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Fat Reduction & Liposuction
Ask Dr Christopher Chui about:
- Best candidates for liposuction
- Types of liposuction
- Recovery after liposuction
Dr. Christopher Chui is a fully trained, certified and accredited plastic surgeon and is a registered medical practitioner in Singapore and Australia.
Questions 7
How effective are non-surgical liposuction procedures in Singapore?
Firstly, there is no such thing as non-surgical liposuction. Liposuction involves making a small incision in the skin and sucking out fat though a metal straw called a cannula. Non-surgical fat reduction technologies cause your fat cells to die, they are then reabsorbed by your body. Regardless of the method used, their effectiveness is in the range of 20% reduction. Some methods require only one treatment, whereas others require a number of treatments. The only minimally invasive fat reduction technique I know of is accusculpt. This uses a laser to breakdown the fat.
How safe is liposuction in Singapore?
In Singapore, liposuction is a special service that is regulated by the Ministry of Health. This was done to improve the safety of the procedure. This means that patients cannot be rushed into the surgery (they have to wait 1 week between consultation and surgery), and only doctors with the required training are accredited to do it. The procedure must be carried out in an approved facility with adequate emergency facilities. The safety has also been improved by anaesthetic guidelines that mean only qualified anaesthetic doctors can give deep sedation.
How much does liposuction cost in Singapore, and what affects the cost?
It’s hard to give you the cost of liposuction in Singapore because different surgeons use different techniques and charge differently. Most surgeons will charge you an all-in fee that covers surgeon fee, anaesthetic fee and OT fee. But I don’t believe this is best for the patient because if the operation is shorter than normal the patient should pay less.
How is liposuction performed in Singapore, and must it be under general anaesthesia?
The basic liposuction operation in Singapore involves making a small incision less than 1cm long in the skin then inserting a metal ‘straw’ called a cannula into the fat and sucking the fat out. The fat is not liquid, so the cannula needs to be moved in and out to loosen it so it can be removed. A good knowledge of anatomy is essential to avoid putting the cannula in the wrong place. There are many ways this basic operation can be modified. Personally, I perform a technique called SAFE lipo.
Who are the best candidates for liposuction?
Liposuction is an invasive cosmetic procedure performed under general anaesthesia. It is not a weight loss tool and has no proven medical benefits. Therefore, suitable patients must be able to tolerate general anaesthesia safely. They shouldn’t have heart problems, their blood pressure must be under control and they should be generally well. The best candidates for liposuction are people who have a stable weight, who exercise regularly, but for some reason can’t get rid of a stubborn area of fat. Doing liposuction well doesn’t mean taking out the most amount of fat.
How can I get rid of a tummy bulge that won't go away despite exercise and dieting?
Many people have areas that no matter what t they can't seem to lose fat from these stubborn areas. These patients are very good candidates for liposuction or liposculpture. Sculpting of the stubborn areas can be performed by sucking out the fat in these areas and shaping your body into a more athletic and appealing shape. The fat can even be used to make other areas bigger! Other causes of a bulge in your tummy would need to be excluded first by a clinical examination. Things such as intraabdominal visceral fat, hernias or muscle separation could be the cause of your stubborn bulge.
What is the best treatment for spot fat reduction in Singapore?
People who want spot fat reduction are ideal candidates for liposuction. It's much easier to get outstanding results when only small areas need to be worked on. It's like removing an imperfection in an otherwise perfect shape. If the shape was perfect to begin with one would have to change every aspect of it in order to make it smaller but keep it's perfect shape. The only issue is that liposuction is an invasive procedure and not without risk. Non-invasive methods of fat removal are safer, but I wouldn't say they don't have any risk at all. They are also less effective at removing fat.