Liposuction is the surgical removal of fatty deposits under the skin by means of suction through a very small incision. The principal areas affected by fatty deposits are the inner and outer thighs, the upper and lower sections of the stomach, the hips (love handles) and the buttocks, although liposuction can also be performed on the back, the knees and the ankles.

Suitable candidates for liposuction may not always be overweight, but very often find their overall shape disproportionate, often varying in clothes size in their upper and lower body. These patients will have attempted to reduce their excess fat pockets through conventional dieting and exercise methods, but found certain areas stubborn, and sometimes impossible, to shift; often finding that fat will leave other body areas first where weight loss isn’t necessary. 

For these people, liposuction is a very successful cosmetic surgery operation, but it must be stressed that fat suction is not a cure for general obesity.

The conventional method of removing stubborn fat deposits is by surgically excising fat through an incision, which is made in the natural folds of the body, e.g. buttock creases. Incisions are no more than a centimetre in length and fade naturally into the body folds, where they are hidden from view after recovery and healing.

The procedure involves inserting a probe (canullae) through the tiny skin incision into the area of fat, which is then broken down and drawn off under a strong vacuum into a collecting vessel. Once the fat cells (cellulite) have been removed, there is no way that fat can be stored in the same quantities in that area, and will not return at a later date.

Liposuction can be performed on a number of areas in any one operation, such as the stomach and hips, or buttocks and thighs, but it is not possible to alternate between front and back areas during one operation. Following surgery the surgeon will be able to tell you just how many litres of fat has been drawn from the body, which can increase greatly when a number of areas have been treated at the same time.

The results for liposuction patients are very rewarding. Stocky figures can be softened and made more curvaceous, and rolls of stomach fat are flattened out. Patients may have suffered for years despondently trying to rid their bodies of stubborn areas of fat, but following liposuction surgery their confidence is restored. By altering their overall shape they are very often able to completely change the way they dress and wear fashion styles they never thought possible.

 The resulting enthusiasm also has a mental impact in terms of body image, with the positive outcome giving the patient an increased incentive to keep up an exercise and healthy eating regime, which continues to fuel their self-esteem.

Post Operative Healing
The procedure usually entails a one night stay in hospital, and sutures (stitches) are removed after 7 – 10 days, if they are not dissolvable. Following surgery the area operated on will have some bruising and also some swelling, but this is suppressed by the patient wearing a support garment for approximately three to four weeks.  

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