Beware the unscrupulous cowboys cashing in by offering lipo treatment to unsuitable patients, sometimes with disastrous results.
It is the surgical technique that promises to permanently remove stubborn fat clinging anywhere from a double chin to chunky ankles, with minimal bruising and swelling in less time than it takes to to do a gym workout. Small wonder that liposuction is fast becoming one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK.
But rising demand comes at a price- and experts are concerned about unscrupulous ‘cowboy cashing in by offering the treatment to unsuitable patients , sometimes with disastarous results.
‘Looking at the many adverts for liposuction , you would be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of magical way to become slim, says consultant plastic surgeon Patrick Mallucci, a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic surgeons (BAAPS).
‘In the hands of a skilled practitioner, it is a great operation for contouring the body. But it is invasive surgery that carries all the usual risks- including infection.
And if a general anesthetic is used, complications could lead, in extreme cases, to death. though thankfully that’s exceptionally rare. Worryingly, there are not enough well trained practitioners to meet the demand for lipo in Britain.
Liposuction was developed in the seventies in the US, where 450,000 procedures are now carried out every year. During 2010, 3,369 liposuction operations were performed in the UK by members of BAAPS, with 5.2 per cent more having lipo than in 2009.
During traditional liposuction, a cannula (hollow tube) is inserted into the body and moved around to loosen the fat cells before they are removed using a suction device.Thanks to technological advances, liposuction is now offered in many other cases including Smartlipo and Vaser procedures , which use fine cannuals and heat to liquefy and remove fat cells through tiny incisions. This means delicate areas such as the face, knees and public area can be treated.
There are inexperienced surgeons now offering the procedure who haven’t invested the time and resources needed to provide a safe operation with good results but are keen to make some fats cash explains MR Mallucci. ‘We all need a certain amount of fat between our skin and muscle. Take away too much and a patient will end up with indentations, rivets and bumpiness. Many patients are tempted by clinics offering cheap process, not realizing that often the doctors don’t have the necessary expertise. I’ve seen a big increase in people co,ming to me to correct botched liposuction.’
Four years ago, web editor Hannah McKenzie 32 of Watford, was horrified when traditional liposuction performed under general anesthetic left her thighs looking far worse. ‘I chose the clinic as they were offering the treatment for about £2000 cheaper than anywhere else, she says. ‘A year after the initial operation the brushing hadn’t completely gone. My thighs were lumpy and there was no reduction in fat. The clinic offered me more lipo with the same surgeon but there was no way I was going back.’
Instead, Hannah saw Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi, a leading international surgeon who owns London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, Harley Street, for corrective surgery. He reveals 30% of his patients have previously had liposuction at another clinic and have been left with an appearance akin to acute cellulite.
‘Hannah had tried everything to help herself before opting for cosmetic surgery. Her only mistake was to choose a surgeon because his process were cheap, Says Dr Al-Ayoubi.
Tingy Simoes of BAAPS says’ Lipo is being offered by everyone from ear, nose throat surgeons to GP’s to cash in on demand. This is incredibly worrying. They may be very qualified in their own field but liposuction should only be performed by a surgeon who has the letters FRCS and then “plast” after their name.
This means they are a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and have been trained in plastic surgery to the highest level, including liposuction.
Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi introduced Smartlipo into the UK in June 2006. One year later, he pioneered the revolutionary Laser Assisted Liposuction technique. Smartlipo is a safe, minimally invasive laser surgical procedure using an advanced laser to reduce unwanted stubborn fat from most areas of the body. It is performed under local anaesthetic, light IV sedation or general anaesthetic, eliminating the need for aggressive surgery and without leaving any marks.
To read more about Dr Ayoubi in the media, click here
