Why Choose Liposuction?
We can use liposuction to treat any areas of the body that carry unwanted excess fat including the hips, abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, breasts and neck. We would only recommend using liposuction to remove localised areas of fat; it is not the right course of treatment for losing large amounts of weight or cellulite.
Procedure In Brief
The procedure relies on the active removal of fat and then the passive process of the skin shrinking back to give the reduced and improved contour. It is therefore dependent on the ability of the skin to shrink back. This ability varies depending on the area treated, the quality and elasticity of the skin and the age of patient. The hips are an excellent area to treat.
Other good areas are the tummy and thighs. A maximum of four litres of fat can be removed at one operation. Small 4mm incisions are used to access the fat and when healed are hardly visible. A suction device using long blunt 2-4 mm needles removes the fat.
Incisions
We try to ensure all incisions are small and when possible hidden in a skin crease.
Scars
These scars are small and tend to heal very well. Although a little pink initially in the first few weeks they then fade to white. Most patients scars will heal well and will form extremely good quality scars over time. The length of time will vary for each individual patient.
Medicines
A full medical history will be obtained before any surgery. As a precaution, do not take any over the counter medicines or herbal remedies prior to surgery or for 3 days following. Also avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and Voltarol based tablets. It would be useful to bring a list of any prescribed medications to your pre-op assessment.
Smoking
If you are a smoker, try and stop for a minimum of five days before and after surgery as it can reduce the chances of complications.
Recovering from Liposuction
Length Of Surgery
The Operation takes 45 minutes – 2.30 hours depending on the areas to be treated. This can be done under local anaesthetic though it is usually by general-anaesthetic.
Length Of Stay In Hospital
Depending on recovery, patients can be discharged on the same day as their surgery or spend a night in hospital.
Dressings And Stitches
You will have small stitches and water resistant dressings or human super-glue on the incisions. The area treated will usually be taped up or a pressure garment applied on return to the ward or the morning of the next day. You will need to wear the pressure garment day and night for two weeks and then during the day for a further 4 weeks.
Post-Operative Instructions And Recovery
Day 1 You should be taking it very easy! Relax in the hospital or at home.
Day 2-5 You can be up and about but you may be in some discomfort.
Day 5-14 Your stitches will be removed and most of the swelling and bruising will settle over this next week. You will be feeling much better from here onwards. You can start exercising gently and build it up over the next 10 days.
Week 3 onwards you will be nearly back to normal.
Time off work and socialising
Allow 3-14 days, full anaesthetic can take longer to recover from. Whilst people vary in recovery, most patients are very comfortable at one week and feel more stiff than in pain. Recovery will depend on the size of area treated.
Time To Exercise
Patients usually feel able to walk a distance at 3 days, and swim gently by 10-14 days. Strenuous exercise (aerobics etc) should be avoided for 3 weeks, contact sports for 6 weeks.
Driving
Patients should avoid driving until they are completely free of pain and restriction, and be able to confidently perform an emergency stop. This is to ensure they will be covered by their insurance policy. It may take 10-14 days to recover sufficiently.
Final Outcome
Although results will be noticeable immediately, you will continue to see improvement over the first three months.
Follow Up
We will check your wound and remove stitches dressings at day 5-7. You will then have an appointment with Stephen McCulley at 3 months. You will not be charged for any follow up appointment relating to your surgery.
Potential Complications With Liposuction
This is a routine operation that is a great success for the vast majority of patients. However, as with any procedure, it is very important you understand what can go wrong as well as right. The potential complications are listed below.
- Recurrence: Not really a complication but you can put the weight and fat back on if you do not control your weight. The fat cells do not come back but the ones left just become bigger.
- Small degrees of asymmetry: The same operation will be performed on both sides. However effects of surgery can be subtlety different on the two sides.
- Scars: The quality of scars vary between patients. Skin irregularity: Small areas of irregularity can be observed.
- Altered sensation: Some altered sensation can be noticed but usually settles over the first week. Bruising/bleeding: Usually minor but can be greater occasionally
- General operation risks: Chest infections, Blood clots in the leg or lung (DVT or PE)
If you experience any side-effects that you are concerned about please don’t hesitate to contact us.
What does Liposuction cost?
Small £3,800
Medium £5,500
Large £6,900
Costs with Associate of Stephen McCulley £3,325-£6,000
What Is Included In The Cost?
The prices listed are all inclusive and cover:
- The pre-operative assessment and investigations
- The operation
- Hospital stay and any treatment required
- All follow up (nursing and with Stephen McCulley) relating to your surgery
- Any emergency problems or re-admissions relating to your surgery within the first year.
Prices as of August 2023. There can be some variation of costs with complexity of problem and
hospital used. A full quotation will be provided after consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to see more then please view our frequently asked questions on Cosmetic Body Procedures!
