Liposuction 

This procedure can get rid of unwanted, excess, localised body fat for good (around the buttocks, hips and tummy etc.).

When is liposuction appropriate?

Some excess fat is stubborn and really hard to shift, despite dieting and exercise. Liposuction can help: fat cells that are sucked out during the procedure cannot come back. 

Liposuction procedure

Liposuction involves making some very fine incisions in the area to be treated and inserting round-tipped, hollow tubes (cannulas) with tiny holes in their ends. The cannulas are linked to a suction unit. A lot of progress has been made with liposuction over recent years and many different areas of the body can now be treated: thighs, knees, calves, arms, the back and even the face and neck (a double chin, for example). The surgeon will use small incisions, generally hidden in the natural folds of the skin and so any scars are concealed. As soon as the procedure is done, the patient will be put into an elasticated support garment to reduce post-surgery swelling. Liposuction generally requires between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete, depending on the treatment area. It is carried out under a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic with sedation.

After the procedure, the patient may be able to leave the hospital on the same day or, in some cases, may have to stay in for 24 hours.