Liposuction Sydney

Liposuction

Liposuction removes localised deposits of fat through small cannulas to refine the shape of a specific area. It is used for pockets of fat that stay put despite consistent diet and exercise, in areas such as the flanks, abdomen, outer and inner thighs, upper arms, back and under the chin.

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and it is not a treatment for obesity. The volume removed is limited, the change on the scales is usually small, and the operation does nothing for the health risks associated with excess weight. It also does not treat loose skin or cellulite. If your main concern is overall weight, that is better addressed through medical weight management before any contouring surgery is considered.

Liposuction works best where skin has reasonable elasticity, so that it retracts over the treated area as swelling settles. Where skin laxity is the real issue, an excisional procedure such as abdominoplasty may be more relevant. Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Specialist Plastic Surgeon, consults in Paddington, Sydney and will say plainly whether liposuction addresses what is bothering you.

Who liposuction may suit

• Localised fat in a defined area that has not changed with sustained diet and exercise
• A stable weight held for several months, close to your usual range
• Reasonable skin tone and elasticity over the area to be treated
• Asymmetry or a disproportionate contour, such as fullness at the flanks or outer thighs
• Adults in good general health who do not smoke, or who will stop well before surgery
• Realistic expectations about the size of the change and the possibility of contour irregularity

What the liposuction procedure involves

Liposuction may be performed under local anaesthetic with sedation for small areas, or general anaesthetic for larger or multiple areas, usually as day surgery.

1. The areas to be treated are marked with you standing, so that contour is assessed as it appears in daily life.
2. Small incisions of a few millimetres are made in discreet positions, and a dilute local anaesthetic and adrenaline solution is infiltrated to reduce bleeding and bruising.
3. Fat is removed in controlled passes with fine cannulas, working across the area and comparing sides to keep the contour even.
4. The incisions are closed with fine sutures or left to drain briefly, and a compression garment is fitted at the end of the procedure.

Recovery

Most patients go home the same day. Recovery differs between individuals and by the number and size of areas treated, so the following are indications only.

• Bruising, swelling and a tender, firm feeling in the treated area are usual for the first one to three weeks.
• Compression garments are generally worn day and night for around four to six weeks.
• Many people return to office work within a few days to a week, and to gentle walking almost immediately.
• More vigorous exercise is usually resumed at around four weeks, on advice at your review.
• Contour continues to refine as oedema resolves, often over three to six months, so the early appearance is not the final one.

Risks and considerations

Recognised risks include bruising, prolonged swelling, seroma, bleeding, infection, altered or reduced sensation in the treated skin, contour irregularity, rippling, dimpling, asymmetry, over-correction or under-correction, pigmentation change and small scars at the access points. Loose skin may become more apparent once underlying volume is reduced. Revision surgery is sometimes needed. Uncommon but serious complications include fat embolism, fluid shifts with larger volumes, injury to structures beneath the fat layer, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and complications of anaesthetic.

Fat cells removed do not return, but the remaining fat cells can still enlarge, so later weight gain will change the result. Skin quality, your anatomy and how you heal all influence the outcome, and no specific result can be promised.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

You are supported from your first consultation, where your concerns and medical history are discussed, through your surgery and into your post-operative care and review appointments. In Australia a referral is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery, preferably from your usual GP, and a cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between giving informed consent and surgery, or at least three months for patients under 18.

Dr Maryam will examine and assess the areas that concern you, explain what liposuction can and cannot change, and go through the risks and the alternatives, including weight management, skin excision procedures or no surgery. Fees are quoted after the consultation. Purely cosmetic liposuction does not attract a Medicare item number, while some reconstructive procedures may. Rooms are at 2c Heeley Street, Paddington, phone 1300 067 668.