Liposuction
Liposuction removes localised deposits of fat that resist diet and exercise, refining your natural shape through small, carefully placed incisions. It works best as a contouring tool for patients who are already close to their ideal weight and have reasonably elastic skin, rather than as a weight-loss procedure in itself.
If you are considering liposuction for lipoedema, please see Lipoedema & Liposuction, which explains how this differs from cosmetic liposuction.
Liposuction can be used on its own or combined with other body contouring procedures, and I plan the treatment areas around your goals and anatomy.
Assessment & planning
I assess your target areas, skin quality and overall fat distribution to confirm liposuction alone will give you the result you want, or whether a skin-removing procedure would suit you better.
Fluid infiltration
A dilute local anaesthetic and adrenaline solution is infused into the treatment area to reduce bleeding and discomfort before fat removal begins.
Fat removal
A thin cannula is passed through very small incisions to loosen and remove fat from beneath the skin, sculpting a smoother, more proportionate contour.
Closure & compression
The tiny incisions typically need no more than a stitch or two, or are left to close naturally, and a compression garment is fitted to support your new contour as you heal.
Who is it for?
Liposuction suits patients looking to refine, rather than remove, stubborn areas of fat. You may be a good candidate if you:
Have localised fat deposits — commonly the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms or under the chin — resistant to diet and exercise
Are at, or close to, your ideal, stable body weight
Have good skin elasticity, allowing the skin to settle smoothly once fat is removed
Do not have significant loose, hanging skin that would need a skin-removing procedure instead
Are in good general health with realistic expectations of the degree of change achievable
Before & After
Coming soon
Before-and-after photographs are shared only with each patient’s consent. Examples will be added here in due course — in the meantime, Dr Borges is happy to discuss expected results at your consultation.
Liposuction leaves only very small scars, generally no more than a few millimetres at each entry point, positioned in natural creases or less visible areas wherever possible. These typically fade to barely noticeable marks within a year.
What to expect
Recovery from liposuction is usually quicker and more comfortable than skin-removing body contouring surgery, though swelling can take some weeks to fully settle.
Days 1–3
Expect bruising, swelling and some soreness in the treated areas; most patients are mobile and manage well with simple pain relief.
Week 1–2
Compression garments are worn continuously and many patients return to desk-based work within a week.
Weeks 3–6
Swelling continues to reduce and your contour becomes more apparent; lymphatic massage can help this process along.
From week 6
Final results begin to show as the last of the swelling resolves, with exercise fully resumed by this stage.
Why choose this procedure
Advantages of Liposuction
Refined, more proportionate contours
Targets specific areas of stubborn fat that don't respond to lifestyle measures alone.
Minimal scarring
Small incisions heal to leave only faint marks in most patients.
Quicker recovery
Downtime is generally shorter than skin-removing body contouring procedures.
Versatile
Can treat multiple areas in a single session, or be combined with an abdominoplasty, arm lift or thigh lift.
Day-case procedure
Most patients go home the same day, avoiding a hospital stay.
Risks
As with any surgery, it's important we discuss the risks together. While most patients recover without significant issues, potential risks include:
Infection
Uncommon, and usually treatable with antibiotics.
Bleeding or haematoma
Bruising is expected, but significant bleeding requiring further treatment is rare.
Contour irregularities
Unevenness or rippling of the skin can occur, particularly with larger volumes or less elastic skin.
Altered sensation
Temporary numbness in the treated area is common and usually resolves over a few months.
Seroma
A fluid collection can occasionally develop and may need drainage in clinic.
Skin laxity
Where skin elasticity is limited, some looseness may remain or become more apparent after fat removal.
Blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism are rare but serious risks, particularly with larger-volume liposuction.
Liposuction is a private, cosmetic procedure. An exact quote follows your consultation and depends on the number of areas treated, with a price guide available on request. NHS funding is not available for cosmetic liposuction.
Book a ConsultationLocations
Consultations and surgery take place at accredited hospitals and clinics across Kent and London, with consultations available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4UL
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Wells Health, Fordcombe Hospital
Fordcombe Road, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 0RD
Google Map →Wells Health, Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4QJ
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