- Liposuction / Liposculpture - Surgery to reduce or remove stubborn areas of fat

Body Contouring

How will you feel after fat removal surgery and what is the recovery period like?

Whilst fat removal procedures are usually considered reasonably minor, the operated area is often quite tender, bruised and painful for several weeks following surgery. Analgesic tablets (pain killers) are always provided for any discomfort and patients are encouraged to stay as mobile as possible during their early recovery stage to help improve their circulation.

This in turn, will help diminish residual swelling and bruising and aid a more speedy recovery. In the early days following discharge, patients are strongly advised to avoid any excessive level of activity that would put undue strain on the operated areas. Whilst the healing wounds are well hidden beneath the skin they still need the same consideration that any visible wounds require during a recovery stage.

In order to help the newly shaped fatty tissue and skin bond firmly together, patients are usually advised to wear an elastic support garment day and night for one week and then for a minimum of another three weeks during the daytime. Patients will also be advised to take a specific amount of recovery time away from work, dependant on the type of work they perform, but it is usual to take around 7 days away from work, dependant on the volume of the fat removed.

Are there any risks involved in fat removal surgery?

All surgery involves an element of risk from developing complications. However, cosmetic surgery is usually undertaken voluntarily and only when a patient is in good health. Therefore, the probability of experiencing complications from this kind of surgery are substantially lower than those who undergo surgery for ill health reasons. Risks such as irregularity, bleeding, alteration in sensitivity, infection and scarring will all be discussed quite openly at consultation, as well as our scrupulous efforts to manage and minimise these risks to their lowest possible potential.

This procedure can involve the removal of reasonably large volumes of fat. The elasticity of an individuals skin will determine how moderate or dramatic the shape change can be. In appropriately selected cases and in the hands of a skilled surgeon, loose skin following surgery should not be a significant problem, but it is worth bearing in mind that not everyone is suitable for this procedure for this reason.

A careful assessment of an individuals skin condition will always be made by the Surgeon, before any decisions are made about a patient's suitability for this procedure. The surface contour over the treated fat removal area/s can sometimes be irregular, particularly if a lot of fat has been removed, however if the technique is properly carried out by our appropriately skilled surgeons these irregularities are usually very minor.

Dimpled skin, (cellulite) will not usually be improved by undergoing a liposuction procedure. The loss of superficial skin sensitivity following liposuction surgery in an entirely variable one from patient to patient. Post-operative skin sensitivity can often be interrupted because of swelling developing around the nerve endings of an operated area. Sometimes it can take several months for skin sensitivity to completely recover and on very rare occasions, a treated area may remain permanently numb.

Typically, the key hole incisions made during a procedure are very small (a few millimetres across). However, the appearance of scars, (which generally fade progressively after surgery), are a highly individual matter. Usually these extremely small scars mature, soften and fade to a negligible level by 6 months following surgery. Very occasionally however, patients can develop discoloured, unsightly firm scars, known as hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which may require further corrective treatment.

What next?

The importance of a thorough pre-operative consultation with the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who will perform your procedure cannot be over stressed. You need time to consider all benefits and risks of fat removal surgery and the opportunity to reflect on the information the surgeon offers you before you make any decision regarding potential surgery.

At Capio each consultation is tailored to an individual's needs, but the process will always involve a thorough evaluation of your present and past medical history and a physical examination of the problem area. Your surgeon will take time to listen to your concerns regarding your present body shape and will take care to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of what can be done to help, the procedure itself, the recovery stages and a clear explanation of the risks involved.