, the skin retracts after lipo. This, however, depends on your skin quality, genetics, healing ability, and the amount of fat removed. If the skin doesn’t tighten after lipo, then a lift procedure might be needed.

Of course. The whole aim of liposuction is to sculpt your body and change its shape. It can make it look more proportionate and get rid of unwanted fatty curves.

As long as you have a fairly stable weight and you are not severely overweight or obese, then you’re a good candidate for liposuction.

This depends on your desires and your body shape. If you have a lot of belly fat and lax belly skin, then a tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty is a must. If you have moderate belly fat and good skin health, then liposuction can be enough.

There’s no perfect age to get liposuction. You can get lipo at 40, 50, 60 years old, or older. The older you are, however, the more likely you’ll need additional skin lift with your lipo.

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