list of operations > suction lipectomy (Liposuction)

before and after

Suction Lipectomy (Liposuction)

The removal of unwanted, localised pads of fat in patients who are otherwise the shape and size they want to be. It is not a treatment for obesity. There is a limit to the amount of fat that can be removed at any one time. The result is dependant on the skin being elastic enough to take up the slack over the treated area. If the skin tone is poor the patient may well be unsuitable.

Ultrasonic lipectomy might be useful in such cases because it can help to shrink the skin. Irregularities in the area, such as typical of cellulite, are not generally improved by liposuction, and it can make them worse.

A long thin metal tube is pushed into the fat and powerful suction is applied to draw it away. With ultrasonic liposuction an ultrasonic (high frequency) sound wave is passed down the tube and helps break up the fat. This makes the procedure less traumatic and has the great benefit of increasing the skin retraction over the treated areas, thereby allowing the operation to be performed on patients who might be too old for conventional liposuction.

About an hour or one and a half hours depending on the extent of the areas treated.

Overnight, or day case if only a small amount of fat is removed.

Sticky tape dressing supported by some sort of elasticated garment.

Five days for the tape, up to four to six weeks for the elasticated garment (support tights).

Can be very severe and dramatic but is usually not so.

There is always some swelling - the amount is rather variable. Gross swelling is unusual.

This is not usually a painful procedure. There will be some discomfort.

There will be a series of small scars near to the treated areas. They are usually short and inconspicuous.

Most patients can go back to work at about ten days or so, and it is possible to generally see some benefit from the operation at about two weeks.

The result can slowly improve for up to a year.

Permanent. The fat cannot come back, but if the patient gains a lot of weight after the operation the treated area is likely to become lumpy and uneven.