Merchant City Medical Group offers surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures, from our state of the art clinics throughout the UK & Europe.

Liposuction & Body Contouring

Refine your shape with advanced body contouring at Merchant Group Med. Our specialist surgeons use precise liposculpture techniques to remove stubborn fat and sculpt natural, well-balanced contours. Each treatment is tailored to your goals and performed in our high-quality clinical facilities for safe, beautifully refined results.

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Procedure overview

TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC

Local or General

LENGTH OF SURGERY

1–2 Hours

HOSPITAL STAY

0–1 Day

RECOVERY

1–2 weeks off work, 6 weeks before strenuous exercise

The procedure

During liposuction, a thin tube called a cannula is inserted through small, discreet incisions. The cannula is carefully moved through the fat layer between the skin and muscles to break up and gently remove excess fat using a suction device. Liposuction can target small, specific areas such as the hips or outer thighs, or larger regions like the abdomen and back. Depending on the size of the treatment area and patient preference, the procedure may be performed under local or general anaesthesia.

Liposuction

During liposuction, a thin tube called a cannula is inserted through small, discreet incisions. The cannula is carefully moved through the fat layer between the skin and muscles to break up and gently remove excess fat using a suction device. Liposuction can target small, specific areas such as the hips or outer thighs, or larger regions like the abdomen and back. Depending on the size of the treatment area and patient preference, the procedure may be performed under local or general anaesthesia.

What to Expect After

What to Expect Before your procedure, you will have a consultation to assess your suitability for liposuction and discuss whether the treatment aligns with your goals. It’s important to note that liposuction is not a weight-loss solution; its purpose is to reshape and contour specific areas of the body. Results may be subtle at first, and improvements are often more noticeable when wearing clothing. Most patients begin to see and feel changes in the treated areas within 2–3 months, while the final outcome may take up to 6 months to become fully apparent.
VIEW BEFORE AND AFTER GALLERY

What are the risks?

While liposuction is generally safe when performed by experienced surgeons, there are potential risks and side effects to be aware of:

Some bruising is normal and usually resolves within 2–3 weeks.

Mild to moderate swelling is common and can persist for several weeks after the procedure.

Significant bleeding is very rare following liposuction.

Infections are uncommon due to the small size of the incisions.

Incisions are typically very small (around 5mm). Scars may appear red or raised initially but generally improve over 12–18 months. Temporary friction marks from the cannula may occur but usually heal without issue.

Minor lumps, bumps, or unevenness can occur. Overly aggressive fat removal in a specific area may lead to small depressions or contour irregularities.

Some patients experience temporary numbness in the treated area, which usually resolves over time.

A small percentage of patients may develop a fluid collection under the skin. This is not serious and can be drained safely in a clinic if needed.

 

Although extremely rare, there have been isolated cases of injury to deeper structures. Risks may be slightly higher in areas with existing deep scars.

 

In some cases, not enough fat is removed, resulting in minimal change to the area.

This can result from any of the above issues or from expectations that are not fully aligned with realistic outcomes.

Aftercare & Recovery After Liposuction

Read more about liposuction aftercare.
EXPLORE LIPOSUCTION AFTERCARE

Further Reading


Information from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)

Read More

Excellence Record

Merchant City Medical Group is proud to be one of the leading providers of Hair Transplant Surgeries and Medical Aesthetics within the UK and Europe. With our extensive team of expert surgeons, nurse practitioners and consultants, you will be met with the utmost dedication and compassion throughout your journey with us.
  • 30+ Years of combined experience
  • 10 + Experts
  • 1000 + Satisfied Patients

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Cosmetic Procedure Screening Questionnaire

It can be used as a screening questionnaire to tell whether you might have BDD.

1) How often do you do you deliberately check your feature(s)? Not accidentally catch sight of it. Please include looking at your feature in a mirror or other reflective surfaces like a shop window or looking at it directly or feeling it with your fingers.
2) To what extent do you feel your feature(s) are currently ugly, unattractive or ‘not right’?
3) To what extent does your feature(s) currently cause you a lot of distress?
4) How often does your feature(s) currently lead you to avoid situations or activities?
5) To what extent does your feature(s) currently preoccupy you? That is, you think about it a lot and it is hard to stop thinking about it?
6) If you have a partner, to what extent does your feature(s) currently have an effect on your relationship with an existing partner? (e.g. affectionate feelings, number of arguments, enjoying activities together). If you do not have a partner, to what extent does your feature(s) currently have an effect on dating or developing a relationship?
7) To what extent does your feature(s) currently interfere with your ability to work or study, or your role as a homemaker? (Please rate this even if you are not working or studying: we are interested in your ability to work or study.)
8) To what extent does your feature(s) currently interfere with your social life? (with other people, e.g. parties, pubs, clubs, outings, visits, home entertainment)
9) To what extent, do you feel your appearance is the most important aspect of who you are?

Do I have BDD?

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

You have scored 0

When you score more than 40 points, this is an indication that you likely have Body Dysmorphic Disorder. However, this is not a formal diagnosis. This test can also be used after a treatment to see if symptoms have improved.

What now?

For more information on BDD and support, you can contact us.

If you are a UK resident, we suggest:

    • reaching out to your GP for more help
    • self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies.

When speaking to a health professional, you may present your clinic history or a printed form to clearly outline the symptoms you’ve experienced.