FAQ Liposuction:

Here you will find answers

to the most frequently asked questions

At the liposuction preparation appointment, Dr Andrea Wolff and Dr Isabel Edusei, specialists in plastic and aesthetic surgery, will not only focus on your individual wishes and expectations, but will also take plenty of time to explain the potential risks of this procedure. Despite all care and the application of suitable precautionary measures, it is important to understand that, as with any surgical procedure, liposuction also involves certain risks, even if the operation can be considered to have few complications overall. In addition to the understandable after-effects such as sore muscles, swelling and haematoma, these also include allergic reactions, organ injuries, infections and thromboses. In addition, a mostly temporary change in sensitivity to touch can occur. Although such risks must be explained, most of them are rare when liposuction is performed competently and can be minimised through thorough preparation and careful aftercare. At our Wolff and Edusei practice clinic, we do everything we can to ensure your safety and satisfaction by focussing on the highest quality and professionalism.

Compression of the tissue after liposuction is important to support healing and stabilise the shape of the treated area. Otherwise, if the tissue does not adhere sufficiently internally, water retention and contour irregularities and sagging of the tissue can occur. The compression treatment consists either of an individually measured compression garment, which should be worn day and night for a period of six weeks after the operation, or – depending on the findings and in the case of smaller areas – a special tape bandage, which we apply in our practice clinic. Compression reduces swelling, accelerates the regression of the skin and stabilises the new body shape in order to achieve a beautiful long-term surgical result.

Liposuction leads to the permanent removal of fat cells in the treated areas, which will not regenerate or reproduce in the long term. However, if you gain weight again after liposuction, the remaining fat cells may expand or even divide. As a result, the treated area will appear more voluminous overall and the liposuction result achieved will be impaired. It is also possible that the weight gain may shift to other fat deposits on the body.

The removal of fat cells by liposuction is a permanent condition, i.e. the removed fat tissue does not regenerate or grow back. However, if you gain a significant amount of weight again after liposuction, it is quite possible that the remaining fat cells in the area of the liposuction will enlarge or divide, which will make the area appear more voluminous again and the weight gain will be noticeable in other parts of the body due to an increase in fat deposits.

The final result of liposuction is usually visible after six to twelve months. Nevertheless, the new shape of the tissue can usually be seen immediately after the operation, although the tissue is still swollen. Depending on the condition of the tissue, bruising will disappear again after around two weeks, swelling or a tendency to swell will initially decrease significantly, then slowly over the weeks.

It is important that you mobilise as soon as possible after liposuction to activate your circulatory functions and prevent thrombosis, i.e. blockage of blood vessels. Easy walks are ideal for this, even if you are likely to tire more quickly than usual at first.
After consultation and depending on the procedure, you may be able to resume light sports training after two to three weeks. This could be training on a stationary bike, for example. Sports that cause vibrations to the tissue, such as jogging or trampolining, should be avoided, as should sports that cause you to squeeze the suctioned tissue.
You can get tips on this in our Health Coaching, which you can book separately with us.

Due to water retention, body weight is often increased in the first few days after liposuction, even though there is now less substantial fatty tissue. This can be frustrating for a patient at first.
You should exercise a lot and eat a healthy diet so that you do not gain weight by suspending everyday activities and sport during the healing phase.
We will be happy to give you tips on this in an accompanying nutritional consultation in our Health Coaching, which you can book separately with us.

We recommend that you take a shower every day from day one to day five after the operation with the compression girdle on and that you do not use any shower care products in the girdle area. As the tissue swells more after the operation, it is otherwise difficult and often damaging to put the girdle on and take it off.
The girdles are provided with a cut-out or an opening device in the genital area so that you can go to the toilet with the girdle on.

You can usually return to work in most jobs after just a few days, but it is advisable to take it easy for a little longer.

Immediately after the procedure, we will put a compression girdle on you, which we will have ready for you individually.
You will then be taken to our recovery room, where you will be looked after by one of our qualified staff. As the procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis in our Berlin practice clinic, you can go home the same day. However, it is recommended that you have a trusted person at your side for the next 24 hours who can support you in an emergency.
The first follow-up check is usually carried out by telephone the next day. It is normal for fluid to leak from the stitch incisions in the first one to two days after the operation. You should therefore prepare your home accordingly (e.g. lay out water-repellent protection for the bed and sofa). You can usually return to work after a few days in most jobs, but it is advisable to take it easy for a little longer. In most cases, painkillers are only required for a maximum of three days. Superficial wound healing is normally complete after a week. Small skin wounds are closed with tissue adhesive, while fine sutures are used in areas of high tension on the skin, which can be removed after around seven days.
For six weeks, you must either wear compression garments day and night or, depending on the findings and in the case of smaller areas, a special tape bandage applied by us to support healing and stabilise the shape. During this time, you should not perform any massages or apply strong vibrations to the tissue. It is also important to avoid strong sunlight (including going to the solarium) for three months after the operation, as this can affect the appearance of the fresh scars. Hot baths and saunas should also be avoided during this period, as this could cause the tissue, which is still prone to swelling, to swell more.
Further follow-up examinations take place in our practice clinic after six weeks and six months, during which recommendations are given on the correct care (e.g. scar care) of the treated areas.

The tumescent technique is used for liposuction to make the procedure gentler on the tissue and less painful. The liquid is infiltrated over a large area of the subcutaneous fatty tissue to be treated. The aqueous solution contains a local anaesthetic, which numbs the area to be treated, and other additives such as adrenaline, which constricts the blood capillaries and thus minimises tissue bleeding. After a reaction time of around 20 to 30 minutes, the loosened fatty tissue is suctioned out. This atraumatic procedure minimises the risk of injury to surrounding nerves, lymph vessels and blood vessels during liposuction. As a rule, a small amount of the solution remains in the treated tissue after liposuction, which can then drain away via the incisions within the first 1-2 days and is also broken down by the body.

During liposuction at our Wolff & Edusei practice clinic in Berlin, we use a tumescent solution as a local anaesthetic, which is applied to the area to be treated. We also use a sedation anaesthetic and/or a general anaesthetic with a laryngeal mask. We discuss with our patients during the consultation which anaesthesia is suitable for their individual operation and meets their wishes.
Sometimes several forms of anaesthesia are used, especially when we perform operations in the prone and supine position. Click here for the anaesthesia FAQ.

At our Wolff and Edusei practice, liposuction is performed using the vibratory liposuction (VAL) technique. The liposuction cannulas are inserted into the fatty tissue through half-centimetre incisions in the skin. Prior to suction, a special tumescent solution is administered into the treatment area to anaesthetise the tissue, reduce bleeding and loosen up the fatty tissue to be removed. After an appropriate exposure time, the loosened fatty tissue is gently released from the connective tissue dressing and suctioned out. The operation time varies depending on the extent of the treatment and can take around an hour for a small area, for example. Up to four litres of fat can usually be suctioned out on an outpatient basis; anything more than this often requires an overnight stay in hospital. Liposuction can also be performed in several stages, either as an outpatient procedure under local anaesthetic or under twilight sedation (analgosedation) or general anaesthetic.

Liposuction always begins with a detailed consultation in our practice clinic with our plastic and aesthetic surgery specialists, Dr Andrea Wolff or Dr Isabel Edusei, in which we discuss your wishes and ideas as well as possible risks. We will then examine the areas to be treated to determine which results are realistically achievable.
For the actual liposuction performed at our Berlin practice clinic, we insert special cannulas into the tissue to be treated through incisions only about half a centimetre in size. As a rule, we use a vibration-assisted suction system known as VAL (vibration-assisted liposuction). Prior to suction via the cannulas, a so-called tumescent solution containing a local anaesthetic is infiltrated into the treatment area. This allows small areas to be treated without additional anaesthesia. After a certain exposure time, the loosened fatty tissue is suctioned out. The duration of the operation varies depending on the extent of the treatment and can take around an hour for a small area, for example. As a rule, up to four litres of pure fat can be suctioned out on an outpatient basis. For even larger procedures, an overnight stay in hospital may be necessary. Liposuction can also be performed in several stages, either on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic or, if necessary, under sedation (analgosedation) or general anaesthetic.

Sport and a healthy diet alone are not always enough to achieve the desired feel-good weight or dream figure. Some fat deposits in so-called problem areas simply do not want to disappear. Liposuction, also known as liposuction, body shaping or liposculpture, can help here. This surgical procedure makes it possible to permanently remove fat deposits from various parts of the body such as the stomach, thighs, hips or arms and thus achieve the desired body silhouette. Liposuction is particularly suitable for people who are slightly overweight or have unfavourable proportions, who already lead a healthy lifestyle but still want to improve certain areas of the body. However, liposuction can also be very helpful for overweight patients to shape their figure and create motivation in the weight loss process. However, it should be noted that liposuction is not a substitute for natural weight loss. It is also not suitable for removing abdominal fat that is located in the abdomen. Before liposuction, a thorough medical consultation and examination is necessary to check the patient’s suitability and to discuss realistic expectations. At our practice clinic, we offer qualified nutritional counselling to support you during liposuction if necessary.