Understanding Liposuction: Safety, Procedure, and Efficacy

Liposuction is an increasingly popular cosmetic surgery option for people who wish to achieve their desired body shape and for whom exercise and diet are not effective enough. When performed well, and when the patient is a suitable candidate with realistic expectations for what can be achieved, the procedure has great potential for transforming the body’s contour. 

Liposuction is an elective surgery. Anyone considering having this type of procedure must understand it in terms of how it works, its safety, realistic expectations for outcomes, and which technique will be best for them. 

If you are considering having liposuction, read on as we address some critical points you must appreciate.

What is Liposuction? 

Liposuction (“lipoplasty”, “lipo”, “body contouring”, “liposculpture”) is a surgical cosmetic procedure that removes unwanted deposits of fat from the body. It can be an effective option for people for whom diet and exercise have been insufficient to budge distinct areas of stubborn fat. 

Liposuction targets specific body areas that do not respond to diet and exercise. It is not a weight-loss technique AT ALL. It does not treat stretch marks, cellulite, or loose skin.

Women and men elect to undergo liposuction to change their body’s contour/shape, and the most common areas of treatment include the hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, back, arms, calves and ankles and neck. 

How Does Liposuction Work?

Liposuction is a cosmetic fat removal procedure during which adipocytes (fat cells) are permanently removed from a specific body area. Adipocytes store fat; when they are removed, fat can no longer be stored within them. Not all fat cells can be removed nor should be removed with liposuction. It’s important to have a “buffer” between the skin and the muscle to make the area look smooth and natural. 

Traditional liposuction in the past was major surgery. It required a general anaesthetic, overnight hospital stay (or longer), and a protracted recovery and had a higher risk of blood transfusion. (our process at Be Sculptured, however, does not – more on this below). This traditional technique has been used since the 1970s and involved the surgeon using a long, thin tube (cannula) to remove potentially large deposits of excess fat. The tumescent local anaesthetic technique developed in 1987 changed the paradigm. The size (diameter) of the cannulas have reduced considerably over the past few decades too.

Today, there are several different techniques used – including Be Sculptured’s Tumescent Liposculpture technique.

Not everyone is a suitable candidate for liposuction; it is very important to have an in-depth discussion with your surgeon or proceduralist about your medical history, general health, and other factors to determine if it’s right for you. It is only suitable for people who have implemented healthy diet and exercise practices, and for whom this will be an ongoing commitment. The best candidates will be within 30% of their ideal weight and have good skin elasticity and, ideally, good muscle tone.

Liposuction is NOT recommended for people who:

• Smoke
• Need to lose a lot of weight
• Have excess or saggy skin
• Take blood-thinning medicines (e.g. warfarin)
• Have a medical history of diabetes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cardiovascular disease, or seizures
• Have a weakened or otherwise compromised immune system

Is Liposuction Safe?

Every surgery carries inherent risks, and liposuction is no different. 

A major surgery, liposuction is considered to be generally low risk for most people who are deemed to be suitable candidates. It’s important to understand that, for any liposuction procedure, there are some risks (some common, others very rare), including:

• Potential complications of general anaesthesia
• Bleeding
• Bruising 
• Pain
• Numbness 
• Swelling 
• Scarring
• Contour irregularities 
• Dimpled, bumpy, or wavy skin surface
• Altered skin colour 
• Seroma (fluid leakage under the skin)
• Infection
• Blood clots (embolism)
• Fat clots
• Fluid imbalances
• Puncture wounds/injuries to organs
• Equipment burns
• Nerve damage
• Skin necrosis (skin cell death)
• Fibrosis 
• Issues with the heart and kidneys
• Shock
• Death 

To maximise your safety, you must understand the procedure, its risks, its benefits, and what to expect. It is critical that you choose a highly reputable, experienced proceduralist, and follow pre- and post-surgical instructions to the letter for a safer, smoother recovery process. The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine (ACCSM) is the only training school in liposuction in Australia. Link attached is the register of trained liposuction proceduralists https://www.accsm.org.au/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction

The tumescent local anaesthetic liposculpture technique (with sedation) used at Be Sculptured is performed by our skilled proceduralist, Dr. Meaghan Heckenberg, who brings extensive expertise in this advanced method.

Is Liposuction Permanent?

Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from targeted areas of the body. If weight is gained thereafter, those fat cells are gone – the fat will instead be stored in existing fat cells or other fat cells of the body. Existing fat cells will get larger with weight gain. It’s important to not remove all the fat cells as there needs to be a layer of fat under the skin to achieve smooth results and to not affect the integrity  and function of the skin. Liposuction does not prevent gaining weight in the future. It only changes the body shape by removing fat cells in a very organised way from targeted areas. The idea is to approximate the skin more closely to the muscle by thinning out the subcutaneous fatty layer and therefore changing the body shape.

New fat deposits may appear more deeply under the skin and around the organs – this is “visceral” fat and it can be dangerous to one’s health and wellbeing. Visceral fat cannot be removed with liposuction. Only diet and exercise can help to reduce fat within or around the vital organs. 

You must maintain a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and exercise to maintain results.

What is Tumescent Liposculpture at Be Sculptured?

Tumescent liposculpture is a liposuction technique and our founder, proceduralist Dr Meaghan Heckenberg, has been performing these procedures since 2008. She has performed over 1500 procedures (often up to 3 cosmetic unit areas at a time). She has also personally had this procedure – giving her an insight into the patient experience that few other proceduralists have.

1. Tumescent liposculpture is performed using a local anaesthetic. A solution of local anaesthesia, adrenaline, and saline is infused into the target area/s.
2. Several small incisions of up to around 3-5mm in length are made.
3. Thin cannulas (2-3mm) are inserted into the incisions and fat is removed via these. The method of fat removal seeks to also reshape the body. 
4. Compression bandages/garments are applied. There is no need for suturing for most incisions.

This approach offers an alternative for patients for whom only relatively small amounts of fat require removal, with the added benefit that the patient can stand near the end of the procedure to check for symmetry and “fine-tune” the contouring outcome because the effect of gravity can make remaining fat more evident enhancing the reshaping the body.

Benefits for patients include:

• No general anaesthetic (GA) – meaning lower risks of nausea, vomiting, sore throat, headache, and other GA risks
• No need for an overnight hospital stay(s)
• Micro-cannulas may cause less irregularity
• Smaller incisions and smaller scarring as no sutures required
• Minimal bleeding
• Minimal bruising
• Generally milder discomfort (because the whole area has been infused with local anaesthetic) but this is variable amongst individuals
• Generally shorter recovery time but this is variable amongst individuals
• Cosmetic outcomes can be fine-tuned near end of procedure

Schedule Your Consultation at Be Sculptured Today

Be Sculpturedis a renowned Sydney liposculpture clinic founded and operated by our in-house proceduralist Dr. Meaghan Heckenberg. We also have a Gold Coast clinic. 

Book a consultation with Dr. Heckenberg to discuss how liposculpture can address your concerns and achieve the results you’re looking for. With a personalised and caring approach, we’re here to guide you through the process and ensure you feel informed and supported every step of the way.

Call us during business hours on 0484 898 977or visit our website for more information. 

Alternatively, you may request a consultation online or send us an email at [email protected].