What is liposuction?

Liposuction (also called lipectomy or lipoplasty) is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes fat from under your skin.

The procedure is not a weight-loss method. It does not remove fat from other parts of the body, such as visceral fat from around your organs.

Liposuction changes the shape of certain areas of the body by removing fat from those areas.

It is most often used for the:

• thighs
• buttocks
• abdomen
• arms
• neck and under the chin

Liposuction is also used for the back, inner knee, chest, cheek, calves and ankles.

Some people have liposuction at the same time as other cosmetic surgery procedures such as a facelift, a breast augmentation or an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

Is liposuction right for me?

It's a good idea to speak to your usual doctor before undergoing liposuction. They are best placed to help you manage your overall health.

While you might feel that you need to have a certain body size and shape to look good, liposuction might not be the solution. If you feel unhappy with your body image, think carefully about the risk and benefit of any cosmetic surgery before you go ahead.

Liposuction might be right for you if you:

• have realistic expectations about the procedure
• have tried to change your body shape with a healthy diet and regular exercise
• are in good health at the time of the procedure.

Liposuction works best for people of normal weight who have firm, elastic skin but pockets of excess fat in certain areas.

Liposuction is not a replacement or substitution for weight loss.

What are the alternatives to liposuction?

If liposuction is not right for you, some alternatives are:

• counselling to help you accept how your body is
• lifestyle changes such as healthy eating or physical activity

How do I find a plastic surgeon?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has a register of medical practitioners. This will tell you if a doctor is a specialist plastic surgeon. Plastic surgeons are the best type of healthcare professional to perform a liposuction procedure.

If the doctor is not a specialist plastic surgeon, they may still be able to do cosmetic procedures such as liposuction. But it is important to realise that they do not have the same qualifications as a specialist.

If you are considering a surgeon, find out about their experience and qualifications. Ask the medical practitioner lots of questions about the procedure. You should make sure you are comfortable with them.

Questions to ask before liposuction

There is a lot to consider before deciding to have any form of cosmetic surgery. You can ask your doctor questions about surgery in general. There are other questions you should ask about liposuction, such as:

• What type of liposuction do you recommend for me and why?
• How much bruising, swelling or pain do you expect me to experience? What should I do about this?
• After surgery, how long before I can return to my normal activities?
• Will I have stitches, bandages or dressings? How long will they be in place? Will I need to have the stitches taken out?
• Will I have scars? What will they look like?
• How many of your patients have complications? What will it mean for me if this happens?
• How frequently do people need to re-do liposuction because of problems?
• If I need further surgery due to complications or if I am not satisfied with the result, will there be extra costs?

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How should I prepare for a liposuction procedure?

To prepare for a liposuction procedure, you should make sure you have as much information about the procedure as possible. Understand what results you can realistically expect to get.

To get ready for surgery and make recovery easier:

• you should reach your optimal weight
• be as healthy and fit as you can
• if you smoke, you should quit smoking
• read and follow all the instructions from your surgeon

Discuss with your doctor if you need to make any changes to your medications before the surgery.

What happens during a liposuction procedure?

Before having the liposuction procedure, you will have either a local or a general anaesthetic.

The procedure involves making very small cuts in your skin. Then different techniques are used to remove fat from under the skin in that area.

The fat can be turned into liquid or shaved off before being suctioned out.

What happens after a liposuction procedure?

After liposuction, you may wake up to find there is a canula (thin tube) draining fluid from the site of the surgery.

There will be dressings on the wounds. You may have to wear an elastic bandage or a compression garment for a while. You should expect to have pain for several days and your doctor will prescribe some form of pain relief medicine.

Some people may need a short hospital stay after a liposuction procedure. You will need a few days' rest at home before going back to your normal work or activities.

After surgery there will be some swelling. You should be given instructions about how to care for the surgery sites. Once the swelling has settled down, you will be able to see the results. This could take a few weeks or sometimes months.

Usually, liposuction does not need to be repeated. There may be excess skin after the surgery and an additional procedure may be needed to remove this.

When should I see my doctor?

If you have any of these symptoms, notify your surgeon or doctor right away:

• temperature higher than 38°C
• chills
• heavy bleeding from the wounds
• redness around the incision sites that is getting worse
• increasing pain or tenderness
• other changes that worry you

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What are the risks involved in liposuction?

Liposuction can sometimes have unexpected or unwanted results. Reasonably common ones include:

• uneven skin with ripples or dimples
• baggy skin
• numbness or reduced sensation in the skin
• scarring (when you have invasive surgery there will always be scarring. All surgeons aim to achieve minimal scarring. Where possible, scars will be along natural creases and skin lines.
• changes to skin colour
• slow healing
• bruising
• bleeding
• swelling
• pockets of fluid under the skin

Serious complications, which are less common, include:

• blood clots in your legs, which can travel to your lungs and cause serious illness
• excessive fluid loss, which can lead to shock
• burns to your skin or deeper tissue due to the ultrasound used to liquefy fat
• infection in the fatty tissues, which can be hard to treat

You may want more cosmetic surgery to remove or tighten any loose skin that may remain after the fatty tissue has been removed.

What costs are involved?

The costs and fees for liposuction will be different in each case.

They include the:

• surgeon's fees
• anaesthetist's fees
• clinic or hospital fees
• medication, dressings and support garments

You should ask your surgeon about fees and costs before the procedure.

Medicare does not cover the cost of liposuction, and often private health insurance doesn't either.

Resources and support

If you are considering liposuction, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. You will find more resources at these organisations:

• Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Information Hotline 1300 367 446
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (03) 9249 1200
• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency 1300 419 495
• The Butterfly Foundation has information about understanding body image issues.
• The Department of Health and Aged Care provides information to help you have cosmetic surgery safely.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.