What is it?
Liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery procedure that permanently removes fat from various areas of your body through suction. This procedure allows localized and stubborn fat which are resistant to exercise and diet to be effectively removed, improving your overall body contours, proportions and definition. Common areas include the abdomen, thighs, arms and under the chin.
Which areas of the body is suitable for Liposuction?
These areas are commonly managed with liposuction:
Male Chest / Man Boobs
Gynecomastia or man boobs is a common condition which causes embarrassment to many men, with liposuction these are removed and you can remove your shirt more confidently. Learn about Gynecomastia Surgery.
Male chest liposuction
Female Chest
Women affected by their appearance with bra bulges, liposuction surgery can help get rid of the bulge allowing you to confidently wear sleeveless tops and tube tops.
Under the Chin / Double Chin
After liposuction surgery, the contours of your face and neck are improved and a more defined jawline makes you look younger and slimmer.
Chin liposuction
Under Arms
These “bat wings” flabby arms can be eliminated to create a toned and slender appearance.
Underarms accessory breast liposuction
Arm liposuction
Abdomen
“Love handles” and “muffin top” can be eliminated with liposuction surgery to create a flatter abdomen and a slender waist for a desired hourglass shape. The contours of the semilunaris and linea alba can also be etched out concurrently to give you a more athletic appearance.
Abdominal Liposuction
Hips
Liposuction surgery can help with eliminating “Saddle bags”, which are these stubborn bulges of fat around the hips, to give you a more slender contour and silhouette.
Back
“Buffalo hump” can be eliminated to improve your neck posture and comfort.
Thighs
The inner thighs are often managed through thigh liposuction to create the coveted “thigh gap. The area just above the knees is another common request.
Others
Some other less common areas include the lips, hands, calves, ankles or other areas that bother you.
How is the Surgery done?
Generally, liposuction is performed under sedation or general anaesthesia. Except small areas of liposuction for fat grafting, this can be performed under local anaesthesia. The incisions are all less than 1cm, placed thoughtfully in well-hidden areas so that ultimately the scar is barely visible.
A concocted tumescent fluid will be injected into the targeted areas to reduce bleeding and to provide post-operative pain relief. Thin cannulaes will be used to extract/suction the fat out. Various types of modalities and machines can be used at this stage to improve the efficacy of fat removal.
Following this, you will be dressed in post-operative compression garment.
Where are the incisions placed?
All the incisions are placed in well-hidden areas and are less than 1cm to ensure that scars are barely visible.
Breast – IMF / areolar (same for male and female)
Back – bra line / midline
Flank – can be reached from lower abdomen / flanks itself
Abdomen – umbilicus / lower abdomen
Arms – above elbow at the back
Thighs – inner groin / mid thigh
Calves – mid calf
What types of liposuction surgery are available?
Depending on the areas and amount of fat present for liposuction, the types of liposuction surgery recommended will be discussed with you.
Specific types of liposuction surgery include:
Suction assisted liposuction (hand-held syringe)
- This is usually for harvesting of fat for facial or hand fat grafting
- Small amount of fat, usually <100mls will be removed from a certain location for use
- This can be performed with dry, wet or tumescent solution
- This is often the method used for under the chin liposuction
Mechanical assisted liposuction (MicroAire)
- This uses an oscillating motor to loosen the fat for suctioning
- Larger amount of fat can be removed from various areas of the body concurrently
- This method is used when the fat is planned for grafting into other parts of the body as the fat removed using this modality remains viable
Ultrasonic assisted liposuction (VASER Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance)
- This uses ultrasonic energy to liquify the fat
- Liquified fat is more easily removed
- The additional benefit of the ultrasound is the skin tightening effect
Water assisted liposuction (Bodyjet)
- This uses a pressurized stream of water to breakdown the fat
- This is a gentler procedure which harvest a good number of healthy fat cells when compared to mechanical or ultrasounic assisted liposuction
- However, it takes a longer time and the overall results are also more modest when compared.
Will I need anaesthesia?
Depending on the amount of fat removed and the type of liposuction technique performed, your liposuction surgery can take place under local anaesthesia, sedation or general anaesthesia.
For liposuction from a small area under the chin or <100mls of fat harvested (from the abdomen or thighs) for the purpose of fat grafting, it can be performed under local anaesthesia.
Larger volume liposuction or the use of mechanical or ultrasounic assisted liposuction, sedation or general anaesthesia is commonly used.
Is liposuction painful?
For the first few days, you will experience some discomfort and soreness. It feels like having gone through 2 hours of spin class straight! You may sometimes also experience fullness as a result of the swelling. The areas that have undergone liposuction may feel even feel temporarily numb.
Individuals may also experience varying discomfort in areas treated with fat grafting, including mild pain, swelling, or bruising.
To help reduce post-operative swelling, bruising and discomfort, oral analgesia will be provided and compression garment will be worn.
Are there any limitations for liposuction?
Liposuction surgery may not be the ideal solution for everyone. Firstly, liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss. It may be part of your weight loss journey, either at the beginning to motivate you to kickstart the process or towards the end when there are still resistant pockets of fat bulges despite regular exercises and diet control.
Who is not a candidate for liposuction surgery?
Smokers
Smoking will increase the risk of complications and it is best to stop smoking before and after the procedure. Certain underlying medical conditions may also increase the risk of liposuction and will need to be optimized prior to the surgery.
BMI of >30
Individuals with BMI of more than 30 or if there is excessive amounts of loose skin and adiposities, liposuction may not be the procedure of choice as it may not provide optimal results.
Extensive stretch marks and poor skin elasticity
Liposuction surgery may not yield satisfactory results for individuals with extensive stretch marks and poor skin elasticity as these issues are not likely to improve after the procedure. Abdominoplasty may be a more suitable option.
What should I do about the loose skin after liposuction?
People with good skin quality and elasticity will undergo natural contraction and tightening of the skin during the recovery period once the swelling have subsided.
Additional skin tightening procedures can be performed at the same time as liposuction if there is excessive loose skin or if you desire a more taut and toned appearance. This tightening is achieved using radiofrequency assisted lipolysis machine called Facetite or Bodytite which heats up the tissues from deep within the skin to a temperature of 69°C. This heat will cause contraction of the skin, resulting in a tightening effect.
Simultaneously, radiofrequency microneedling of the skin is performed using a machine called Morpheus8. The microneedles are set at various depths to heat the entire layer of the skin. The deepest layer can penetrate 7mm into the skin. This provides additional tightening effect.
If the amount of loose skin remaining is still bothersome to you, abdominoplasty maybe a more suitable procedure for you.