Liposuction

Here are some important considerations to think about before your operation.

Techniques – No one liposuction technique is best suited for all patients in all circumstances. Discuss with you surgeon which technique is appropriate for you, depending on your overall health, body mass index and the amount of fat to be removed.

Anesthesia – Discuss with your doctor which anesthesia or anesthetic combination is right for you. Also, an anaesthetist should have the primary responsibility for providing and/or supervising your anesthesia.

Patient Selection – You should receive a thorough preoperative history and physical examination from your surgeon before having liposuction. Even though liposuction is generally an elective procedure, you must be assessed using the same standards as those used for anyone undergoing any type of surgery. If you are overweight and your body mass index (BMI) > 28, the procedure cannot be performed in a clinic setting in view of higher risk of operative complications. Discuss with your surgeon to have the procedure done in an environment with adequate close monitoring.

Liposuction Volume – Most liposuction involving the tummy or thighs or back will result in removal of more than 1 litre of fats. If your surgeon agrees to perform large-volume liposuction consisting of more than 1 litre of total fat, the procedure should be performed in a Ambulatory Day Surgery Centre or Hospital setting recognized by the Ministry of Health (MOH). It is unethical to have more than 1 litre of fat removed in a clinic setting as the surgeon would be exposing you to unnecessary health risk and potential life threatening situation which a regular clinic is not equipped to handle. As to emphasize the gravity of the matter , MOH has informed all doctors that parties who fail to comply with requirements ” …. shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction” and subjected to disciplinary action. (See MOH Guidelines for Liposuction)

Multiple Procedures – Having multiple procedures done at the same time increases the potential for complications, particularly with large-volume liposuction. Patients having large-volume liposuction should discuss with their surgeon about having one surgery at a time to limit their risk for serious complications.

Postoperative Care –Attend every one of your follow-up appointments. During these appointments your surgeon will assess your postoperative recovery and satisfaction, as well as wound healing and scar maturation.

Facility Selection – In Singapore, according to MOH guidelines, liposuction for small volumes less than 1 litre can be done in clinic settings. For liposuction requiring the removal of more than 1 litre of fat, the operation must be done in an ambulatory day surgery centre or hospital setting for safety reasons. It is advisable to check this safety precaution with the clinic before your operation as liposuction volumes more than 1 litre can lead to complications. In this instance, clinic settings are not equipped to handle such complication and it can rapidly lead to life threatening situation. Having your liposuction done in a ambulatory day surgery centre or hospital setting would reduce such risk significantly. (See MOH Guidelines for Liposuction)

Training and Qualifications – Patients should understand that liposuction is a surgical procedure. In Singapore, all graduates from medical school are qualified as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB, BS). However, the specific training in liposuction requires that the physician be trained in the specific procedure according to the technique he is using (e.g. A doctor using VASER Hi-Def Liposelection should be specifically trained in VASER Hi-Def and not just VASER in general).

Facility Accreditation – Patients should make sure that the liposuction is performed in a surgical facility that is accredited by the Ministry of Health, Singapore