VASER Liposuction (Ultrasound Assisted Lipectomy) in Newcastle NSW
I perform liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) as a standalone day surgery procedure at Maitland Private Hospital, and as an adjunct within my body contouring operations. VASER (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) is my preferred technique, and I treat the full range of body areas. For a detailed explanation of the procedure, the techniques available and how I decide between them, see my complete guide to liposuction.
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Is liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) the right procedure for your presentation?
Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) removes localised deposits of fat in people who are at or near a stable weight. It is not a weight loss method, an alternative to weight loss, or a treatment for obesity. It suits pockets of fat that persist despite a stable weight and regular activity.
The factor that decides candidacy more than any other is your skin. Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) removes fat; it does not remove loose skin. If your skin has good recoil, it settles over the treated area in the months after surgery. If your skin elasticity is poor, particularly after significant weight loss or pregnancy, liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) alone can leave the skin looser than it was before. In that situation an excisional procedure such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is usually the correct operation, and I will tell you that at consultation rather than perform a procedure that will not treat your presentation. For men whose chest fullness is glandular tissue rather than fat alone, gynaecomastia surgery is the relevant pathway.
What the procedure involves
- Day surgery at Maitland Private Hospital, home the same day
- General anaesthetic, with the airway examination on the day of surgery
- Local anaesthetic fluid infiltrated into the treatment area to reduce bleeding and post-operative pain
- VASER (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) stage: ultrasound energy loosens the fat before removal
- Suction assisted lipectomy stage: the loosened fat is removed through small incisions of a few millimetres
- Compression garment fitted in theatre before you wake
- Areas I treat: abdomen, flanks, back, arms, thighs, chest, neck and chin
I also perform fat grafting (autologous fat transfer) using fat harvested during liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy). The most common request in my practice is fat injections into the breast, and I also use fat grafting to treat contour irregularities and other concerns. This is discussed and planned at consultation as part of the overall procedure.
Why come and see me
- I am a FRACS Specialist Surgeon with a practice focused on body contouring surgery for women and men
- Surgery is performed at Maitland Private Hospital, which has 24-hour medical cover and an on-site ICU
- Standalone liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) is usually day surgery; if your procedure requires admission, I do my own rounds daily while you are in hospital
- Your first consultation runs for approximately 1 hour, and a second consultation is always included at no cost, with review of your blood results
- Telehealth consultations are available for regional patients
- Follow-up is included in the surgical fee: intensive reviews through the first 2 weeks after surgery, then reviews at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months
- I have used VASER (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) for more than 10 years and liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) for more than 15 years, both standalone and within larger body contouring operations
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Risks and recovery
Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) is major surgery under general anaesthetic, and it carries risks: bleeding, infection, seroma (fluid collection), contour irregularities, asymmetry, altered skin sensation or numbness over the treated area, skin laxity where elasticity is poor, blood clots (DVT and pulmonary embolism), and anaesthetic complications. Recovery is not trivial either. Expect swelling and bruising in the first weeks, a compression garment worn full time for 4 weeks and then part time for a further 2 weeks, and swelling that settles gradually over several months before the final contour is visible. Drains are generally not required for standalone liposuction. I cover the full recovery timeline week by week in my guide to recovering from liposuction, and each complication, how often it occurs and how I manage it in liposuction risks and complications.
Cost and Medicare
Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) performed for cosmetic reasons has no Medicare item number, which means no Medicare rebate, no private health insurance hospital cover through an item number, and GST applies to the fees. You will receive a written quote after your consultation, and I explain what the fee covers and the limited clinical situations where Medicare may apply in my liposuction cost guide.
Your steps to surgery
1. GP referral
A referral from your GP is required before your consultation for cosmetic surgery.
2. Consultation
Approximately 1 hour with me at my Hunter Valley rooms or by telehealth. I examine the areas you want treated, assess your skin elasticity, and tell you whether liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy), an excisional procedure, or no surgery is the right answer for your presentation.
3. Written quote
After your consultation you receive a written quote itemising the surgical, anaesthetic and hospital fees.
4. Prepare for surgery
Pre-operative blood tests, a phone consultation with the anaesthetist, and stopping medications and supplements as instructed. Your weight should be stable before surgery.
5. Surgery at Maitland Private Hospital
Performed as day surgery under general anaesthetic.
6. Recover with structured follow-up
A structured review schedule runs from the first days after surgery through to 12 months, all included in the surgical fee.