Targeted fat removal and contouring for areas that resist diet and training.
Liposuction removes fat from specific areas through small cuts, using a fine tube called a cannula. It reshapes areas that resist diet and training. It is a contouring operation, not a weight loss operation, and it works best on people who are already close to a stable weight.
Almost everybody has one or two areas that never respond, however disciplined they are. The lower abdomen, the flanks, the outer thighs and the area under the chin are the usual culprits. Fat cells in those places are simply less responsive to dieting. Liposuction removes them directly.
What it does not do is reduce your weight meaningfully, treat obesity, or tighten loose skin. If the skin has lost its elasticity, removing the fat underneath can leave the surface looking emptier rather than better. In that situation a skin-removing procedure suits you more than liposuction, and you will be told so honestly.
The ideal patient is within roughly ten kilograms of a stable target weight, has firm skin with good spring, does not smoke, and has clear localised bulges rather than generalised fullness.
Because results depend so heavily on skin quality, age matters less than skin behaviour. A well toned fifty year old often does better than a thirty year old with stretched skin after pregnancy.
The area is first infiltrated with a fluid containing local anaesthetic and adrenaline. This numbs the tissue, reduces bleeding and makes the fat easier to remove. That step is what makes modern liposuction far safer than the technique of thirty years ago.
Fat is then removed through cuts of a few millimetres, placed in creases where possible. The surgeon works in crossing directions to keep the surface even. Removing fat evenly matters more than removing a large volume, because irregularity is far harder to correct than a little residual fullness.
Small areas can be done under sedation. Larger or multiple areas need general anaesthesia. Volume removed in one sitting is deliberately limited for safety, so very extensive contouring is sometimes staged across two sessions.
A compression garment is worn continuously for the first few weeks, then for part of the day for a few more. This is not optional. Compression controls swelling, helps the skin settle onto the new contour, and has a direct effect on how smooth the result looks.
Expect bruising for two to three weeks and firmness in the treated area for longer. Desk work usually resumes within three to seven days. Gentle walking starts immediately, because movement lowers the risk of clots. Structured exercise waits about four to six weeks.
The shape at six weeks is not the final shape. Swelling continues to settle for three to six months.
| Factor | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Number of areas | Abdomen, flanks, thighs and arms are each priced separately |
| Volume and time | Larger volumes need longer theatre time and closer monitoring |
| Anaesthesia type | Sedation for small areas, general anaesthesia for larger work |
| Compression garments | Usually two garments, worn in rotation |
| Hospital stay | Day-care for most cases, one night for extensive contouring |
These pages answer the questions that most often come up alongside this one.
The estimate depends on how many areas are treated, the volume involved, and the type of anaesthesia needed. A single small area under sedation costs considerably less than abdomen, flanks and thighs together under general anaesthesia. A written estimate covering surgeon, anaesthesia, theatre, garments and stay is given after examination.
Fat cells removed from an area do not grow back. However, the cells that remain can still enlarge if you gain significant weight, and fat may then become more noticeable elsewhere. Keeping your weight stable is what protects the result.
No. It is a contouring procedure for localised fat in someone near a stable weight. For significant obesity, weight reduction under medical or bariatric supervision comes first, and body contouring is considered afterwards.
Most patients describe it as similar to a deep muscle ache or heavy bruising rather than sharp pain. It is strongest in the first three days and then settles quickly. Prescribed painkillers manage it well.
Most cases are day-care and you go home the same day. Extensive contouring across several areas may need one night for observation and pain control.
It depends on the elasticity you started with. Firm skin retracts well onto the new contour. Skin that has already lost its spring, often after pregnancy or major weight loss, may not, and in that case a skin-removing procedure gives a better result. This is assessed by examination, not by photographs.
Bruising and swelling are expected rather than complications. Genuine risks include contour irregularity, collections of fluid, infection, changes in skin sensation and, uncommonly, clots. Risk rises with larger volumes, which is why volume is deliberately limited in a single sitting.
As a cosmetic procedure it is generally not covered. Where fat removal forms part of reconstructive treatment, for example in lymphoedema or after trauma, cover is sometimes possible and the hospital team will help with documentation.
Published with written patient consent and shown for education rather than promotion. Every case is different and these images are not a promise of results.
Consultations at Kiran Hospital, Katargam, Surat. Outstation and NRI patients can request a video consultation before travelling.