Surgical · Body
Consultant-led body contouring — performed personally by Dr Hassan Soueid. The brief is proportion, not extreme reduction. Results that fit your frame.
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Hello!
Medically reviewed by Dr Hassan SoueidConsultant Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon
Overview
Liposuction is the surgical removal of subcutaneous fat from specific body areas to refine contour and proportion. It is a sculpting procedure — not a weight-loss procedure. The best candidates are within or close to a stable healthy weight.
At Kensington Cosmetic Clinic liposuction is performed personally by Dr Hassan Soueid using whichever technique fits the case — traditional, power-assisted (PAL), VASER (ultrasound-assisted) or laser-assisted. The technique is selected for the patient, not driven by a single piece of equipment.
We are deliberately conservative about extreme reductions. Aggressive liposuction can create irregular contour, skin laxity and an unnatural silhouette that is very difficult to revise. A careful plan, sometimes staged across two procedures 6–9 months apart, almost always reads better long-term.
Done well, liposuction reads as 'they trained harder' rather than 'they had surgery'.
How it works
A diagram of the procedure. Hover any pulsing marker to see how each anatomical layer is treated by Dr Hassan.
Hover or tap any highlighted region
Illustration is anatomical only — the procedure is tailored individually at consultation.
Treated Areas
Liposuction works best on stubborn fat deposits that resist diet and exercise. Each area has different technical considerations — some are routine, some are technically demanding.
Abdomen
Upper and lower abdominal fat — the most-treated area. Best results when skin quality is good. Where significant skin laxity coexists, a tummy tuck may be a better answer.
Flanks (love handles)
The fat pad above the iliac crest. Highly responsive to liposuction in most patients — one of the most rewarding areas to treat.
Back rolls
The bra-line back fat (upper) and lower back fat just above the buttock. Smaller volume but high impact on silhouette in clothing.
Outer thighs (saddlebags)
The lateral thigh fat below the hip. Often genetic and resistant to exercise. Excellent indication for liposuction with predictable results.
Inner thighs
Inner-thigh fat reduction — careful technique required because skin elasticity is variable. Combined with skin tightening (RF or surgical) where indicated.
Knees
Small fat pads above and around the knees. Low volume, high impact when present.
Arms
Upper-arm fat below the deltoid. Skin quality matters — younger patients with good elasticity respond best. Older patients sometimes need an arm lift instead.
Bra-line area
Front and side bra-line fat — often a clothing-line concern. Combined with axillary (armpit) fat reduction in suitable cases.
Submental (under chin)
The fat pad under the chin and along the upper neck. Small-volume but high-impact area; often combined with neck skin tightening.
Candidate
Benefits at KCC
Investment
Every patient is different — the area, technique and number of stages shape the plan. We share full pricing during your private consultation, after Dr Hassan or your treating clinician has reviewed your goals in person.
Before
Preparation begins six weeks before surgery. Fitness level entering surgery materially affects recovery and result.
Technique
The two technologies most often selected at KCC. Both produce excellent results — the choice depends on the area, fat density and skin quality.
Technology 1
A vibrating cannula tip emulsifies fat efficiently for fast, even removal. The technique of choice for routine medium-volume cases — abdomen, flanks, outer thighs — where the priority is consistent contour with minimal trauma.
Technology 2
Ultrasound energy selectively breaks down fat cells before suction. Better skin retraction over treated areas thanks to thermal effects. The technique of choice for fibrous areas (back, male chest), high-definition work, and patients with mild skin laxity.
Both technologies are sometimes used in a single operation — VASER for skin retraction, PAL for bulk removal.
The Treatment
Two consultations are standard — first to confirm candidacy and plan, second to confirm consent and agree the surgical date. Standardised photographs are taken at the first visit; treatment areas are marked.
Performed under general anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre. Operative time is typically 1–4 hours depending on the volume and number of areas.
Most patients are discharged the same day. The first review is at 24 hours, lymphatic drainage massage begins at week 1.
Step by Step
Liposuction is a sculpting operation. The result is mapped, then carved, then settled — across six months.
01 · The Consultation
Two consultations. Skin-pinch assessment, fat-distribution analysis and a frank discussion of whether liposuction alone is the right answer — sometimes abdominoplasty or skin tightening serves you better. Standardised five-view photography on day one.
02 · Preparation
Six weeks of smoking cessation. Two weeks off blood-thinners and supplements. Maintain or improve cardio fitness in the run-up. Two compression garments bought in advance. Seven to fourteen days of clear social downtime arranged.
03 · The Procedure
General anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre. Tumescent infiltration first; then PAL or VASER fat removal through 3–4 mm access incisions hidden in skin folds. Compression garment fitted in theatre. Same-day discharge for most patients.
04 · Recovery & Aftercare
Compression worn 23 hours daily for four weeks. Lymphatic drainage from week one. Walking from day one, light cardio at two weeks, full exercise at six. Most swelling resolves by six weeks; final shape settles between three and six months.
After
The first 7 days are bruising and swelling. Wearing the compression garment correctly is one of the biggest determinants of the final result.
Results
Liposuction results unfold over 3–6 months. The 90% improvement at 6 weeks is not the final result — fine settling continues.
Questions
No. Liposuction sculpts contour by removing subcutaneous fat from specific areas. Total weight removed is usually small (1–4 kg of fat in most cases). Patients seeking weight loss are better served by lifestyle change, medical weight management or, where indicated, bariatric surgery.
Fat cells removed by liposuction do not return. However, the remaining fat cells can still grow if you gain weight — so contour can change over time with significant weight gain. A stable weight after surgery preserves the result indefinitely.
Skin retraction depends on age, skin quality, the area treated and the volume removed. Younger patients with good elasticity retract well; older patients with mild laxity may need supplemental skin tightening (RF, surgical) or a different operation entirely (e.g. abdominoplasty rather than abdominal liposuction). We discuss this honestly at consultation.
Swelling peaks at days 3–5 and is substantial. The compression garment, lymphatic massage and gentle walking are essential. Most swelling resolves by 6 weeks; the final 10–20% takes 3–6 months. Patience during this period is essential — many patients become disheartened at week 4 thinking the result has not worked. It almost always has.
High-definition liposuction (also known as abdominal etching or muscle-definition liposuction) sculpts fat to reveal underlying muscle anatomy. It works best on patients who are already lean and athletic, with low body fat, where the underlying musculature is already developed. We are honest about candidacy — HD-Lipo is a refinement, not a replacement for training.
Yes — commonly. Liposuction is often combined with fat transfer to the breast or buttocks, with abdominoplasty, with arm lift or with a thigh lift. Combining procedures saves anaesthetic time and recovery — but increases operative complexity, so case selection matters.
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