Liposuction (Lipectomy or Lipoplasty)

Liposuction

Who is a good candidate

Generally, a good candidate for liposuction is a non-smoker, at a healthy weight, and who does not have medical issues that would interfere with the surgery. Smoking impacts the health of your blood vessels and can hinder post-operative healing, which means you should quit smoking at least six weeks before your procedure.

Liposuction is not a solution to obesity, nor is it a replacement for regular exercise and a healthy diet. Rather, it is best for healthy men and women seeking to refine their body contours. If you are close to your goal weight and seeking to remove excess pockets of fat, this procedure could be an option for you.

Medical issues can raise the risk of complications occurring during or after your procedure, so it is important to disclose these accurately. This can include any medication that you are currently taking.

Ideal candidates also have realistic expectations about what liposuction can do for their bodies. If you have further questions about whether you are a good candidate, these can be answered during your initial consultation.

Liposuction

Benefits of surgery

Sometimes, a healthy diet and exercise routine is not enough to reduce fatty deposits in certain areas. Many people have unwanted fatty deposits that do not respond to natural fat loss methods. Liposuction removes these pockets of fat, reducing the volume in various areas. Liposuction surgeon Dr Bish will customise your procedure to suit your individual needs and goals.

Liposuction can offer a number of benefits, depending on your reasons for seeking the procedure. For example:

• Removes excess fat deposits from specific areas of the body
• Addresses asymmetry
• Achieves a more toned appearance in treated areas
• Can treat multiple areas of the body at the same time
• May be combined with other procedures

Liposuction is a highly personalised procedure, so the benefits of each procedure ultimately come down to each patient’s personal goals. You can discuss what can be achieved with liposuction according to your needs during your consultation, to get a clearer idea of the benefits you may be able to experience.

Liposuction

Your initial consultation

Before a liposuction procedure, you will need to have a consultation with Dr Bish. The purpose of your consultation is to get thorough information and advice about the procedure, discuss the best treatment plan for your body and your ideal results, and to allow you to ask any questions you may have.

A consultation is also important to assess your health, desired treatment areas and ideal results to determine if you are a suitable candidate. If you are a smoker or take certain medications that can thin your blood, you may need to pause or switch medications. Additionally, you will be instructed to quit smoking for at least six weeks before your procedure.

As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon, Dr Bish will be able to provide you with the information and answers that you need. During your consultation, you will receive:

• Information about liposuction
• Personalised advice
• A personalised treatment plan, tailored to your needs and goals
• Details about your procedure options, such as the option of combining procedures
• Preparation and aftercare instructions
• A guide as to what you can expect for your results
• Details of the costs of your customised procedure

We recommend preparing a list of questions for your surgeon before your consultation so that you can get the information you need and feel confident and clear about your procedure. If you have any questions that you would prefer to ask ahead of time, you are welcome to contact our team.

Liposuction

Costs of liposuction in Sydney and North Shore

Each liposuction procedure will have individually tailored steps and details, which will determine the overall costs of the procedure.

Costs can be influenced by the size of the treatment areas, the amount of fat that needs to be removed, and the number of treatment areas. We will also consider the length and complexity of your procedure and whether it will be combined with other procedures. Your costs will also include the fees for the hospital, your surgeon and the anaesthetist, as well as aftercare costs, such as items you may need during recovery.

Additionally, we may also discuss whether combining procedures may be a good choice for you. Although combining procedures and treating multiple areas at once can initially increase the total costs of your procedure, it can significantly reduce your costs in the long run. This is because it removes the need to undergo multiple procedures separately, which will each come with their own fees.

Since all of these factors will depend on every patient’s personal needs, the way to receive an accurate and detailed quote is to book your initial consultation.

During your consultation with liposuction surgeon Dr Bish, you will discuss your goals, have your desired treatment area/s assessed and agree on a personalised treatment plan. This will help your surgeon to calculate your total costs.

To receive your personalised quote, you can book your consultation at our Sydney or North Shore locations today.

Liposuction

Aftercare guide

Dr Soliman will give you detailed aftercare instructions to help you through your recovery. Your instructions will take all of your personalised procedure details into consideration to ensure that you are caring for your body sufficiently and can have an efficient recovery. You will receive your personalised recovery instructions after discussing your tailored treatment plan.

General aftercare instructions

It is normal to have some pain, swelling, and tenderness after your liposuction procedure, but this should subside as your treated area heals. Although recovery is different for every patient, swelling usually resolves within one to two months. You may be prescribed pain medication to ease any discomfort.

A compression garment may need to be worn in the treated areas to ensure the best results, helping the skin to fully retract. Your surgeon can advise you on how long you will need to wear the garment, which can be slightly different depending on each treated area.

Straight after your procedure, you will need to get sufficient rest. While you may be encouraged to move gently and frequently to prevent complications throughout your recovery, you will also be instructed to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until your body has healed. This can generally be for about six weeks, but your surgeon will provide you with personalised advice. You may be able to resume light activities, resume driving and return to work after about two weeks.

We recommend having somebody available to help you with tasks around the house, as certain tasks may be difficult during the earlier days of your recovery from liposuction. You should also make sure that you have comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to wear, and access to pre-prepared healthy meals to get the nutrition your body needs. Additionally, you may be advised to:

• Care for your wounds properly to avoid infection
• Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet
• Take care of your general health
• Avoid smoking and alcohol
• Avoid certain blook-thinning medications
• Follow all other aftercare instructions

If you have any concerns or questions during your recovery, your surgeon will be available to contact for advice. It is important to feel clear about the steps you will need to take during your recovery, and report anything that may be concerning you as soon as possible.

Liposuction

What to expect for your results

You will have swelling and bruising after the procedure, which means your final results may take some time to show. The amount of time that this will take will vary from patient to patient. Generally, swelling subsides within one to two months. However, it can take a little longer for your results to be completely visible. You will need to have realistic expectations and be patient when it comes to the results of your procedure.

Results can also be influenced by any additional procedures, combined with liposuction. Liposuction does not achieve a one-size-fits-all outcome, so you will need to discuss what you can expect according to your unique features and your procedure plan during your consultation.

Liposuction

Risks and complications

Every surgical procedure comes with risks, and it is important to be aware of these before going ahead with your liposuction procedure. You will be able to discuss the risks and complications of the procedure during your consultation, including the level of your personal risk, considering your health history and personalised procedure steps. You can also discuss what steps can be taken to minimise and prevent these risks, such as precautions taken during the surgery, and preparation and aftercare tips.

Generally, potential complications from liposuction surgery include:

• Infection
• Scarring
• Delayed healing
• Uneven skin surface, such as lumps or rippling
• Asymmetry
• Changes in skin sensation or tone
• Skin laxity
• Damage to nerves, muscles, or blood vessels
• Ongoing pain or swelling
• Reactions to medications
• Reaction to the anaesthesia

Some of these complications may need to be addressed with revision surgery.

Straight after your procedure, you will be monitored in hospital to make sure that no immediate complications have occurred. You can discuss where to expect any scarring to be visible during your consultation before the procedure, as it will depend on where the incisions are placed.

Once you are sent home, you will need to monitor your body’s healing process and your general health throughout your recovery and make sure that you report any concerning signs to your surgeon for advice.