What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery procedure in which fine cannulas are introduced through small, discreetly placed incisions to draw out localised pockets of fat. The procedure targets the stubborn pockets that persist despite consistent exercise and a stable diet, areas where the body holds fat in ways that lifestyle alone cannot reach.
Common areas include the abdomen, thighs, arms and under the chin. Liposuction can also be combined with other body-contouring procedures, including abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, thigh lifts, and fat grafting to the breasts, buttocks, hands, or face.
Areas Liposuction Can Treat
Liposuction can be applied to most areas of the body where localised fat is present. The areas most commonly treated at Argent Plastic Surgery are described below.
Under the Chin and Neck
Fat under the chin, sometimes described as a double chin, can be reduced through small-volume double-chin liposuction to refine the jawline and neck contour. The incisions are small and typically placed in well-hidden positions under the chin or behind the ears.
Chin liposuction
Arms
During arm liposuction in Singapore, the small incisions are made near the elbow or under the arm to refine the arm contour. For patients with significant skin laxity in the upper arm, an arm lift may be a more appropriate option.
Underarms accessory breast liposuction
Arm liposuction
Abdomen
Liposuction can address localised fat across the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and waist, refining the natural silhouette of the area to align with your personal aesthetic goals. For patients with stretched abdominal skin or muscle separation after pregnancy, abdominoplasty, also called tummy tuck surgery, may be a more appropriate option than liposuction alone. Post-pregnancy body contouring often involves a combination of procedures, and the appropriate approach is determined at consultation.
Abdominal Liposuction
Thighs
The thighs can be treated across the inner thigh, outer thigh, or both, depending on the area of concern. Thigh liposuction in Singapore should only be carried out after a thorough medical assessment, and the right approach depends on the distribution of fat and the quality of the surrounding skin.
Back
The upper back and the area around the bra line can be treated where localised fat sits against clothing.
Flanks and Hips
The flanks, sometimes referred to as love handles, and the outer hips can be treated to refine the silhouette across the waist and hip line.
Female Chest
Liposuction can address localised fat at the side of the chest and along the bra line, where bulges of fat sit against clothing.
Other Areas
Less commonly treated areas include the lips, hands, calves, ankles. Whether these areas are suitable for liposuction depends on the distribution of fat and the underlying anatomy, and the decision is made at consultation.
Male Chest
Men can undergo liposuction for many of the same areas as women, including the abdomen, flanks, back, and chin. The chest is a specific area where enlarged breast tissue, known as gynaecomastia and sometimes referred to as "man boobs", is a common reason for consultation. Gynaecomastia can be caused by a combination of fatty tissue and glandular tissue, and the appropriate surgical approach depends on which is dominant. Where glandular tissue is the dominant cause, a separate excision is often required in addition to liposuction. The full assessment and the surgical plan are determined at consultation.
Male chest liposuction
Types of Liposuction
Several liposuction techniques are available, and the appropriate one depends on the area being treated, the volume of fat present, the quality of the surrounding skin, and whether the fat is being harvested for grafting. The techniques used at Argent Plastic Surgery are:
- Suction-Assisted Liposuction: A hand-held syringe technique typically used for small-volume harvesting such as in chin liposuction.
- Mechanical-Assisted Liposuction (MicroAire): A motorised cannula that uses gentle oscillation to loosen fat, useful for larger-area treatments and for harvesting viable fat cells for grafting.
- VASER Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: A technique that uses ultrasonic energy to break down fat before suction, often selected where a degree of skin tightening at the same time is appropriate.
- Bodyjet Water-Assisted Liposuction: A pressurised water stream that gently separates fat from surrounding tissue, sometimes selected where fat is being harvested for grafting and cell viability is a priority.
The choice between these is a clinical decision based on individual assessment.
Small-Area and Chin Liposuction
For smaller areas, including the chin and neck, or where a limited volume of fat is being harvested for facial fat grafting, liposuction can be performed as a smaller procedure under local anaesthesia. This is sometimes described as small-area or mini liposuction. The volume of fat removed in these cases is generally under 100ml, and the procedure is more limited in scope than full-area liposuction.
Anaesthesia Options
Depending on the amount of fat removed and the type of liposuction technique performed, your liposuction surgery can take place under local anaesthesia, sedation, or general anaesthesia.
For liposuction from a small area under the chin, or when less than 100ml of fat is to be harvested (from the abdomen or thighs) for the purpose of fat grafting, liposuction can be performed under local anaesthesia.
For larger volume liposuction or mechanical- or ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, sedation or general anaesthesia is commonly used.
How Liposuction Is Performed
Liposuction in Singapore follows a consistent set of steps, with the specific approach adjusted to the patient and the area being treated. The general sequence is as follows:
- Marking: The areas to be treated are marked while the patient is standing, so the surgical plan reflects the natural distribution of fat under gravity.
- Tumescent Infiltration: A tumescent solution is injected into the targeted areas. This solution helps reduce bleeding during the procedure and provides post-operative pain relief.
- Fat Removal: Thin cannulas are introduced through small incisions to suction the fat. The technique used at this stage depends on the area, the volume, and whether the fat is being harvested for grafting.
- Compression Garment: A compression garment is fitted at the end of the procedure to support the treated areas during the initial recovery period.
Incisions and Scar Placement
All incisions for liposuction are less than 1cm in length and are placed in well-hidden areas, so that any resulting scar is positioned to be as inconspicuous as possible. Typical placements include:
- Breast Area: At the inframammary fold or around the areolar border.
- Back: Along the bra line or close to the midline.
- Abdomen: At the umbilicus or low on the lower abdomen.
- Arms: Above the elbow, on the posterior aspect.
- Thighs: At the inner groin crease or mid-thigh.
Procedure Duration
The duration of the procedure varies according to the number of areas being treated and whether adjunctive procedures, such as breast or facial fat grafting, skin tightening, or other body-contouring surgery, are performed in the same session. Single-area liposuction tends to be considerably shorter than multi-area or combined procedures. The expected duration is confirmed with Dr Lee Hanjing at consultation, once the surgical plan has been confirmed.
Pain and Recovery
Discomfort following liposuction is most often described as a deep muscular soreness, comparable to that which follows sustained physical exertion, accompanied by some swelling and tenderness across the treated areas. A degree of numbness in the treated skin is also expected in the early recovery period, and it generally resolves on its own as the tissues settle.
Recovery is supported through:
- Compression Garments: A post-operative compression garment is worn continuously in the initial recovery period, and then at night for a further period, as advised. The duration is individualised.
- Oral Pain Relief: Oral analgesia is provided to manage soreness and discomfort in the early days.
Swelling and bruising are an expected part of the recovery process and resolve gradually over time. The final contour becomes apparent once swelling has settled, which is why patients are encouraged to plan for an unhurried recovery period and discuss the timing with Dr Lee Hanjing at consultation.
Are the Results Long-Lasting?
During liposuction, the number of fat cells in the treated area is reduced, because a proportion of them are removed through suction. However, maintaining the contour over time depends on continued diet management and regular exercise. Where weight is gained significantly after the procedure, fat can accumulate, and the new distribution may differ from the original pattern.
Limitations and Who is Not Suitable
Liposuction is not appropriate for every patient or every concern. The procedure has clear limits:
- Not a Weight-Loss Procedure: Liposuction reshapes specific areas. It is not a treatment for general overweight or obesity, and patients with significantly elevated BMI may be better served by other approaches.
- Not a Treatment for Loose Skin: Where skin elasticity is poor or skin is significantly stretched, removing the underlying fat alone can leave the skin loose. Skin tightening adjuncts or excisional procedures, such as abdominoplasty, may be more appropriate.
- Not a Substitute for Diet and Exercise: Patients who have not addressed lifestyle factors are more likely to see fat accumulate in different areas after the procedure.
- Not a Treatment for Stretch Marks: Stretch marks are a change in the skin itself and are not addressed by removing the fat beneath.
Patients who smoke are advised to discontinue smoking before and after surgery, as smoking increases the risk of complications. Where underlying medical conditions are present, these are reviewed and optimised before any decision about surgery is made.
Skin Tightening with Liposuction
Where a degree of skin laxity is present, skin tightening can be performed at the same time as liposuction to address it. Two adjunctive options are used at Argent Plastic Surgery:
- Radiofrequency-Assisted Lipolysis (Bodytite/Facetite): A radiofrequency probe delivers controlled heat into the deeper tissues, which produces contraction in the surrounding collagen and supports skin tightening over the months that follow.
- Radiofrequency Microneedling (Morpheus8): Fine needles deliver radiofrequency energy at varied depths, promoting tightening across the full thickness of the skin.
These adjuncts can be appropriate for patients with mild to moderate laxity. Where laxity is significant, an excisional procedure, such as abdominoplasty or brachioplasty, is generally a more appropriate option, with a suitable approach determined at consultation.
Liposuction Cost and Funding in Singapore
The liposuction price in Singapore depends on several factors, including the number of areas being treated, the volume of fat being removed, the technique used, the type of anaesthesia, and the surgical setting required under MOH guidelines. Combined procedures, such as fat grafting or skin tightening, also affect the overall cost.
It is worth noting that liposuction is generally considered a cosmetic procedure and is not Medisave-claimable or insurance-claimable in most circumstances. Patients are encouraged to discuss the full cost, including the surgical fee, anaesthesia, facility charges, and post-operative care, at consultation, so the overall picture is clear before any decision is made.
Risks and Complications
Liposuction is generally a safe procedure when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon in an appropriate setting, but it carries risk, as with any surgical procedure. The risk profile increases when multiple areas are treated in one session, when the volume of lipo-aspirate is large, or when additional procedures are performed concurrently. Recognised risks include:
- Seroma Accumulation: A collection of fluid that can develop in the treated area and may require drainage.
- Bleeding and Bruising: Bleeding can occur during or after the procedure, and bruising in the treated area is common in the early recovery period.
- Infection: Infection of the treated tissue is uncommon but possible, and is managed with antibiotics or further treatment where it occurs.
- Contour Irregularities: Visible unevenness, indentations, or asymmetry in the treated area can occur and may require revision in some cases.
- Sensation Changes: Numbness or altered sensation in the treated area is common and typically resolves gradually on its own, although in some cases changes can be longer-lasting.
- Scarring: Although incisions are small and well-hidden, scars can develop atypically in some patients, including hypertrophic, keloid, hypopigmented, or hyperpigmented scarring.
- Injury to Deeper Structures: Injury to abdominal organs, nerves, blood vessels, or the lungs is uncommon but is a recognised risk and is discussed during the consenting process.
- Thromboembolic Events: Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and fat embolism are rare but serious risks that are mitigated through pre-operative assessment and intra-operative measures.
- Thermal Injury: Where energy-based techniques, such as VASER, are used, there is a small risk of thermal injury to the skin or deeper tissues.
- Anaesthesia-Related Risks: As with any procedure under sedation or general anaesthesia, anaesthetic risks apply, including allergic reaction. These are reviewed and discussed with the anaesthetist before surgery.
- Prolonged Swelling and Firmness: Swelling and firmness in the treated area can persist longer than expected in some patients, and may require massage or further management.
A full discussion of risks specific to your circumstances is part of the consultation process, and patients are encouraged to raise any concerns before making a decision.