Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Liposuction is a common surgery for improving the body contours and proportion by removing excess fat via a suction cannula. It is suitable for people with excessive fat accumulation in their abdomen but without loose skin. Liposuction is not a substitute for diet or exercise, and results are typically better when performed on individuals within a weight range.

Liposuction can be performed with different techniques such as suction-assisted liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, and water-assisted liposuction. They all have advantages and disadvantages. According to the characteristic of fat accumulation and condition of the skin, doctors will choose the most appropriate technique. Liposuction can be performed under local or general anaesthesia. In areas with excessive fat (e.g. lower abdomen, upper arms or thighs), several tiny incisions are made, into which mixture of local anaesthetics, hemostatics agents and normal saline fluid are injected. A suction cannula is then inserted to draw out fatty tissues to achieve body reshaping.

The duration varies with area where the procedure is performed, but 60 minutes is generally necessary for each area. Patients are required to wear pressure garments after surgery to promote skin tightening. Light duty work can be resumed in two to three days. The bruising and swelling typically subsides in one to two weeks, and improvement in body shape can be seen within a few weeks.

Side effects include bruising, swelling, soreness, irregular skin surface, and numbness at treatment area. Serious complications include anaesthetics overdose, fat embolism or accidental puncture or laceration of the intestines. In order to minimise such risks, patients are advised to seek qualified surgeons and well-equipped medical centres or hospitals with stringent infection control standards to carry out such procedures.