Your surgeon will discuss the procedure with you to make sure you are happy with the kind of anaesthetic needed and the techniques involved.
Before the operation
You will be asked to have general health tests before the operation to check that you are fit to undergo surgery.
Avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks before your surgery. For women having an extensive operation, a surgeon may advise you to stop taking the contraceptive pill as well. If you are anaemic, taking an iron supplement may be recommended.
Before your operation, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This is to confirm that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the operation.
The operation
The treatment area will be marked out on your body with a pen. You may be asked to have a photo taken of the area so that the results of the operation can be compared to how you looked before surgery.
Most liposuction operations take between one and four hours and are performed under general anaesthetic (when you are asleep). For treatments on the lower body, an epidural anaesthetic may be used. This numbs the lower part of the body while you are awake.
A local anaesthetic (where only one area of the body is numbed and you are awake) is only suitable when liposuction is performed on very small areas of the body.
The surgeon will start by preparing the area where the fat is to be removed. Depending on the procedure, they will use one of the techniques described below.
- Tumescent (wet) liposuction. This is the most common technique. A liquid solution is injected into the area being treated. It contains a mixture of local anaesthetic to numb the area, salt solution and epinephrine (a drug that makes the blood vessels contract and reduces blood loss, bruising and post-operative swelling). The amount of liquid injected can be up to three times the volume of fat being removed.
- Super-wet liposuction. This is similar to tumescent liposuction, but uses less fluid. With this technique, the surgeon injects a volume of solution equal to the amount of fat being removed. Super-wet liposuction may require you to have a separate anaesthetic, either intravenously (through a drip), or a general anaesthetic by injection.
- Dry liposuction. This is when fat is removed without any fluid being injected first. This kind of liposuction can cause more bleeding and bruising. It is not used very often.
- Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). Ultrasound-assisted liposuction was established as a liposuction preparation technique in 1996. Ultrasonic vibrations are used either above or below the skin to turn fat into liquid before it is sucked out. This is particularly useful for stubborn fat deposits. This technique may lengthen the time the procedure takes, as it is often used in combination with tumescent liposuction.
- Laser-assisted liposuction. In this technique a weak laser pulse is used to break down the fat cells.
- Water-jet-assisted liposuction (body-jet). In this technique a fine, high-pressure water jet is used to gently separate fat cells which are then more easily removed by suction. This technique has become more popular in recent years as it is a very safe method.
After a preparation treatment has been given, the surgeon will make a small cut in the skin of the area to be treated. If the area being treated is large, several cuts may have to be made.
A suction tube called a microcannula, which is attached to a specialist vacuum machine, is then inserted into the cut. The tube is first used to loosen the fat, then to suck the fat out of the area.
When all the required fat has been sucked out, the surgeon drains out any excess fluid and blood using small drainage tubes. This may have to be done several times after the procedure.
Read information about recovering from liposuction.
