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All of us have fat cells which can develop into localised fatty deposits which do not respond to diet and exercise.  This unsightly distribution of fat is caused by the body’s natural tendency to deposit fat in one particular area of our body, most commonly on our hips and tummy.  Other areas include the thighs, inside of the knees, 'love handles', upper arm and neck.

Liposuction is a technique used to remove specific areas of unwanted fat and reshape the body, and can be carried out on most areas of the body.  It is important to understand that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, as there are natural limits to the amount of fat that can be removed (less than three litres), but it is a solution to problem areas of fatty tissue which persist no matter how much dieting, massage or exercise is undertaken.  It also can not tone the skin, a tummy tuck is usually required to create a firmer, flatter shape.

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments and should give a permanent change in body shape providing you maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. 

The procedure
The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and requires a one-night stay in hospital.  A few very small incisions are made to insert a probe into the fat and suction it out of the body through a tube.

Recovery
As the procedure involves such minute incisions, healing tends to be rapid and scarring is minimal.  After liposuction, an elasticated support garment will have to be worn for three weeks to help the treated areas heal smoothly and produce the best possible results.  Time away from work depends on the area(s) treated but is usually within a few days of surgery.  As with most surgery, some swelling and tenderness may occur and so it can take several weeks for the final results to be visible.