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Liposuction Sydney

There are times that exercise and diet alone won’t get rid of stubborn pockets of excess fat. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes localised and disproportional fat deposits that are unresponsive to diet and/or exercise. This helps to reshape and slim targeted areas of the body. Modern liposuction techniques also remove large amounts of subcutaneous fat. 

Dr Safvat will assess your skin tone and advise you if liposuction alone is suitable for you. In some cases, excision of the redundant skin is also required.

Liposuction in Sydney - Dr André Safvat - Plastic Surgeon Sydney

Liposuction is most likely to be successful for people with a healthy weight and firm, elastic skin. Although age is not a significant concern, older people may have less skin elasticity and may not achieve the same result as a younger person with tighter skin.

Therefore, at times, a combination of liposuction and surgery to remove excess skin will provide the best result and help you achieve your aesthetic objectives.

If there are other concerns that you have regarding your body shape, liposuction can easily be paired with a number of other surgeries. You can discuss your specific concerns and requirements during your consultation with Dr Safvat.

Liposuction Procedure

Before the procedure commences, an anaesthetic will need to be administered. The type of anaesthetic that is used will depend on the patient and the area that needs to be treated. Once the area is numb or the patient is sedated, small incisions are made across the treatment area.

Through the small incisions, small suction devices (cannulas) are inserted to suck out the unwanted fat. The areas that are commonly treated by liposuction are the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, flanks, arms, male breasts, neck and under the chin. Multiple areas can be treated at the same time if need be. Different sized cannulas may need to be used for each area.

This type of surgery is usually a day-only procedure and won’t require an overnight stay in hospital. How long the procedure takes will depend on the size and number of areas that will be treated.

Recovery

After the procedure, the affected area will be swollen and bruised. You will need to wear a compression garment immediately after surgery for 4 weeks to reduce bruising and swelling. You should take about a week off work to rest at home and recover. Walking is actively encouraged postoperatively but exertion and heavy lifting are not allowed for 3-4 weeks. Full Recovery usually takes around three to four weeks.

Any pain and discomfort can be managed with prescription pain medication. Dr Safvat will also provide you with some helpful suggestions to make your recovery easier. The more you rest and follow these instructions, the faster and more efficient your recovery and results will be.

Liposuction FAQs

How much does liposuction cost?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure and there is usually no Medicare item number for it. This means you won’t receive any rebates from Medicare or your health fund. There are several factors that make up the final cost of your procedure. This usually includes surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees. If you will be combining liposuction with other types of surgery such as a body lift, tummy tuck or thigh lift, this will also alter the final cost. A thorough estimation can only be obtained following a personalised consultation with Dr Safvat. During the consultation, your medical history will be reviewed and a physical examination will be conducted in order to clear you for surgery.

What you need to do before the operation?

Smoking has been shown to cause more complications after any surgery. We would prefer that you stop smoking at least 3 weeks before your surgery. You will also get the best result if your weight is stable. It is possible to regain fat in the areas that are treated if a healthy lifestyle is not followed. Over and above this, there are certain types of medication and supplements that should be avoided to reduce bleeding and bruising. This will be discussed during your consultation.

Are there any complications connected with liposuction?

Every step is taken to prevent complications during and after your liposuction procedure. Unfortunately, any type of surgery is associated with general complications and risks. This can include anything from reactions to anaesthetic to infection.

Dr Safvat only operates at fully accredited hospitals and works with highly trained specialist anaesthetists. All anaesthetists are Fellows of The Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), which helps minimise many potential risks.

You will be prescribed antibiotics upon discharge to minimise the infection risk.There are some complications connected with this surgical procedure. For example, there could be some patches of numbness in the area that was treated. This may take up to 6 months to normalise.

There might also be some other minor complications such as collections of blood (haematoma) or other fluids (seroma). Dr Safvat will go through risks and possible complications in detail at your consultation.

Is it possible for liposuction to cause scarring?

The incisions that are required to complete a liposuction procedure are only a few millimetres in length. This means that any scarring is hardly visible at all. With this being said, if you choose to combine the procedure with additional surgeries, scarring can be slightly more visible. With the right wound care and scar management techniques, scarring can be kept to a minimum. Scars also gradually fade over time. Dr Safvat will advise you on the best scar management process at your post-operative appointment.

Does liposuction tighten the skin of the treated area?

Liposuction is designed to reduce fatty tissue, not tighten skin. If excess loose skin is one of your concerns, additional surgery will be required. For example, patients with excess abdominal fat and loose skin will pair liposuction with a tummy tuck or body lift. If you would prefer to only undergo liposuction, you would require good skin elasticity. Undergoing liposuction with skin laxity can result in drooping skin in that area.

Can liposuction be used to remove cellulite?

Weight reduction is one of the best ways to manage cellulite. This will help break down any fatty tissue that has accumulated underneath the skin. Creams and medications rarely work for reducing cellulite. Unfortunately, liposuction cannot completely remove cellulite. It can help smooth out the treated area but some cellulite will still be visible after your surgery. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle following your liposuction procedure will help to prolong and enhance your results.

How much weight will I lose following liposuction?

Since liposuction is not a weight-loss surgery, patients will need to have achieved or be close to their ideal weight prior to surgery. Fat tissue itself is not dense or heavy to begin with. This means there won’t be a very significant difference in your overall weight once the unwanted fat has been removed. Before you weigh yourself after surgery, wait for swelling to subside. This is because the swelling causes fluid retention, which could make you heavier than you really are.

Are there different liposuction techniques?

The traditional liposuction and most common technique involves the use of a slim cannula that’s inserted into a small incision. The tip of the cannula penetrates the fat and is attached to a suction pump that removes the fat. The cannula is moved back and forth to achieve the final result. However, there are some other, less common techniques that may be considered.

The technique that’s used is dependent on what area will be treated and the desired outcome. This is because some areas respond better to certain techniques than others. Your options will be discussed during your consultation with Dr Safvat.