If you’re close to your ideal weight but feel that certain areas still hold you back, liposuction can help create smoother, more proportionate contours so your body feels more like your own.
It can be performed on its own or combined with other procedures, like a tummy tuck, arm reduction, or thigh lift. Liposuction can also be used if you are having fat transfer (lipofilling), where fat is removed from one area and re-injected elsewhere to restore volume or balance.
Procedure time
1–3 hours Home the same day if in isolation, but an overnight stay may be needed when performed as part of a combined procedure.
Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic for small volumes or general anaesthetic.
Recovery Time
Back to light activity in 1–2 weeks. Supportive garment for up to 6 weeks.
full results
3–6 months (once swelling has settled).
Liposuction can refine areas that feel out of proportion, improve clothing fit, and create a smoother, more balanced silhouette. These changes often bring practical benefits too – from easier movement to a renewed sense of confidence.
Helps reshape areas that haven’t responded to diet or exercise.
Supports a smoother outline and a more balanced silhouette.
Often used with tummy tuck, arm reduction, thigh lift, or body contouring procedures for greater definition.
Allows fat to be removed and used to restore volume in another area.
Subtle changes can make clothes fit better and daily movement feel easier.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your first appointment is a calm, pressure-free space to talk about your goals and whether liposuction is right for you.
We’ll review your medical history, examine the areas you’d like treated, and take confidential photographs (with your consent). After your appointment, you’ll receive a detailed clinic letter summarising everything discussed so you can review it in your own time.
To help you prepare safely:
You’ll meet your surgical and anaesthetic team to review the plan. After confirming your consent, we’ll take photographs.
Liposuction is performed under local anaesthetic with sedation or general anaesthetic.
Small incisions (2–5 mm) allow fat to be gently removed with a cannula, and the wounds are closed with stitches or adhesive strips.
A compression garment is applied immediately to support healing.
Most patients return home the same day once stable. You’ll need a responsible adult to stay with you overnight.
You’ll also need to:
Swelling, bruising and tightness are normal and settle gradually over weeks. You’ll usually be able to see your final results between 3–6 months.
At The Antler Clinic, you’ll be cared for by Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr David Izadi, whose work combines advanced surgical expertise with the calm, honest approach patients value most.
With over two decades of experience in reconstructive, aesthetic, and hand surgery – including international fellowships in rhinoplasty and hand surgery, and a dedicated cosmetic surgery fellowship.
Every plan begins with listening to what matters most to you.
A quick guide to the things most people want to know before and after their procedure.
Liposuction results are long-lasting as long as your weight stays stable. The fat cells removed don’t grow back, but the remaining fat cells can enlarge with weight gain. Your final contour becomes clearer between 3 – 6 months as swelling settles.
Fat does not return to the areas treated with liposuction, because those fat cells are permanently removed. However, weight gain can still affect untreated areas. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps preserve your results.
Liposuction causes discomfort similar to deep bruising. You’re given pain relief to help you stay comfortable. Most patients describe the first few days as the most tender, with steady improvement over the first week as swelling begins to settle.
You are put to sleep for liposuction if you are having multiple areas treated or prefer a general anaesthetic. Smaller areas can be done with local anaesthetic and sedation. Your surgeon will recommend the safest option for your treatment plan.
Liposuction is considered safe when performed by a trained consultant in a regulated hospital. Risks include bruising, swelling, irregularities, infection or seroma. Rare risks include blood clots or damage to deeper structures. We’ll discuss these at your consultation.
Most people return to light activity within 1 – 2 weeks. Compression garments are worn for at least 4 weeks, and full exercise usually resumes after 4 – 6 weeks, depending on the areas treated. Swelling continues to improve for several months.
You can return to work 3 days after liposuction if your job is very light and you feel comfortable. Most people prefer a week before returning. Bruising, swelling and tenderness are normal in the early period.
Liposuction can be suitable at many ages, provided your skin has good elasticity and you’re in good health. Candidates typically fall between age 20 – 60, but suitability depends more on overall health and skin tone than age alone.
A good candidate for liposuction is close to a healthy weight, has firm and elastic skin, and wants to refine specific areas that don’t respond to lifestyle changes. If you have a stable weight and a BMI under 30 you’re likely to get the best results.
You don’t need strict bed rest after liposuction. Gentle walking within 24 hours is encouraged to improve circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. You can get back to normal daily activity gradually over 1 – 2 weeks.
Stomach (abdominal) liposuction is safe when performed by a qualified consultant plastic surgeon in a hospital setting. As with all procedures, there are some risks, which include uneven contours, swelling and infection, as well as others that will be discussed with you at your consultation. Your surgeon will assess whether your skin quality makes you a good candidate.
Liposuction can potentially flatten the stomach if excess fat (not loose skin) is the main concern. If you have significant loose skin after weight loss or pregnancy, or a bulge from separation of the six-pack muscles (rectus divarication), a tummy tuck may be more appropriate. We’ll help clarify which is the best option during your consultation.
Liposuction is not a weight-loss surgery. The procedure removes fat for contouring, not for lowering body weight. Most people lose only a small amount of weight but see a meaningful improvement in shape and proportion.
Your body will experience swelling, bruising and tightness for several weeks. The skin gradually tightens around your new contour, and results continue to improve over 3 – 6 months. Wearing your compression garment will help with this.
Everyone’s criteria for surgery is different. For people who want to refine stubborn fat pockets and improve body contour when diet and exercise are no longer effective, liposuction can help. Most patients report better clothing fit, smoother shape, and renewed confidence once swelling has settled.
Liposuction is good for targeted contouring and can improve confidence, clothing fit and comfort. It is not a substitute for weight loss or fitness. When performed safely, it has a strong satisfaction rate and long-term results.
Liposuction offers more precise, predictable contour changes than fat freezing. It removes fat immediately and allows the surgeon to shape specific areas. Fat freezing may suit small areas but often requires multiple sessions with subtler results.
Ozempic, Mounjaro and other GLP-1 medications support weight loss through appetite suppression, while liposuction removes localised fat pockets. Many people use medication or lifestyle changes to reach a healthy weight first, then choose liposuction for final contour refinement. Post massive weight loss after GLP-1 medications often requires a combination of liposuction and skin excision surgery.
A tummy tuck is generally more painful because it involves tightening of the abdominal muscles and removal of excess skin. Liposuction discomfort is usually compared to deep bruising and improves steadily over the first week.
Liposuction satisfaction rates are high when expectations are realistic, and the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon. When people are dissatisfied, this often relates to choosing the wrong procedure for the concern (e.g., loose skin instead of excess fat), which is why a detailed consultation is essential.
The regret rate is low when patients understand what liposuction can and cannot achieve. Good candidates tend to be satisfied with natural, balanced results that align with their goals.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
