Liposuction Sunshine Coast

Liposuction is a procedure that aims to remove unwanted fat deposits from certain areas of the body. Men and women may seek this procedure to smooth and refine areas such as thighs, arms, hips, stomach, and under the chin. The treatment removes fat from these areas in order to recontour the body, based on the person’s goals and ideals. Some patients may also want to add volume to areas such as the buttocks, breasts, or face. Moving fat tissue from one area to another is done through a process known as “fat grafting.”

This popular cosmetic surgery has helped many people remove stubborn fat tissue and achieve a smoother, leaner figure. A liposuction procedure can be performed on its own or along with other procedures such as a facelift (meloplasty), breast augmentation or reduction, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), and thigh reduction. Liposuction surgeon on the Sunshine Coast, Dr Fraser-Kirk, will speak to you about your body and concerns in order to tailor the treatment to your goals.

Am I a good candidate for a liposuction procedure?

This procedure is not a weight loss solution and cannot replace a healthy routine of diet and exercise. Instead, it is ideal for patients who are unable to remove stubborn pockets of fat through natural means. For example, a liposuction procedure can address:

• Upper arms
• Outer and inner thighs
• Abdomen or “muffin top”
• Hips or “love handles”
• The back of the neck
• Under the chin
• The bra-strap area
• Unwanted breast fat near the armpit

Therefore, ideal patients are at their ideal weight and be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure lasting results from their liposuction procedure. Your skin’s elastic quality is also an important thing to consider, as the skin will need to shrink back into place after the procedure. If excess skin is present, the results may not be ideal.

Good candidates for this procedure also do not have health issues that could impact their surgery and are non-smokers. This is because smoking puts patients at a higher risk for post-op healing issues such as infection. If you are thinking about having a liposuction procedure, you will need to speak to a surgeon beforehand so that you can establish whether you are a good candidate.

Surgery benefits

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, offering an effective solution to stubborn, unwanted fat deposits. The treatment helps patients achieve their goals, smoothing and slimming certain areas of the body. You can tailor your liposuction procedure to your body in order to address problem areas and create your desired body contour.

This option may be ideal for people who have lost a large amount of weight, as well as people who simply wish for a smoother body tone. In either case, the treatment can create a more balanced figure. Depending on your goals, your liposuction procedure can:

• Improve body contoursand proportions
• Reducefat deposits still present despite a healthy diet and exercise
• Treat conditions such as gynaecomastia, lipoma, and post-traumatic pseudolipoma
• Restore volume to other areas of the body using liposculptingand fat grafting techniques
• Create a lifted and smoother overall body tone

Your consultation

Speaking to Dr Fraser-Kirk will help you gain a clear idea of what you can achieve from your liposuction procedure. During your first meeting, you will need to discuss your reasons for seeking this treatment and which areas you are concerned about. You will also speak about any past surgeries, history of weight loss/gain, as well as your general health. If you have health issues or risk factors that could impact your procedure, we may need to discuss other options.

Once we have discussed your needs and goals, we can begin outlining your treatment options. Dr Fraser-Kirk will advise you on which options would best suit your needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan. He will explain the procedure, including the details of how to prepare and what to do afterwards.

If you have any further questions about your liposuction procedure, this meeting is a good chance to ask and gain clarity. Some questions to ask your surgeon can include:

• Am I a good candidate?
• How much fat can you remove?
• What are the risks?
• What can I expect during recovery?
• How long will it take to see results?
• How often do you perform liposuction?
• What do I need to do to prepare?

Liposuction procedure

A liposuction procedure aims to reduce the number of fat cells in isolated areas. It is performed under general anaesthetic and is often a day procedure. This means you should not feel any pain during the procedure and can likely go home on the same day.

Plastic surgeon Dr Grant Fraser-Kirk will make a tiny incision in the chosen areas to insert a sterile fluid that can help to reduce swelling and bruising. After this, he will insert a cannula (thin, hollow tube), moving it in a controlled motion back and forth to break up the fat tissue. Once dislodged, the fat is suctioned out via a syringe attached to the cannula or through a surgical vacuum pump.

For some patients, the procedure may involve liposculpting or fat grafting. This is when fat is moved to a different position under the skin, or removed and injected in a different area, to create the desired effect. If your liposuction procedure involves these techniques, the removed fat will be sent through a purifying process. This process separates fluids and purifies the fat cells, making them nutrient-rich and ready for injection. The surgeon then preps the chosen site and injects the purified fat, creating enhanced volume in the area.

Once the desired amount of fat has been removed, and if required, reinserted, the surgeon closes the incisions. The total process can take one to two hours to complete, depending on the size of your treatment area and how much fat is removed.

Procedure recovery and aftercare

Although you can likely go home on the same day as your procedure, you should expect to have some mild side effects. For example, patients often have bruising, swelling, numbness, and pain at the treated sites. To help with healing, we will instruct you on how to care for your treated areas and give you pain relief to manage any pain.

We will fit a support garment onto the treated areas, and these must be worn for at least six weeks. Your support garment will reduce bruising and swelling whilst supporting your newly shaped body contours. Also, you may have drains inserted to prevent fluid build-up.

It is vital to follow your surgeon’s post-op care advice to help your body heal properly. This will reduce risks and help your skin and tissue settle into their new positions. Recovery advice may include:

• Take enoughtime off work – patients usually require between two to ten days
• Take prescribed medications and lotions
• Wear supportgarments given by your surgeon
• Avoid vigorous tasks and exercisefor six weeks
• Eat a healthy diet and drink water
• Sleep with your head in a slightly raised position
• Avoid putting a strain on your treated areas
• Attend all post-op appointments to ensure you are healing properly

This advice may differ if patients have further surgeries and will be tailored to each patient’s personal needs and health. It is important that you follow your post-op care plan and advise your surgeon if any issues arise. This will help reduce scarring and create the best chance for successful results.

Liposuction cost with Dr Fraser-Kirk on the Sunshine Coast

The cost of a liposuction procedure will vary for each patient due to the extent of fat removal that may be needed. Other factors such as surgeon fees, hospital fees, anaesthetist costs, and post-op care costs will also influence the overall price. At your consult with Dr Fraser-Kirk, we will provide an estimate of costs after an in-depth discussion about your health and ideal outcomes.

Factors that can influence costs include:

• The size of your treatment areas
• The location of your treatment areas
• Which techniques you require
• The duration of your procedure
• Whether you are having fat grafted
• Fees specific to your surgeon and facility
• The desired result

If your treatment plan targets more than one area of the body, this can increase the total price. As well as this, treatment that involves removing large amounts of fat or moving fat from one area to another (fat grafting) will impact costs. For example, if your surgeon removes a large amount of belly fat, this requires more time and skill than smaller amounts and will therefore cost more.

Surface area can also have an impact. The chest and back areas, for instance, can cost more than treating smaller areas like the breasts or arms. This is due to the increased surface area.

The best way to decide which body contouring method is right for you and your body is to speak to a qualified surgeon. Dr Fraser-Kirk will aim to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision about this treatment. If any questions should arise regarding procedure costs, please contact us.

Will Medicare cover my liposuction procedure?

Medicare only covers procedures that are required for health reasons. Since this procedure is usually an elective procedure, done for reasons of preference, most patients cannot claim rebates. Private health insurers may cover some of your fees, but this depends on which type of cover you have. It is important to clarify this with your insurer before your surgery in order to know how much you will need to pay from your own pocket.

We can discuss these factors further during a private meeting with you.

Risks and complications

The potential for risks or complications to occur are present in any medical or cosmetic surgery. The associated risks and complications of liposuction include:

• Infection
• Delayed healing
• Fluid build-up
• Excessive fluid loss
• Poor scarring
• Uneven skin contours or rippling
• Changes to skin sensation including sensitivity, numbness, or firmness
• Anaesthetic complications
• Skin discolouration
• Fat embolism

Damage to deeper structures such as muscles, blood vessels, lungs, or abdominal organs It is important to be mindful and understand these potential risks and complications before undergoing surgery. Following the recovery instructions provided will help in reducing potential risks or complications, and in minimising scarring where possible. Dr Fraser-Kirk will endeavour to be available for any concerns or issues that may arise during the recovery period, as our clinic believes in giving patients unprecedented access to their surgeon.

How to choose the best liposuction surgeon on the Sunshine Coast

Having a liposuction procedure is a personal choice that requires planning and research. Each patient’s treatment plan will look different, based on their specific problem areas and goals. It is important to choose a surgeon who will listen to your needs and tailor the process to help you get the best result possible. Dr Fraser-Kirk is a highly qualified and skilled liposuction surgeon on the Sunshine Coast, taking a patient focused approach to each treatment plan. By having a one-on-one discussion with your surgeon, you will be able to gain guidance and clarity on which options are best for your needs and goals.

FAQS