Dermal Fillers FAQs
Our Consultant Plastic surgeons and liposuction doctors will always advise you on the best liposuction option for your ideal body shape and needs.
1 - What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a procedure that uses a suction technique to remove extra fat from specific areas of the body, such as abdomen, love handles, lower & upper back, hips, thighs, arms, and neck (double chin). Liposuction is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method for removing localised deposits of fatty tissue that do not respond to diet and exercise.
2 - History of liposuction
The roots of liposuction can be traced back as far as the 1920s when French surgeon, Charles Dujarier, first introduced the concept of body contouring and fat removal. Conventional (traditional) liposuction remained a high risk major surgery for many years until 1987 when “Tumescent Formula” for liposuction was developed by Professor Jeffrey Klein in California, USA.
3 - Which body areas can be treated by liposuction?
Tumescent liposuction safely removes fat pockets from almost any part of your body, including, but not limited to:
Double Chin
Abdomen
Love handles
Upper back
Hips & waist
Inner & outer thighs
Knees
Arms (Bingo Wings)
Male Breasts (Gynaecomastia)
4 - Are there different types of abdominal fat?
While there may be varying classification of body fat, it is easiest to consider their anatomic location as subcutaneous & visceral.
Subcutaneous fat is located just under the skin which accounts for approximately 90% of overall body fat. Liposuction is the treatment of choice for removal of this type of fat.
Visceral fat is found around internal organs, like bowels. This is the type of fat that can NOT be removed by liposuction and its reduction needs a balanced diet and regular exercise.
5 - Local vs general anaesthesia
The development of “Tumescent Formula” by Professor Jeffrey Klein revolutionised the world of liposuction. It actually eliminated the need for general anaesthesia which poses real risks to our patients health. Liposuction under local anesthesia is very desirable. It has a lower risk of complications in comparison with conventional liposuction under general anesthesia as well as a much easier and faster post-procedure recovery.
6 - Is liposuction painful?
Liposuction used to be a high risk major operation when performed under general anaesthesia. After development of “Tumescent Formula” and new liposuction technologies, it revolutionised the safety profile of liposuction as it is entirely done under local anaesthesia.
7 - Different liposuction techniques
There are several different technologies by which liposuction can be performed:
Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL)
Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL) or BodyJet
Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) or Vaser
Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Radio-frequency Assisted Liposuction (RFAL)
Suction Assisted Liposuction (SAL)
The combination of PAL+SAL possess the highest safety profile. (Ref: Textbook of Liposuction – Shiffman M., Di Giuseppe A.); therefore, we NEVER advise any other methods like Vaser, Laser, BodyJet, etc which can breach the patient safety and cause serious complications. As a liposuction-dedicated clinic, we ONLY provide the combination of PAL+SAL to keep your safety our top priority.
8 - Which liposuction model is the best?
The most popular form of liposuction is tumescent liposuction (under local anaesthesia) which is more effective, safer and less pain after the surgery than traditional liposuction (under general anaesthesia), and has a quicker recovery time.
9 - Who can be a proper candidate for liposuction?
In general, good candidates for liposuction include:
-> Adults within 30% of their ideal body weight who only have localised fat pockets.
-> Have firm and elastic skin with good muscle tone and minimal skin laxity.
-> Healthy individuals who do not have serious illnesses or medical conditions that can impair healing.
-> Not taking any blood-thining or over-the-counter medications.
Liposuction is NOT considered as a treatment for obesity. In fact, most of our clients have only localised areas of stubborn fat that can be safely removed by liposuction.
10 - Liposuction vs abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
Liposuction:
-> Body fat removal
-> Day case procedure
-> Small tiny incisions
-> No Sutures
-> Under “Local Anaesthesia”
-> High safety profile
-> Quick healing process
-> Back to normal in 2-3 days
-> Affordable cost
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck):
-> Abdominal surgery
-> Hospital based procedure
-> Very large cut from hip to hip
-> Disfiguring scar
-> Too many Sutures
-> Under “General Anaesthesia”
-> High risk procedure
-> Long healing process
-> Back to normal after a month
-> Expensive
11 - How to prepare for liposuction?
The following steps are the journey towards your liposuction:
Step 1 – Study FAQs and their answers thoroughly.
Step 2 – Book your appointment for clinical assessment by Dr KAY
Step 3 – Liposuction Surgery
Step 4 – Follow up session 6 weeks after liposuction
12 - How long is liposuction surgery?
Safe liposuction can be done entirely under local anaesthesia which makes the surgery shorter and the recovery quicker. Liposuction can take between 1 to 4 hours (depending on body area and amount of excess fat) and the recovery may take a few days. You may need 1 or 2 sessions of liposuction depending on the volume of fat that needs to be suctioned.
13 - How much fat can be safely liposuctioned in a single session?
The maximum amount of fat that can be safely removed with liposuction is up to 3 to 3.5 liters in one session, as per the latest research and top liposuction reference textbooks. An increase in the volume of fat removal crosses your safety boundaries and seriously increases the risks of complications. Never ever go for “Mega-liposuction” in which 6 to 8 litres (or even more!!!) of your body fat is removed as it can cost your life!
14 - What should I wear after liposuction?
After liposuction, you must wear an elastic compression garment for around 4 weeks. These garments are intended to provide continuous postoperative compression to areas treated by liposuction.
During the first 2 weeks after liposuction, the garment must be put on 24 hours a day, except when you take daily shower during which you can have your garment washed in your washing machine with cold water. During the 3rd & 4th weeks after your liposuction, you must put on your garment for only 12 hours a day.
We supply your garment included in your liposuction package, using the top quality liposuction garments in the world.
15 - How long does it take to recover from liposuction?
Recovery after liposuction varies in different individuals. Having said that, most clients can return to work 4 to 7 days after liposuction under local anaesthesia. You can then gradually resume your normal activities within 3 to 5 weeks.
16 - Any follow-up after liposuction?
After liposuction, avoid staying stationary, taking blood thinners, vigorous exercise, and spending a long time in the bath. Other important things to remember after liposuction is to stay hydrated and wear a compression garment as per Dr KAY’s instructions which are very important during the first week, especially for clients who have had liposuction on a larger area of their body, like the abdomen or thighs.
17 - When to resume normal activities after liposuction?
Toning exercises can be gradually increased, generally from between 2 to 3 weeks after liposuction. It is important for the body to heal first for the best surgical results. Once 4 to 6 weeks have passed, most liposuction patients feel comfortable enough to endure strenous exercises.
18 - How long after liposuction can you see the results?
Liposuction removes excess fat tissues from your body, but it’s result are not necessarily visible immediately. Depending on how much fat is removed, you can expect to see final results about 3 months after the procedure. Every person is different and Dr KAY will explain skin tightening for you as part of your body contouring procedure, if warranted. A bit of patience is needed after your liposuction, as your body needs time to heal from the liposuction surgery.
19 - Does liposuction leave large scars?
The new liposuction technology under local anaesthesia is performed through very tiny holes on your skin, called “Adits” which are 3 to 5 millimeters. Adits scars generally go away after several months or so. Some scars can appear slightly raised on the surface of the skin, also referred to as hypertrophic scars or keloids, but they may decrease over time.
20 - Does fat come back after liposuction?
The fat does NOT return after liposuction if you adopt an active lifestyle. The ideal results will remain intact if the patient maintains a balanced diet and daily regular exercise. Here are 6 healthy lifestyle changes to adopt following your liposuction:
1- Follow all post-procedure instructions provided by Dr KAY
2- Reduce caloric intake while eating a balanced diet focused on protein and healthy carbohydrates
3- Stay properly hydrated by drinking lots of water
4- Try eating several smaller meals throughout the day
5- Never skip meals
6- Exercise regularly
21 - Is liposuction a safe procedure?
Liposuction under local anaesthesia has a high safety profile for good candidates who:
-> don’t have a lot of excess skin
-> have good skin elasticity
-> have good muscle tone
-> have fat deposits that won’t go away with diet or exercise
-> are in good physical shape and overall health
-> aren’t overweight or obese
-> do not smoke
You should avoid liposuction if you:
-> smoke
-> have chronic health problems
-> have a weak immune system
-> are overweight
-> have saggy skin
-> have a history of Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), or Seizures
-> take medications that can increase the risk of bleeding, such as blood thiners
22 - What are the risks of liposuction?
As with all operations, there are some risks involved in having liposuction. Although the risks are rare, it is important to weigh them up against the potential benefits of the surgery.
Scars – There will be small scars from liposuction, usually in places that are not visible. These will usually be red at first, then purple, and then fade to become paler over 12 to 18 months. Occasionally, scars may become wider, thicker, red or painful, and you may need to have treatments to correct them.
Infection – It is rare for the wounds to get infected, but if they do you may need antibiotics.
Swelling & bruising – After the operation, there will be some swelling and bruising of the areas where liposuction was performed. This can take a while to settle. The larger the area treated, the more swelling and bruising there will be, and it can take weeks to settle.
Asymmetry – This is where the areas treated by liposuction are not symmetrical, particularly if a lot of fat has been removed. But these irregularities are usually minor and if the contours of where you have had liposuction are irregular, you may need corrective liposuction, or fat grafting (where fat from another area is injected), to smooth out the irregularities.
Increased or decreased sensation – After liposuction, it is common to have areas that are numb or more sensitive than usual. This usually settles within a few weeks.
Damage to deeper structures – Although rare, the surgery can damage deeper structures, including nerves, blood vessels, muscles, the bowel (the part of the intestine below the stomach) and other organs. There is a higher risk of this, if you have prior surgeries and/or scars in the area being treated.
Unsatisfactory result – Sometimes, patients are not satisfied with the result of their liposuction if the new contours or the amount of fat removed does not meet their expectations. It is important for you to understand that liposuction is NOT a treatment for obesity. The amount of fat that can be removed from an area is limited by what is safe (no more than 3 litres). So it may not be possible to slim down an area as much as you might like.
Change over time – The appearance of the areas where you had liposuction will change as a result of ageing, pregnancy or other circumstances not related to your liposuction, such as putting on or losing weight. You may need further surgery or other treatments to maintain the results of the liposuction.
Allergic reaction – Rarely, allergic reactions to tape, stitches or solutions have been reported. If you have an allergic reaction, you may need extra treatments.
23 - How many body areas can be treated in a session?
For the vast majority of patients, there isn’t a concrete limit on the number of areas that can be targeted during one liposuction treatment, as long as the amount of fat tissue removed is not greater than a particular quantity specified by one’s anatomical indicators.
24 - Do I lose weight after liposuction?
Patients should not expect to lose a dramatic amount of weight with liposuction. However, because excess fat is removed from cosmetically important areas, liposuction can produce improvements in aesthetic appearance. If a person consumes more calories than they burn, they can put weight back on after liposuction; although the treated areas will not regain the same amount of fat as they would have without liposuction.
25 - Will you perform liposuction on obese patients?
Most surgeons do not recommend liposuction for anyone more than 20 to 30 pounds over their ideal body weight (IBW) for their height. This approximately translates to a BMI of over 30.
26 - What are the illnesses in which liposuction should not be done?
Liposuction is contraindicated in patients with severe cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, skin or systemic infections, lack of skin firmness and elasticity, severe coagulation disorders including thrombophilia, and during pregnancy. The patient’s history should also include noting prior abdominal surgeries such as caesarean sections which produce scarring. A detailed drug history is also essential.
27 - Is there any age restrictions for liposuction?
While there is no firm age limit for liposuction, most surgeons will avoid performing the procedure on patients below 18 and over 60 years old, because the results might not be as satisfactory.
28 - How much does liposuction cost?
The cost of liposuction under local anaesthesia which includes consumables, medications, compression garment, and follow-up session starts from £2,500 for small areas like double chin. The average cost of liposuction of other body areas start from:
· 1 anatomic area: £3,000
· 2 anatomic areas: £5,500
· 3 anatomic areas: £7,500
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