Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, is a procedure to remove unwanted fat deposits from the body. It permanently reshapes the body by removing stubborn fats that store in specific areas of the body, such as the thighs, hips, tummy, neck, chin, buttocks and knees.
Liposuction results can last for many years because it manually removes fat cells, and the body will not replace them. It is a common myth that when fat cells are removed from one area, they show up in another. This is not true. Fat cells behave differently from other types of cells. Once we reach adulthood, the total number of fat cells in our bodies remains very stable. Weight gain and loss does not occur by adding or subtracting fat cells, but rather by the existing fat cells we have getting bigger or smaller. While treated areas will not regain the same amount of bulk as they would have without liposuction, remaining fat cells will enlarge with weight gain, which could “cancel out” the results.
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Why you might need liposuction surgery
Stubborn fat that is difficult to shift despite regular exercise and / or a positive change in diet can lead to a loss in self-esteem and self-confidence. This procedure can help solve this problem by removing excess body fat and permanently reshaping the body so that is feels in proportion. Patients who have liposuction generally feel much more confident in their appearance after surgery.
Limitations of this surgery
It is important to understand that this surgery is not a treatment for obesity. The amount of fat that can be removed from a localised area is limited by what is safe (maximum of three litres). Therefore it may not be possible to slim down an area as much as desired. Further treatments may be carried out in the same area after six months if there is still excess fat that could be removed.
In certain patients the skin is inelastic and loose. Liposuction in these areas will then tend to leave the skin more loose and it may be recommended that a skin excision be carried out to correct this, either at the same time as the liposuction, or as a second procedure. This is most likely in the abdomen, after pregnancy or weight loss, the buttocks or the neck. A tummy tuck procedure following liposuction is one option.
Finally, dimples and wrinkles of the skin – sometimes called cellulite – will not be improved by this surgery.
Assessment for this surgery
If you are interested in having this surgery, Mr Sherif Wilson FRCS (Plast) will invite you to a consultation where he will assess your body and then talk you through the changes he recommends.
What does this procedure involve?
Liposculpture is performed by inserting a narrow metal tube through a small incision in the nearby skin. The tube is attached to a strong vacuum pump, which is drawn back and forth within the area of excess fat. The process removes tunnels of fat leaving the small blood vessels and nerves intact.
The procedure typically takes no more than three hours, and is carried out under general anaesthetic. If only one small area of the body is being addressed, sometimes the operation is carried out under local anaesthetic.
Going home after surgery
After surgery, the areas of the body that have fat removed will be bandaged and stitched. Some patients return home the same day after liposculpture, but you may be required to stay in hospital overnight.
You can expect considerable bruising which will be uncomfortable and at times painful. The larger the area treated the greater it will be. The discoloration of this bruising will usually last for about a month, but the lumpiness and swelling of deep bruising can take up to six months to disappear.
It will take around two weeks to recover from the operation, but as swelling can take a long time to settle, you may not see the full benefit of the operation for up to six months.
Before and after gallery
How much does this surgery cost?
Depending on the type of procedure you require, the cost of surgery can vary. These are guide prices are based on a 60 minute procedure and are subject to change following an initial consultation with Mr Wilson, where a bespoke quote will be provided, specific to each patient.
At Spire Bristol Hospital
From £2,950
At BMI Bath Clinic
From £2,870
At Winfield Hospital (Gloucester)
From £3,990
At St Josephs Newport
From £3,460
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