FAQ

• what is liposuction?

  Liposuction is the surgical removal of unwanted fatty tissue to improve the contour of areas such as the tummy, hips, thighs, knees, arms and chin.

• which areas are suitable for treatment with liposuction?

  Generally speaking, liposuction can be performed on the tummy, hips, thighs, knees, arms and chin.

• what are the principles of liposuction?

  1) The number of fat cells stays fairly constant after puberty, their size however may change.

  2) The fat cells act as fat stores and are therefore metabolically active; if you feed them they will increase in size, if you starve them they will reduce in size.

  3) The more fat you remove from beneath the skin, the looser the skin will become. Imagine taking feathers out of a pillow; the effect is similar.

  4) After liposuction, the treated area will swell a little and may take around 3 months to settle. This can be sped up with the use of light compression garments.

• how is the procedure carried out?

  A detailed consultation with Plastic Surgeon Mr Nicholas Rhodes is essential prior to undergoing any surgical procedure. During the consultation, Mr Rhodes will discuss any problem areas, desired improvements, options available (including no treatment at all) and expected outcomes.

  Should Liposuction be agreed upon as the most suitable treatment, the procedure will be carried out by Mr Rhodes in our newly refurbished operating theatre. Your areas of concern are carefully identified and marked. Depending on the number of areas to be treated surgery may be performed under either a local or general anaesthetic. Following administration of the anaesthetic fat is gently removed using a fine tube. The procedure takes between one to three hours and usually you will be able to return home on the same day. Throughout the procedure you will be looked after by our experienced and caring medical staff.

• how does the procedure feel?

  Depending on the number of areas to be treated, surgery may be performed under either local or general anaesthetic to ensure the patient’s total comfort for the duration of the procedure.

• is there any downtime?

  It is common to experience bruising, numbness, swelling and some minor leakage from the treated areas. Wearing the compression garment and undergoing lymphatic drainage treatments such as LPG Endermologie Body will speed up the settling process and ensure the best possible outcome.

  Showering is permitted on the second day after surgery, with light exercise recommencing after a few days. Our highly experienced medical team is on hand around the clock to offer advice and address any concerns.

   

• how do I know if I will be left with loose skin after liposuction?

  This depends on the amount of fat removed and the quality of your skin. If you have wrinkly, sun-damaged skin then there will be little potential for the skin to shrink back. Skin tightening may be done as a secondary procedure either with surgical removal or radio frequency tightening.

• does liposuction leave scars?

  Liposuction does involve making very small incisions in the skin to allow the cannula to be carefully inserted into the fatty tissue which makes removal possible. These incisions generally heal quite well and leave fine scars; very occasionally they may heal to form a slightly lumpy scar that commonly settles with the passage of time. Where possible, during the marking up procedure, the incisions are sited in skin creases or within areas covered by your underwear.

• how much fat can be removed?

  The treated area has to blend in with the rest of the body to look natural. When performing liposuction it is essential to leave enough fat behind to support the skin.

• what pre and post-procedure advice must I follow?

  Pre-procedure
  We are governed by CQC guidelines which state a consultation must be carried our prior to any surgical appointment being booked. The consultation must be conducted at least 2 weeks but not more than 4 months prior to the surgery.

  Post-procedure
  Immediately after the procedure you will be put into a compression garment that helps to reduce swelling and maintain shape, this will need to be worn for several weeks after surgery.

  Patients should not drive for 24 hours post-procedure, therefore arrangements for a taxi or driver should be made.

  Once the healing process is complete it is important to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise to maintain results from the surgery.