Frequently Asked Questions

While liposuction is no substitute for exercise and a healthy diet, it can help if you have stubborn pockets of fat that refuse to go away.

The best thing is come in for a consultation and find out what results you can expect to achieve.

Large volume Liposuction can actually help you lose weight. Each litre of fat removed weighs on average 900 gram so that removal of 5 litres of fat means you will lose about 4 and a half Kilos.

However , liposuction should not be seen as a procedure to lose weight; but rather as a procedure to lose large amount of fat ,together with  body-sculpting to improve your shape.

As such, liposuction is a suitable adjunct for the treatment of obese patients and it can be useful for anyone looking to kickstart a body contouring/weight reduction programme.

Yes. We are born with only a certain number of fat cells that continue to grow until puberty when their numbers stabilise.

Liposuction permanently removes most of the fat cells in the area being treated. However, should you gain weight after liposuction, the remaining fat cells might expand. So whilst the localised fatty deposits that existed prior to liposuction are unlikely to balloon up out of proportion again, it is a good policy to try and avoid weight gain following the procedure.

Liposuction is not a treatment for cellulite, although many patients do notice an improvement in the appearance of cellulite after the fat cells are removed.

Liposuction can be performed on most areas of the body including the arms, outer and inner thighs, knees, calves, hips, stomach, buttocks, chin, waist and back.  View more about each of these areas: for women, for men

After liposuction, the new body’s shape is more or less permanent. If a patient does gain a moderate amount of weight after liposuction, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape. Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back.

Our clinics use the Tumescent technique  of dilute local anaesthetic which does not require a general anesthetic and has a quick recovery time. In addition to being a very very safe procedure it is virtually pain free and allows 3-D body contouring to be done.

The injection of local anesthetic into the targeted fat allows for easier extraction and limits blood loss compared to other techniques that utilized general anesthetics.

There are two different types of lipoplasty, though both are commonly referred to under the banner of liposuction. Liposuction refers to the procedure which  removes fat through suction via a small tube inserted into the area.

Liposculpture refers to a technique that uses finer cannulas and multiple body positioning to remove fat. As the required incisions are smaller they heal faster without the need for stitching .

Your liposuction procedure will take place in one of our accredited cosmetic surgery procedure rooms.

Melbourne: 668 Chapel St, South Yarra and 

Gold Coast: Suite 8, 34 Boyd St, Tweed Heads

You can choose whichever clinic you prefer for your procedure.

Liposuction is a slow repetitive procedure which Dr Goldbaum has likened to:- vacuuming your house with a toothbrush. Depending on the size and number of areas treated each procedure can take somewhere between 1 and 5 hours.

To find out more about liposuction, book a consultation here.

Your first appointment will be with our Nurse Consultant who will be able to talk you through the procedure, from beginning to end so you know exactly what to expect. During this consultation you discuss your areas of concern and we provide you with a personalised quote.

Once you have decided to go ahead with the procedure, we book you in on a day that is suitable for you.

Liposuction aftercare is included in the overall cost of your procedure. You will have a post-operative appointment with a clinic nurse and a review with your liposuction Surgeon. They will discuss your liposuction aftercare and make sure you’re happy with the results of the treatment.

It is extremely rare for something to go wrong.

Contact our surgery on the number provided to you if you :

• Experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heart beats.
• Notice any signs of infection.
• Experience bleeding.
• Experience a sudden increase in pain.
• Have any concerns at all

Scars are small and will fade in time, rosehip oil can help reduce the scarring and can be rubbed onto the affected areas once they have healed.

The areas treated can be  sore for  1-2 days and may require  routine analgesics. Depending on the patients tolerance level, the soreness has been likened to that of a solid gym workout,However, standard over the counter analgesics are usually all that is required.  We would also recommend not doing any strenuous exercise for 4 weeks and you will be instructed to wear a pressure suit for up to 6 weeks to alleviate any swelling.

“Everyone has their own level of recovery. Everyone recovers at their own pace.“

Most people see results immediately after the procedure and certainly by 8 weeks.

The full impact of your liposuction treatment may not be immediately noticeable, as initial swelling and bruising may disguise some of the effects. However, over a short period of time, you will notice you acquire a slimmer, more toned appearance. Full results should be visible within  3-6 months

No, we do not use a general anaesthetic like many other clinics. So you will go home on the same day, and will probably require 1 – 3 days  at home before you go back to work. Remember to walk every day after the procedure.

Decisions about liposuction should not be based solely on the cost of liposuction. The cheapest procedure might mean that the surgeon does the procedure quickly and incompletely. You should feel free to ask any question you have about liposuction, including the qualifications  and experiences of the person doing your procedure.

In fact, it is the patient's responsibility to make sure that all important questions have been asked and answered before making any final decisions about having liposuction.

Liposuction under local anaesthetic  carries minimal risks. No deaths have been reported from liposuction/liposculpture performed under local anaesthetic. We do not use  General anaesthetic or IV sedation with our patients.

We do believe that our patients should not be exposed to any additional risks ,no matter how small.

Occasionally patients may experience a change in sensation of their skin. It may take a month or two to come back, but usually everyone recovers fully.

Infection is a possible complication but antibiotics are available to negate that.  In our clinics we start the patients on antibiotics prior to the procedure and we always have staff on call.

If you don’t choose the right cosmetic surgeon you may also see problems with:

• Permanent lumpiness under the skin in the fat isn’t removed in a smooth manner.
• Non symmetric finish on one or both sides of the body resulting in one side being larger than the other or uneven.
• Not enough fat removed
• Too much fat removed
• In rare cases scarring of the skin where the fat is removed
• Infection

Have a look at as many photographs as possible of the surgeons work.

Your liposuction operation will be performed by Dr Goldbaum or another of our trained cosmetic surgeons.