Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure, so it’s not to be entered into lightly. It is important that you make sure you are fully informed about the process, the results and the price before you make any decisions. We’ve asked the Transform Glasgow Clinic all about liposuction, so you don’t have to…

Can you explain what liposuction is and who would benefit from it?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure which is great for removing stubborn pockets of fat. It can be undertaken under a local anaesthetic (small area) but in most cases, requires a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay. Various parts of the body can be treated e.g. stomach, inner and outer thighs, buttocks, chin and arms. In terms of the actual procedure, a salt water solution is injected into areas which are to be treated to help break up the fat. The surgeon will then insert a thin metal tube called a cannula- this is used to suck out the fat using a vacuum pump. This procedure involves small incisions being made which don’t require any stitches as they will heal by themselves. Popular with both men and women, liposuction is great for body shaping and contouring and should not be seen as a weight loss procedure. Liposuction works best on patients who have small areas that they want treated. The best results are seen on patients who have a healthy and active lifestyle and understand that liposuction is not a ‘quick fix’ solution.

Lots of people will say that it’s a quick or lazy way around having to eat healthily and exercise. Why is it a vital procedure to offer?

For some patients, no amount of exercising or dieting will shift certain areas of fat. For these patients, liposuction is the only way they’ll achieve the result they are after. We also see and treat patients that have an uneven body shape that only liposuction can correct. It would be unfair to label these people as ‘lazy’ as they may well be leading a healthy life in terms of diet and exercise. All patients are advised that for the best results, liposuction should only be undertaken when it’s part of a healthy and active lifestyle. If anyone thinks that liposuction is an easy way to lose excess weight, then they’ll be very disappointed.  It is not a ‘quick fix’ treatment and this is clearly explained during the consultation process.

What is the process that a liposuction client would go through with Transform from their very first approach to you up to the end result?

All Transform patients are assigned a ‘Patient Care Co-ordinator’ who will be their main point of contact throughout their time with Transform. The patient will have an initial consultation with their PCC who will talk them through the details regarding the procedure i.e. downtime, where the procedure will take place and details of the surgeon who will carry out the procedure. After this, the patient will be booked in for a surgical consultation. This is where the patient will be examined and the surgeon will give his/her surgical recommendations. It is only at this point that surgery will be confirmed i.e. if the surgeon believes the patient is a good candidate for surgery. If the patient is deemed suitable and wants to go ahead, they will be booked in for pre op tests and a date will be agreed for the operation. This is usually 4-6 weeks from the date of the surgical consultation. Following the procedure, all surgical patients are booked to come back to the clinic a week after their operation. At this appointment, the patient will see the clinic nurse who will remove any stitches and see how the patient is progressing. After this, the patient will come back to the clinic for their 6-week check-up with their surgeon. At this appointment, the surgeon will assess the results of the surgery and ensure that the patient has been compliant in terms of their post-operative care. Depending on the procedure, there may be further follow up appointments. If there isn’t, patients are provided with contact details should they have any concerns or issues.

Who performs the procedures at Transform Glasgow and what qualifications do they have?

All Transform surgeons are GMC registered and are signed off by procedure- this means they are only able to perform procedures that they are skilled and experienced in. All of our surgeons are profiled on our website, so for more information on them and all of their respective qualifications, please visit Our Surgeons page. From the Transform Glasgow Clinic, Mr Ottoviani and Mr Rochira consult patients who are interested in liposuction.

How many clients have this procedure with you yearly in Glasgow?

Enquiries from the Glasgow area for liposuction are up 34% year on year, so there is a strong interest for this type of procedure locally. 18% of all surgical patients at the Glasgow clinic had liposuction (2015 to date). Of these patients, 82% patients were female. In 2014, this was 14%, so we have seen a steady increase in the numbers of patients having this treatment over the last year.

Can you describe the healing and rehabilitation required after having liposuction?

Adhering to aftercare guidelines and advice following a surgical procedure is just as important as the surgery itself. This will ensure that the patient has the best possible result and has no (or minimal) complications. Patients will be advised to take a week off from work and during this time, to rest at home and avoid any strenuous activity or exercise. Also, all patients are provided with a pressure garment- this should be worn day and night during the first week post op. Generally, patients report feeling sore, bruised and delicate in the week following their procedure.  Everyone will heal at different levels, but on average, it takes 5-7 days before most patients feel up to going about their daily routine and activities. Liposuction is a relatively straightforward procedure and final results are visible approximately 1-3 month after surgery. This is because during the first month, there will be a considerable amount of swelling which will take a couple of weeks to subside.

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