Liposuction

Vigorous exercise and high-intensity workouts should be avoided for at least 4 weeks post-op. 

However, gentle movements, like walking, are encouraged to help prevent swelling and reduce the likelihood of developing blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). 

While some people heal faster than others, please speak to your nurse during your follow-up appointments about life after liposuction and what kinds of exercises you can do after your recovery period. 

The most common areas for liposuction are:

- Abdomen (stomach) 

- Flanks (muffin tops or hips)

-Outer thighs

- Inner thighs

- Arms 

Other popular areas are knees (the fatty deposits above the knee cap) and neck area (to remove a double chin). 

These can be performed in combination with each other or as individual procedures. 

It’s important to note that there are limits as to how many areas you can have treated at the same time due to time constraints and physical requirements. This can be discussed during the consultation process.

To maintain results after liposuction, a healthy diet and exercise are important. If you eat more calories than you burn off, then weight will accumulate after surgery.

Liposuction is not a ‘weight-loss’ method and should only be used to remove stubborn fat from problem areas to improve your overall shape. If you follow the guidance of your surgeon, the results are long-lasting.

The incisions made for liposuction are very small (usually less than 0.5cm) and are located near the site where the fat will be removed. These incisions will form scars which will fade over time.

To help reduce the appearance of scars, we recommend you protect them from the sun (using high SPF and covering them up when possible), and avoid sunbeds, as the heat and UV rays increase pigment in the scar, making them more noticeable. 

When signed off by your surgeon, keeping the area moisturised can also help reduce the look and feel of the scar.

A liposuction compression garment is worn to aid healing, prevent excess swelling and ensure the best results possible. They must be worn 24/7 for 4-6 weeks, or until advised by your surgeon. 

The garment will fit specifically to your unique measurements expected post-op (taken during the consultation), so they fit correctly and provide the correct amount of compression. If you are having Vaser to your upper torso, your garment will include a thick foam vest.

Slight discomfort is expected but if anything more, please call your local MYA clinical hub for advice. 

Please be aware that the garments come in black, and are often slightly bulky, making them noticeable under tighter clothing.

Yes, you can wash your liposuction garment. However, you must only hand wash at a max temp of 25˚C and take care not to use bleach, tumble dry, iron, dry clean, or remove stains with solvents. 

As liposuction garments need to be worn day-in, day-out, we recommend getting two, so you can wear one while the other is in the wash.

Liposuction surgery is completed under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel any pain during your procedure. 

However, during your immediate recovery following liposuction, there may be some pain and discomfort. You will typically feel sore in the areas treated and this will be most intense 2-4 days after surgery. The area can feel tender for up to 4 weeks but this will gradually subside over time. 

Our FREE liposuction eConsult service allows patients to speak directly to our expert team of advisors via a secure and private video call, so there is no need to travel to one of our clinical hubs. During your eConsult you can discuss the often personal and emotional reasons you are considering a fat removal procedure from the comfort and privacy of your own home. 

Our specialist-trained patient coordinators will guide you through the process of a fat removal surgery and discuss the outcome you are hoping to achieve. 

Our advisors have a wealth of knowledge and have helped many fat removal patients over the years; they understand that the process can be a little overwhelming at times, but your consultation is a safe space for you to discuss all your questions and concerns. 

You will also have the opportunity to look at fat removal before and after photos and discuss which surgeon is the right fit for you and your requirements. 

You will meet your chosen liposuction surgeon at one of our local clinical hubs. The surgeon consultation provides an opportunity for you to express your areas of concern and discuss the outcome you are hoping to achieve with fat removal surgery.   

All MYA Surgeons are highly experienced, GMC registered and only perform cosmetic surgery. They are highly skilled in this field and will be able to make appropriate recommendations regarding the best treatment plan for you.  

During your consultation, the surgeon will assess your BMI (body mass index), skin elasticity, and the areas of the body you want to treat. They will then explain the risks, limitations, and benefits of fat removal surgery. Patients are entitled to have a second surgeon consultation ahead of their operation if needed. 

Your surgeon will be able to give you an idea of how much fat may be removed in the allocated time, but they will not be able to guarantee your final dress size. They will also discuss what to expect during recovery and the importance of the post-op compression garments. 

Following your face-to-face surgeon consultation, you will be invited to attend a ‘vitals’ appointment with a MYA nurse. During this appointment, the nurse will take physiological measurements and perform screening procedures such as taking blood samples and swabs, as required. You are also required to attend an e-preoperative assessment with a nurse who will discuss the pre and post-operative advice and requirements.   

You will receive your hospital admission time, up to 24-48 hours before your surgery date. Patients should shower either the evening before or the morning of surgery and must not apply deodorant, makeup, or skincare products.   

Patients must not eat anything (including chewing gum) 6 hours prior to the hospital admission time. If you do eat prior to the 6 hours, please ensure that it is a small, light meal such as 2 pieces of toast or 30g of cereal; if you eat too much, there is a risk of your operation being cancelled. You can drink small sips (30mls) of still, clear water, per hour of still, up to 2 hours before your hospital admission time.   

Patients must not drink alcohol for a minimum of 48 hours before surgery. If you drink more than 2-3 drinks daily, you will need to abstain (stop) for 2 weeks prior to the date of surgery. 

MYA advises patients not to smoke, vape or use nicotine patches for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to surgery (each surgeon will provide you with specific guidance on stopping smoking). Patients are advised not to smoke, vape or use nicotine products until they are fully healed, as this can lead to delayed healing and infection. 

You will be admitted to your MYA hospital on the day of your fat removal procedure. Once admitted you will be taken to the ward and given your hospital gown to change into. Some patients will be asked to take a nicotine and pregnancy test - if either of these comes back positive, the surgery cannot take place. 

Patients are not taken straight into surgery on admission to the hospital, there can be a wait of up to 6 hours depending on the surgery list scheduled that day - we encourage you to bring a book, your laptop, and anything you need to keep you entertained while you wait. Your hospital team will keep you updated on your operation time and will be able to answer any questions you may have on the day. 

You will then meet your anaesthetist and surgeon on the ward before you are taken to theatre for surgery, they will gain your written consent to operate, answer any further questions you have, and run you through the process of the day. 

Your fat removal procedure will be performed under general anaesthetic, this will be administered by inserting a needle into the back of your hand and will take about 30 seconds to start taking effect. If you are worried about needles, speak to your MYA Nurse, who will inform the anaesthetist and hospital before surgery. Depending on the number of areas you are having fat removal, the procedure should take between 30 mins–3 hours.  

The surgeon will make small (0.5cm) incisions near the site on the body where the fat will be removed. The areas being treated will be injected with a solution to reduce bleeding, bruising and swelling during and after surgery. 

A thin, hollow tube called a cannula is then inserted through the small incisions to loosen the fat. A special vacuum is then attached to the cannula, the fat is sucked from the body, and the area is sculpted and contoured to its new shape. 

The surgeon will then use either dissolvable or non-dissolvable stitches, occasionally including a paper stitch. Dressings will then be applied, followed by a tight compression garment that minimises swelling and helps the body conform to its new shape. 

With the exception of showering, this garment should be worn both day and night for 6 weeks post-operatively. Patients must wear the garment for the period of time advised by their surgeon, this will help to aid healing, reduce excess swelling and help to prevent seromas (a build-up of fluid). 

For some procedures, the surgeon may decide you require drains. If needed, the drains will remove any fluid that collects after the procedure and will be removed by a nurse prior to your discharge from hospital or by your nurse at one of our MYA clinical hubs. 

Patients who have undergone fat removal surgery, typically take 6-8 weeks to heal from the procedure. Bruising and swelling is normal following fat removal surgery and should start to subside after 7-21 days. However, every patient heals differently, therefore, swelling and bruising can take 12 weeks or longer to subside. 

Post-operatively, patients may experience fluid leaking from the incision sites. The fluid can be light pink, orange, or clear in colour and be quite watery (not blood). This is typically the remainder of the solution your surgeon injected into you during your operation, along with the fat that is moving around and ready to leave the body. If you are experiencing any unusual pain or bleeding, please contact your MYA clinical team for advice. 

It is important that patients do not get their incisions wet until advised it is safe to do so by a MYA Nurse. Patients can wash around the area and have shallow baths but must not submerge their wounds in water until they are fully healed. 

It is also very important to attend all your post-op appointments at your MYA clinical hub for a nurse to monitor your healing and deliver wound care.    

Many patients will see a result straight away, but it can take many months to see the final result. 

Our expert liposuction surgeons are highly skilled and qualified in the industry. We work with some of the best fat removal surgeons in the UK. All our liposuction surgeons are accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), to ensure medical best practice is adhered to. Discover our surgeon profiles to learn more about their expertise and qualifications.

Mr Giannas
Mr Mahadi
Mr Mileto
Mr Samouris