Liposculpture can be used to improve the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet and laughter lines as well as sunken cheeks and other indented areas of skin. It can also be used on some types of scars and to fill out the back of your hands to help make them look younger. Fat will be taken from one part of your body and injected into the wrinkles in your face or neck to smooth them out.
This is a relatively straightforward procedure that is done under a local anaesthetic and usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
Why you might need it
As we get older, the muscles in our face get weaker and our skin loses its elasticity. For some people, this can make their face droop or appear deflated and they want to improve the appearance of their skin.
Liposculpture can be used to fill out wrinkles and lines on the face, including smile lines or the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth, and for adding volume around the eyes, cheeks and jawline.
Liposculpture is often done at the same time as other facial procedures – such as a facelift, eyelid lift or laser resurfacing or chemical peels – but can also be offered as a standalone procedure. It's a minimally invasive, surgical procedure.
Fat is taken from one area of your body, such as the thighs or stomach, and injected into another area to fill it out. Using your own fat is a more natural approach than synthetic fillers and means the results tend to last longer.
Find a Spire hospital offering this treatment
Who will do it?
Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.
All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.
Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.
Before your treatment
Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see and when you want. They’ll be with you every step of the way: from giving advice at your first consultation, through to offering on-going support after your surgery.
All of our cosmetic surgeons are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well equipped hospitals. A cosmetic surgeon’s reputation, qualifications and experience are vitally important, so we only work with consultant grade specialists. These are highly experienced consultants who have completed years of medical training. All our consultants are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC), and many are also members of the UK’s leading cosmetic and plastic surgery associations.
Preparing for your treatment
We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.
For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.
Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.
The procedure
We understand that surgery can be a cause of anxiety – even if it’s a relatively straightforward procedure like this one. That’s why our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you every step of the way.
Your surgeon will administer a local anaesthetic in the fat removal site which was previously agreed with you, create a small incision and use a tube and syringe to extract the fat.
It will then be processed and purified before it’s transferred to small syringes, ready for injection.
You will be given several of these injections, each one creating a line of fatty tissue in the desired area. The process is repeated until your doctor is satisfied with the effect. Sometimes he or she will massage your face or neck to help the fat disperse.
Aftercare
After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.
Pain relief
You will probably experience some pain, swelling and bruising immediately after the operation. This is normal and your symptoms will start to improve over the next few weeks.
We will provide you with a supply of all the medicines your consultant feels you need to take home with you after you've left hospital, up to 14 days. This may be at an additional cost to some patients.
Recovery time
When you get home you’ll need to take things easy at first. Arrange around two weeks off work because your face will probably look swollen and you won’t feel up to seeing others for a while.
You will probably have to wear a compression garment on the fat removal site for a few days after the treatment.
End results
As with any cosmetic procedure, it is important that you review your expectations thoroughly before you decide to proceed. Your specialist will explain the results you can expect and will discuss the associated risks and alternatives to the procedure before going ahead. You may still have some subtle swelling several weeks after the procedure but this should recede and you should eventually be left with firmer, plumper and younger-looking skin. You'll be able to see results immediately, but it will take approximately a month for all of the swelling to go down and for you to be able to judge the final results of the procedure.
How your loved ones can help
Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange a taxi, friend or family member to take you home, as you won’t be up for driving. You should also ask them if they can run some light errands for the first week or two, such as shopping and cleaning, as you won’t feel up to it at first.
Looking after you
Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. Your consultant will typically want to see you after your procedure to see how you are doing. A follow up appointment will be made for you before you leave the hospital.
On rare occasions, complications can occur following surgery. The chance of complications depends on the exact type of treatment that you are having and other factors such as your general health. We will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.
If you have any questions or concerns we’re ready to help.
Why choose Spire?
We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.
Important to note
The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.