Liposuction

- Free, no-obligation consultation
- GMC-registered surgeons
- Care Quality Commission registered
- Comprehensive aftercare

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What is liposuction?

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What are the benefits of liposuction?

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What are the risks of liposuction?

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Is it right for me?

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Cost

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What is liposuction?

Despite eating healthily and exercising regularly, shifting particular areas of fat from the body can be difficult.

An ever-popular cosmetic procedure in the UK, liposuction is a fast and effective method of sculpting different areas of the body through removing stubborn fatty tissue permanently. Most commonly, liposuction is performed on the stomach, thighs and buttocks, but it can be used to shape the hips, knees, neck, upper arms and, for men, the chest.

Liposuction can target any problem areas you have through the removal of stubborn pockets of fat. Because your body should not replace the fat cells removed from these areas, liposuction is regarded as a long-term surgical solution to surplus fat.

What are the benefits of liposuction?

If you have certain areas of your body where extra fat refuses to shift despite eating healthy diet and exercising, if you want to improve the contours of your body, if you have recently lost a lot of weight and are looking to lose residual pockets of fat, or if you have gynaecomastia (a condition where fatty breast tissue develops in men), then liposuction could be the right choice for you.

It can also be used to treat sweat glands in those patients who perspire excessively, and it can remove lipomas (fatty, benign tumours). Liposuction is also able to treat lipodystrophy syndrome, a condition where fat accumulates in one area of the body and is redistributed from that area to another during a fat transfer procedure.

Whatever your reason for deciding to have liposuction, it is extremely important that you are psychologically fit to undergo the procedure, and that your expectations regarding what can be achieved are realistic.

What are the risks of liposuction?

All surgical procedures pose a potential risk, and it is important know what these are before you go ahead so that you can weigh them up against the benefits your procedure could bring. During your consultations you will talk through these potential complications and you can ask any questions that you have about them.

As a guide, they may include bruising, swelling, scars, stiffness, numbness, inflammation, bleeding after surgery, and changes in the colour of the skin.

Is it right for me?

At your free consultation, we will assess your overall health and skin quality, and determine how much fat that can be removed. We will also discuss what the procedure involves.

To be a suitable candidate for liposuction, you will be around the average weight for your height, or just slightly above (a BMI of below 30) and this should be stable. You need to be in good health prior to any liposuction surgery, and exercise regularly. Eating healthily, cutting down if you are a smoker, and limiting your alcohol intake are important too.

Liposuction patients may feel that surgery provides a number of benefits. Through achieving a more defined and proportionate body shape, your self-confidence and happiness may increase, and you may feel more comfortable in a wider choice of clothes. Seeing your new, enhanced body shape can be very encouraging and help you to keep in shape for the long term.

Cost

The Hospital Group is a responsible provider of cosmetic surgery, so we understand that each procedure is different and tailored to your requirements and individual needs. At your free consultation, your surgeon assistant will be able to discuss the surgery with you and let you know the cost.

Surgery Time: 1 - 3 hours

Time Off Work: 1 week

Hospital Stay: 1 night

Full Recovery: From 6 weeks

Pressure Garment: Wear for 8 weeks

Exercise: After 6 weeks

Scarring: Minimal

Final Results: 1 - 3 months

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Patient Stories

Nicola Gaffey

Having lost quite a lot of weight a few years earlier, she decided that if she managed to keep it off, she would have surgery to remove all the excess skin that the weight loss had left.

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Before and after

Before and afters photo's from our liposuction and tummy tuck patients.

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FAQ

Liposuction FAQs

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Is liposuction right for me?

Our liposculpture procedure is generally suitable for patients who have stubborn areas of fat that are resistant to diet or exercise, and who want to achieve fat loss and body contouring. Fat removal areas may include the tummy, buttocks, chin, arms and knees. A number of areas can be treated in the same session. A consultation with a surgeon can help you identify the results you could expect.

How long do the liposuction take?

Liposuction can take between one and three hours, depending on how much fat has to be removed and the areas being treated.

Will I have to stay in hospital?

You will normally need to stay in hospital for one night if you have a general anaesthetic. We’ll discuss what we think is best with you before we book your surgery.

What is the maximum amount of fat that can be removed?

This can be anything between three and four litres of fat per operation. For anything more than this, we would recommend multiple surgeries.

Which areas can be treated?

Stubborn fat deposits that can’t be removed by diet or exercise usually occur in areas such as the stomach, thighs, buttocks, sides, back, chest or chin. Liposuction is a fat removal procedure designed to reduce areas of excessive fat in areas that can be resistant to fat loss. It isn’t a weight loss procedure, but enables you to target specific problem areas.

Will I have any scars after liposuction?

After liposuction, a scar of about a quarter of an inch will be left, placed wherever possible in a body fold or crease. Scars generally fade and reduce in visibility.

Next steps

Your journey step by step

Your first appointment

Your journey with The Hospital Group begins with a free telephone consultation with our friendly surgeon assistants. During this conversation you can talk through why you are interested in surgery, how much it costs, how much recovery time you will need, and potential surgery dates. Whenever you decide to book a surgery date, you can secure it for a minimum refundable deposit of £500.

If you would like to proceed, we will book your surgical consultation.

Your surgical consultation

During this consultation you will talk about your goals for surgery and go through your medical history to ascertain whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure. You will also discuss the results you might expect, as well as the possible risks and complications of surgery. Our specialist surgeons are extremely knowledgeable, so they can answer any questions you might have.

If you feel you would like to go ahead, you will then be referred to a clinic nurse for pre-operative assessments and tests.

The surgery

You will see your surgeon on the day of your surgery so that you can talk through any final questions and read through the consent form. The whole surgical team will be introduced to you before heading into theatre for the procedure.

The specifics of the surgery will be discussed prior to the day – you will find out how long it will take, the types of anaesthetics used, and they will talk you through the procedure itself.

Recovery

The surgeon will let you know whether you will need to stay in the hospital overnight. You might feel swollen and tender for a while, but this is completely normal and should settle fairly quickly. We’ll provide any pain relief you need whilst you’re in hospital.

Your nurse will call you once you get home to make sure you feel okay and book you in for your post-operative review in the clinic when needed. We’ll also give you our 24/7 patient helpline number so that you can speak to a member of the clinical team at any time.

Aftercare

At The Hospital Group, we offer a full package of aftercare support with all our cosmetic surgery procedures to give you complete peace of mind. You’ll benefit from the following aftercare: unlimited post-op appointments with a member of our clinical team whenever you need them, surgical cover for 2 years – revision surgery where clinically indicated, additional days’ stay in hospital when needed, additional medication and dressings at no extra cost, and emergency telephone support which you can use at any time.