Liposuction in Edinburgh
Liposuction at Waterfront removes localised pockets of fat that diet and exercise have not shifted — reshaping areas such as the abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs and arms. Every procedure is performed by a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register, as a day case in our purpose-built Edinburgh hospital. The consultant who assesses you is the consultant who performs your surgery and follows you through every review. Patients travel to us from across Scotland and the north of England.
Contents
Overview
Liposuction Edinburgh
- TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC
Local or general, depending on extent - LENGTH OF SURGERY
1 to 2 hours - HOSPITAL STAY
Day case - TIME OFF WORK
1 to 2 weeks, depending on areas treated and your work - COMPRESSION GARMENT
4 to 6 weeks - FULL RESULT
Visible change at 2 to 3 months; final contour at 6 months or more - GUIDE PRICE
From £4,100
What the procedure involves
At consultation, your consultant examines the areas that concern you, assesses your skin quality, and is honest about what liposuction can — and cannot — achieve for your shape. On the day of surgery, the treatment areas are marked while you stand, then infiltrated with tumescent fluid: a dilute local anaesthetic solution that numbs the area and minimises bruising. Fat is then removed through small incisions of a few millimetres using a thin cannula, working evenly across the area to keep the contour smooth. Smaller single areas are usually treated under local anaesthetic; multiple or larger areas under general anaesthetic. A compression garment is fitted before you go home the same day.
Benefits and expected outcomes
Liposuction can address:
- Localised fat deposits that persist despite a stable, healthy weight
- Disproportion between areas — such as flanks or outer thighs out of keeping with the rest of your shape
- Clothing fit and self-consciousness about specific areas
The fat cells removed do not return. Provided your weight remains stable, the improvement in contour is long-lasting. Liposuction is a contouring procedure, not a weight-loss treatment — the best results come in patients at or near their goal weight with good skin tone.
Who is an ideal candidate?
Liposuction is most appropriate for patients who:
- Are at, or near, a stable goal weight
- Have localised fat deposits rather than generalised excess
- Have reasonable skin elasticity, so the skin can redrape over the new contour
- Are in good general health, aged 18 or over, with realistic expectations
Where there is significant loose skin, liposuction alone can leave laxity behind — in those cases your consultant may recommend an excisional procedure instead, such as a tummy tuck or arm lift. This is exactly the kind of judgement your consultation is for.
Risks and considerations
Liposuction is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure in suitable candidates, but like any surgery it carries a defined set of risks.
General surgical risks
- Bleeding and infection — uncommon, as the access incisions are tiny
- Small scars (around 5mm) that can be red and thickened at first, usually settling by 12 to 18 months
- Anaesthetic risks
- Blood clots (DVT/PE) — minimised with early mobilisation
Risks specific to liposuction
- Contour irregularity or asymmetry
- Temporary numbness, bruising and swelling
- Fluid collection (seroma)
- Residual skin laxity where elasticity is poor
- Occasionally, a touch-up procedure to refine the result
Your consultant will discuss how these risks apply to your individual case at consultation.
Aftercare and recovery
Your recovery is led by the consultant who performed your surgery. You go home the same day in a compression garment, worn for 4 to 6 weeks to support the new contour. Walking is encouraged from day one; most patients return to work within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the areas treated and the nature of their work, and avoid strenuous exercise for 6 weeks. Bruising resolves over 2 to 3 weeks and swelling settles over several weeks — a visible difference emerges at 2 to 3 months, with the final contour taking 6 months or more. A nurse reviews you at one week — and more often if needed — and your consultant sees you again once the result has settled. Between reviews, our nursing team is your first point of contact, and the surgeon who operated on you remains responsible for your recovery.
What does liposuction cost?
The guide price for liposuction at Waterfront Private Hospital is from £4,100 under local anaesthetic for a single smaller area, and from £5,850 under general anaesthetic depending on the extent of treatment. The price you are quoted in writing after consultation covers the consultant’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the hospital and theatre fees, and your routine post-operative reviews. See our guide prices for all procedures.
Frequently asked questions about liposuction
Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my liposuction?
Is liposuction a weight-loss treatment?
Which areas can be treated?
Will I need a general anaesthetic?
Does the fat come back?
Will my skin tighten after liposuction?
How long until I see the result?
How is liposuction paid for?
Author
Mr Omar Quaba, MBBChir, FRCS (Plast), GMC 4586300, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. Based at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh, he is fully accredited on the GMC Specialist Register and specialises in advanced cosmetic procedures. Full member of BAAPS.
