• Liposuction is a surgical procedure in which small incisions are made, and the excess fat is sucked out.

• Having a good body shape is everyone’s dream. The fat that is deposited in the body due to weight gain is usually lost by exercise or weight gain. However, there are some areas of the body such as the outer thighs, inner thighs, buttocks, flanks and abdomen which do not respond to exercise or diet. These fat deposits are called as lipodystrophy and have to be treated by liposuction provided that the skin has good elasticity of tissues. Patients often seek liposuction because

• They have unsightly bulges in fitted skirts and trousers
• Their inner thighs rub each other in the middle especially during hot weather
• Lower abdomen and flanks bulge and are visible above and below the waistline
• Diet resistant fat over the buttocks, saddlebags ( near the hips), lovehandles ( lateral aspect of the lower abdomen), male breast

• The procedure is usually done under general anaesthesia. Fluid is injected in called tumescence to reduce bleeding while doing this procedure. Then a small incision of about 5 mm is made over the skin, and the excess fat is sucked out.

• This procedure is for providing a good shape to the body. It does not reduce the weight of the individual. If losing weight is your main aim this procedure is not for you.

• This procedure is best appreciated when the patient is on a good diet and exercise programme. Liposuction is complementary to diet and exercise wherein it helps remove fat deposits that are resistant to exercise. Hence patients are advised to continue diet and exercise. Liposuction is not an alternative to diet and exercise, and this has to be continued.

• Patients may have mild discomfort in the areas that underwent liposuction which is controlled well by painkillers. There will be swelling and bruising in the areas that underwent liposuction, and the final result can not be appreciated until 6 to 12 weeks after surgery. To reduce the swelling and to get a good result compression garments are worn for at least three months. The stitches applied can be removed in 7 -10 days. We usually discharge the patient in the first or second day after the operation.

• It would depend on the amount of fat that was sucked out. If it involves a small area, usually patients go back to work in 2-3 days. However when the amount of fat that is to be sucked out is large, then the recovery may take longer, and they may go back to work in 2-3 weeks.