- Who it suits
- Liposuction suits adults in good health who don't smoke, who are at a steady weight and not overweight, and whose skin is still firm and elastic. You don't have to judge your skin yourself. That's what the examination at your consultation is for.
- Who should wait
- It's better to wait if you're pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or planning to lose more weight. It's also better to wait until any heart, lung, blood pressure or diabetes problem is under control. The same goes if you take blood-thinning medicine that can't be paused. And if you have, or think you may have, body dysmorphic disorder, UK health guidance (NICE) says a mental health specialist should assess you first.
- Side effects and risks
- Bruising, swelling, numbness, small scars and fluid from the cuts are common. So is inflammation of the treated area or of the veins beneath it, and ankles can swell if the legs are treated. Occasionally the result is uneven or lumpy, the skin changes colour (which can be permanent), there is bleeding or fluid under the skin, or numbness lasts for months. Occasionally a scar becomes wide, thick, red or painful, and you may need surgery to correct it. On darker skin a scar is more likely to show, and any scar can leave a mark that is darker or lighter than the skin around it, so ask where your cuts would be placed. Occasionally, too, there are serious complications: a blood clot, fluid on the lungs or damage to organs. Rarely, people die. The risk rises with the amount removed and the number of areas treated. As with any operation there is also a small risk of infection, heavy bleeding and an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic. Some people need a second operation.
