Liposuction Sydney (Suction Assisted Lipectomy)

What is liposuction (Suction-assisted lipectomy)?

Liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy) surgery involves the removal of fat cells from the body. The procedure is designed for those who have specific areas of localised fat deposits and who have tried to eliminate them through diet, exercise, and weight loss. While the procedure is not designed to be a weight loss procedure, any areas where excess fat deposits have accumulated can be treated. Areas can include the chin, neck, jowls, cheeks, arms, inner and outer thighs, knees, hips and abdomen.

The procedure offers immediate results to the areas where the procedure is performed, although initial swelling and/or bruising will need time to subside after the surgery. The removed fat cells will be removed permanently

Suitable liposuction candidates

Suitable candidates for liposuction are those who are close to their ideal weight, in good health, have realistic expectations, and are seeking to address localised areas of fat that have not responded to diet and exercise.

All candidates will need to have a consultation with Dr Rastogi at his Sydney location before undergoing the procedure. A consultation will allow him to assess your suitability for the procedure and discuss all of the important aspects of the surgery.

Good candidates for liposuction are those who are at or near their ideal body weight, but struggle with localised pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Suitable candidates for liposuction should be in good overall health, being free from any significant medical conditions that could increase the risks associated with surgery and having realistic expectations for the results of the procedure. It’s essential for candidates to understand that it is not a solution for weight loss or a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.

Ideally, suitable candidates will have firm, elastic skin (good skin elasticity), that will naturally adjust to suit the fat loss in the treated area. Dr Rastogi will assess your skin elasticity in the particular treatment area. Candidates should not be pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of undergoing the procedure.

Please book your consultation to find out if you are a suitable liposuction candidate.

Consultations

Dr Rastogi’s clinic offers two different consultations, and you will need both prior to your procedure.

You will start with an initial video consultation with Dr Rastogi, and this goes for about 20-30mins. This is booked on a Tuesday afternoon and the cost is $200, processed at the time of booking. This is a perfect opportunity to discuss your areas of concern and discuss suitability.

Following the video consultation will be an in room consultation with Dr Rastogi, and this goes for about 1–1.5 hours. This is booked on a Monday afternoon, or a Tuesday morning and the cost is $300, processed at the time of booking. We will go through the procedure in depth, discuss preparation, recovery, quote breakdown, risks and complications and surgical dates if you wish to have this information.

You will leave the consultation with a copy of all your notes and information so you can take your time making an informed decision.

The consultation fee covers your two consultations with Dr Rastogi and any additional consultations required to ensure all your questions are answered.

Sometimes, liposuction can be combined with other procedures (such as removing excess skin from the treatment area, particularly if a patient does not have good skin elasticity). You will also be able to discuss this option during your consultation.

How liposuction is performed

During your consultation, you will learn all about how your procedure will be performed. Liposuction is a personalised procedure with steps that meet your unique needs – therefore, a consultation with Dr Rastogi will help answer all of your questions.

The procedure is typically performed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, depending on the extent of the treatment, the specific treatment area and the patient’s personal preference.

To begin the procedure, small incisions are made in the treatment area. Incisions can usually be placed in easily concealed locations, such as within the creases of the skin, but this will depend on the area being treated. A thin tube (cannula) is inserted into the fatty tissue through these small incisions. The thin tube is then moved back and forth to help break up the fat cells and separate them from the surrounding tissue. The cannula will be connected to a suction device, which removes the targeted fat cells.

After the targeted amount of fat has been removed, the incisions are sutured closed. A compression garment may be applied to the treated area to minimise swelling, help the skin tighten in the area and support the body’s healing process.

After liposuction, patients can return home on the same day as the procedure. However, patients have the option of staying in hospital overnight (at Waratah Private Hospital). If patients opt for an overnight stay, this will need to be factored into total hospital fees.

Costs of liposuction in Sydney

As with most other cosmetic procedures, liposuction (suction-assisted lipectomy) has a multi-faceted cost structure. The cost components of your liposuction procedure will include surgeon’s fees, anaesthetist’s fees, hospital fees and the costs of your post-operative appointments.

External fees, such as the cost of the garment, any scar care products, and the lymphatic drainage massage (performed after the procedure during recovery), will also need to be considered.

Firstly, Dr Rastogi will charge a fee to perform your procedure. Surgeon’s fees tend to differ from surgeon to surgeon, depending on their qualifications, experience, and professional recognition. Dr Rastogi has been performing this procedure for over 25 years, and his fees will need to reflect this.

Keep in mind that the cost of your surgery can also change depending on the amount of liposuction desired.

You will be able to discuss the details of your procedure costs during your consultation, and receive a personalised quote.

Will I be eligible for a Medicare rebate?

If a procedure is performed for medical reasons, a patient may be eligible for a partial Medicare rebate.

Most often, liposuction is performed for cosmetic/aesthetic purposes, and will not be able to be covered by Medicare.

However, Medicare may be able to cover liposuction that is performed to address Barraquer-Simons syndrome, lymphoedema, macrodystrophia lipomatosa, or the reduction of a buffalo hump that is secondary to an endocrine disorder or pharmacological treatment of a medical condition.

To be eligible, a patient will need photographic and/or diagnostic imaging evidence showing the procedure’s clinical need. You can read more about the Medicare item here.

If liposuction is performed as part of another procedure, including a breast reduction or a procedure to treat gynaecomastia, a Medicare rebate may be possible if that procedure is deemed medically necessary.

Please book your consultation with Dr Rastogi to learn more about Medicare and funding your surgery.

Risks and complications

It is important to note that medical, cosmetic, or non-surgical procedures are not risk-free.

At your consultation, you will discuss all of the potential risks and complications with your surgeon in detail. You will also discuss how to prepare for the procedure, prepare for your recovery and how you can try to minimise the risks of surgery.

You will be provided with preparation and recovery instructions that are specifically tailored to how your procedure will be performed, the amount of fat that will be removed and the complexity of the procedure.

Below is a list of some of the potential risks associated with Breast Augmentation mammaplasty. Dr Rastogi will go through these risks thoroughly with you during your
consultation.

• Bleeding
• DVT / PE
• Infection
• Poor scaring
• Irregularities
• Asymmetry
• Loss of sensation
• Anaesthetic complications
• Seroma
• Penetrating injury

Some of the above risks and complications may need revision surgery or medical attention to address. During your consultation, you can discuss the symptoms of these complications that you will need to look out for throughout your recovery. You can also discuss what to do should any symptoms begin to show after your surgery.

Recovery

The recovery phase after liposuction is crucial for supporting your results and minimising the possibility of complications.

During your consultation, Dr Rastogi will provide detailed instructions regarding post-operative care requirements. You will also receive a comprehensive recovery timeline, along with contact information for both Dr Rastogi and the nurses who will support you during the weeks following your surgery. Our dedicated team will always be on call should you require assistance after hours. Once the procedure is completed, your support person will pick you up from the hospital and stay with you overnight.

This is to ensure you have assistance and care during the initial recovery period. Your first post-operative appointment, referred to as the post-op one appointment, will be scheduled three to four days after the surgery, and this is done on a Monday morning. It will take place at our clinic, allowing Dr Rastogi and our nurses to assess your progress and address any concerns or questions you may have.

Additional post-operative appointments will be booked on that day. These follow-up visits are essential for monitoring your recovery and ensuring everything is progressing as expected.

While you may gradually resume some activities during the first two weeks following the surgery, please keep in mind that a full recovery for this procedure typically takes approximately six to eight weeks. You will need to care for your incision sites, keeping them clean and dry to avoid infection, bleeding or irritation. You may need to avoid certain medications or supplements during your recovery, which can be explained in more detail during your consultation.

As well as getting plenty of rest, following a healthy diet and staying hydrated will help your body recover after surgery. If you need personalised advice on how to care for your general health during recovery after liposuction, we recommend seeking advice before undergoing your procedure. This will help you to prepare for your recovery in advance.

You may take pain medication (that may be prescribed) to manage discomfort during your recovery. Ensure that you follow your personalised advice and the provided instructions on when and how often to take your medication.

To support your body’s healing and minimise complications, it is essential to follow the recovery timeline and guidelines provided by Dr Rastogi. We recommend preparing for your recovery in advance so that you will have everything you need straight after your procedure.

If you have any questions at any time (including before or after your procedure), please contact our team.

Minimising liposuction scars

All procedures that use incisions will lead to some degree of scarring, but scarring can still be minimised.

Minimising scarring after liposuction can begin during the preparation process. Before your surgery, you may be given important instructions that will help to support wound healing. These instructions may include stopping taking certain medications, quitting smoking, or making other changes to help your body heal after your procedure. The first step in minimising scarring is to support the incisions in healing sufficiently without any complications (such as infection).

During the procedure, Dr Rastogi will make incisions in areas that will allow him to perform the procedure on your chosen treatment area. The placement of your incisions will be discussed during your consultation, but this will also influence how visible scarring will be after your surgery. Sometimes, incisions can be placed in areas that make scarring easy to conceal (such as within the natural creases or folds of the skin, or underneath the armpit).

To help your incisions heal after surgery, you’ll need to keep the area clean, dry, and away from excessive heat exposure. During your consultation, you will be provided with instructions on how to clean the area and how often to do so.

Once your incisions have healed, you can minimise scarring in a variety of ways. Firstly, you’ll need to avoid excessive sun exposure, as this can darken scarring. Apply an SPF 50+ if the area will be exposed to sunlight. Next, you can apply some specialised scar treatment creams or gels to the area to help fade the appearance of scarring. You can discuss which products to use during your consultation, how often to apply them and how long they will need to be used until you can see results. Silicone scar sheets can also help to decrease the visibility of scarring – if you would like to use these, make sure that you clear it with Dr Rastogi first and closely follow instructions on how to wear them.

While you can take every step possible to help minimise scars after liposuction, patience is important, as scarring can naturally fade over time. It is normal for incisions to appear slightly raised and pink in colour immediately after they have healed, and patience is needed to see a visible change in the appearance of scarring.

As with any other recovery step, Dr Rastogi will provide you with personalised advice, suited to the details of your procedure and any individual factors or needs that can influence your recovery instructions.