Sometimes, even regular exercise and strict dieting aren’t enough to get rid of excess fat. For those stubborn areas liposuction may be a solution.

What areas are treated by liposuction?

Liposuction is commonly used to treat patients who are near normal weight and have firm elastic skin. It is not a substitution for weight loss. Common areas treated are:

• Stomach
• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Knees
• Neck
• Upper arms
• Male breasts

What happens during liposuction?

Your consultant will assess your overall health, skin quality and the amount of fat to be removed before talking you through what approach will be used. 

Various types of anaesthesia are used during liposuction. If only small areas of fat are to be removed you may have local anaesthetic. More extensive surgery may require general anaesthetic. The length of your liposuction procedure will depend on the amount of fat being removed. 

Your surgeon will make a small incision in the skin. Using a thin, hollow tube they will break up the fat cells beneath the skin surface and remove them with a special suction or vacuum. Several incisions may be required for larger areas. Any incisions will be stitched at the end of the procedure. The area will be bandaged for support.