Liposculpture (Liposuction) in Sydney by Dr. Charles Cope

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Dr Charles Cope specialises in liposculpture, an advanced approach to liposuction in which localised deposits of fat are removed to improve the body’s contour. The most common areas for liposculpture are the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. Liposculpture can also be used in men to reduce enlarged breasts (gynaecomastia), which has been done on many of our patients in Sydney.

Liposculpture is usually performed under general anaesthetic, although small areas can be performed under local anaesthetic and sedation. The procedure involves day surgery or overnight stay, depending on the amount of fat to be removed. The operation involves making several small incisions, and fluid containing local anaesthetic is used to fill the area, after which the fat is removed through a narrow tube (the actual liposuction).

*Most people return to work within 7-10 days following surgery, although with large areas the recovery time may be longer. After surgery, a pressure compression garment must be worn for a few weeks, which minimises the bruising and swelling and helps produce an even contour.

Heavy activities and sport should be avoided for one month. *Most of the bruising and swelling will have gone by three weeks, although the final result may not be apparent until 3 months following liposuction/liposculpture.

If you have some loose skin on your buttocks then the fat can be injected back into your buttocks, giving a firmer, higher and rounder buttock (Brazilian Butt Lift).

This procedure is not a substitute for diet and exercise, but is used for localised areas of fat not responsive to traditional weight-loss methods. *The success of the liposculpture procedure depends on the skin’s elasticity, which decreases with age, and the best results are obtained in young patients. If there is a significant amount of loose skin then other surgery may be needed to produce the best change in body contour, such as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).

Dr Cope will consult with you to work out the best method for obtaining the results you want.

Dr Cope liposuction



Dr Cope abdominoplasty Frequently Asked Questions Who is a good candidate for liposuction? Liposuction reduces bulges that you just can’t get rid of with diet and exercise. The most important things that determine the result from liposuction are your age and quality of your skin. Liposuction reduces the amount of fat under the skin can relies on your skin elasticity in taking up the resulting loose skin – the younger you are the better your skin elasticity and the better your skin takes up after liposuction. If you have some loose skin (e.g. after weight fluctuations or weight loss), cellulite, or scars in the area then this will limit the amount the skin ‘takes up’ after liposuction, and may therefore limit the amount of liposuction that can be performed. Is there an ideal age for liposuction? Liposuction reduces the amount of fat under the skin and relies on your skin elasticity in taking up the resulting loose skin – the younger you are the better your skin elasticity and the better your skin takes up after liposuction. When is the best time of the year to have liposuction? Liposuction can be performed at any time of the year. However, everyone gets some bruising and swelling after the procedure, which can restrict swimming, walking on the beach and other sporting activities in summer. After liposuction a compression garment needs to be worn for at least a few weeks (sometimes up to 6-8 weeks), and it is more comfortable to do this in the winter months. How much thinner will I be after liposuction? Liposuction reduces bulges and for most patients the pinch thickness is somewhere between one third and one half of what is was before liposuction. How long does liposuction last? Providing you stay at a stable weight after liposuction the result will be permanent. Weight fluctuations (more than 5kgs) can sometimes change the result, as liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in the area permanently, making it harder to put on weight in that area. Large fluctuations of weight can create bulges in other areas, as the fat being deposited has to go somewhere. Where is the surgery performed? Most liposuction is performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital, either as a day-surgery procedure or overnight stay, depending on what you are like with recovery from anaesthetic and how much liposuction is performed. However, very small areas of liposuction can be performed under local anaesthetic in the office How does liposuction work and will the scars be obvious? Liposuction reduces the amount of fat under the skin using small (approximately 5mm) incisions and relies on your skin elasticity in taking up the resulting loose skin. Although red for the first few months these scars are rarely visible down the track. Are there any non-surgical alternatives to liposuction? There are various non-surgical alternatives to liposuction, however these can only treat small areas at one time, and therefore require multiple sessions (often 6-8) to achieve the same result as one session of liposuction. What will I be able to do in the first week after surgery & when can I return to work? During the first week after surgery you need to rest and take things quietly at home. When you go home there will be waterproof dressings covering the wounds, which normally stay on for one week, allowing you to shower normally. You should wear your compression garment the whole time, which needs to be worn for at least a few weeks (and for some people 6-8 weeks). Most people feel well enough to drive to the postoperative visit, which is usually 5-7 days later, and are back to work by this time. When will I feel completely normal and be able to play sport? For most people, it is 3-4 weeks until they are ready to return to sport and full activities

*Note results may vary from person to person