DR FAIZAL ALI       

PLASTIC, RECONSTRUCTIVE AND COSMETIC SURGEON

The areas that can be treated with liposuction are,

1. Abdomen and flanks (love handles).
2. Thighs and buttocks
3. Back
4. Chest (male breasts)
5. Arms
6. Neck

The cost for the procedure will depend on the number of areas that are treated. The cost quoted includes cost for the surgery, hospital stay, medications, garment, consultations and the 2 clinic visits after the procedure.

1. Abdomen and flanks OR both thighs - RM 20,000.

2. Both thighs and buttocks OR abdomen and both arms – RM 25,000

3. Abdomen, flanks and back – RM 25,000

All cost quoted are for uncomplicated cases in a healthy individual. It does not include any extra cost due to complications arising from the procedure or extra medical investigation/care require in individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease etc.

Patient usually can go home on the same day. Recovery time depends on the extent of the liposuction, ranging from a few days to one week or so. Most patient can ambulate from day one after operation. After the procedure, the patient will be required to wear a garment for at least 3 months and refrain from vigorous exercise for at least 2 weeks. There will be some swelling and oedema from the procedure and the patient should expect to see the final result only after 2-3 months.

LIPOSUCTION FAT

Liposuction is a procedure where fat is removed from certain parts of the body (abdomen, thighs, flanks, arms etc) using a cannula via small incisions. It is also known as lipoplasty, liposuction fat or suction lipectomy. This procedure is best indicated in areas where there are localised deposits of fat that is resistant to exercise and diet. In patients where in those areas there is excess skin as well as fat, they might require skin excision as well (tummy tuck, arm or thigh lift). Liposuction is a procedure to contour the shape of the body, it is not a weight loss procedure. It cannot substitute for a good exercise and sensible diet regime. There are variants of liposuction such as ultrasound liposuction, laser liposuction and water jet liposuction. The removed material can be used as fat injection in other areas of the body. Liposuction can be performed under local anaesthesia to treat small areas or more commonly general anaesthesia. Pre-operative planning includes drawing the areas that will be treated and giving antibiotic.

A tumescent fluid is infiltrated into the areas through a small cannula. This fluid contains a local anaesthesia for pain relief, adrenaline which helps minimise bleeding and a steroid to decrease swelling and oedema. The fat is removed using cannula of various sizes that is connected to a suction pump and collector. Small incisions (1.0cm) are made around the areas to be treated to insert the cannulas. Depending on the number of areas to be treated, liposuction can take anywhere from 1 hour to several hours. After the procedure, the small incisions are sutured and the patient will be put in a garment.

As with any surgical procedure there are possible risk and complications from liposuction. Although uncommon, possible complications include unevenness (dimpling of the skin), asymmetry, bleeding into the wound, nerve damage and wound infection. Patients who are considering liposuction need to be in reasonable good health and for smokers they need to have stopped smoking for about 6 weeks.