Here’s everything you need to know about getting liposuction in Singapore

If you’re looking for an effective and clinically proven way to shed your body’s stubborn fat, we won’t be surprised if liposuction is one of the first procedures that comes to your mind.

However, there’s a lot more to consider about liposuction beyond just removing fats from the body, including whether or not you’re a good candidate for the procedure, the various techniques available, as well as the care you'll need to take to maintain results after.

To help you make a better decision, we share all you need to know about getting liposuction in Singapore, starting from the preparation process to after-procedure care.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes localised fatty deposits in order to achieve a more contoured or defined body shape.

Rather than thinking of liposuction as a shortcut for losing weight or slimming down, it’s more helpful to imagine liposuction as a method for reshaping and contouring the body.

Liposuction removes stubborn fat that isn't lost even after exercise and dieting.

Traditional vs. modern liposuction techniques

Traditional methods involve using larger tubings and cannulas to extract the fats and putting the patient under general anaesthesia.

The surgeon also physically scrapes and sucks the fats out of the body by moving a cannula back and forth to break up fatty deposits while simultaneously extracting them.

This causes trauma to the blood vessels and connective tissue, which can result in bleeding and bruising, as well as irregular skin contours and discomfort.

Today, modern liposuction techniques help reduce the risks and side effects associated with traditional methods.

Dr Ivan Puah, medical director of Amaris B. Clinic, during a liposuction surgery in Singapore on a female patient in her mid-30s.

Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt®️️ Lipo developed by Dr Ivan Puah, is a modernised technique whereby he creates incisions of less than 4mm to facilitate the infiltration of anaesthetic fluid and removal of fat with contouring on the treated areas. This unique surgical approach allows Dr Puah to target the three different fat layers and remove fat efficiently. For those with pre-existing skin laxity, this technique can also firm and tighten skin, which in comparison to traditional liposuction, is an additional advantage.

Patients undergoing Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt®️️ Lipo will be put under twilight anaesthesia, where the patient will sleep during the process.

Twilight anaesthesia is safer than general anaesthesia as it offers a faster and much less complicated recovery process.

Types of liposuction

Vaser Liposuction

Vaser Liposuction utilises a probe to emit ultrasound waves and melt the fat into a "liquefied form" for suction. The beauty of Vaser liposuction is that it is tissue-selective, meaning it can only target fat cells, leaving other important connective tissues relatively undisturbed. Therefore downtime is lesser, and recovery is faster than traditional liposuction.

Laserlipolysis (Laser Liposuction)

Laserlipolysis (Laser Liposuction) is a form of laser-assisted liposuction. First,the treated area is anaesthetised locally; subsequently, laser energy is delivered through the optic fibre to melt the fat. Finally, the melted fat is removed via suction. Areas that will benefit from Laserlipolysis (Laser Liposuction) include small pockets of fat around the double chin, knees or cheeks.

4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo)

4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo) is an advanced liposuction technique performed by experienced and trained liposuction doctors. The procedure removes fat from targeted areas of the body, such as the abdomen or waist, while leaving a thin layer of fat over the underlying muscles to highlight and create a more athletic appearance.

The best candidate for this procedure is one who consistently works out at the gym (4 to 6 days a week), eats healthily and maintains an active lifestyle. He or she is very close to the goal weight but may still find that getting lean and defined is still daunting.

4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo) is an option for men who want to highly define their chest and achieve washboard abs, as well as women who desire the "number 11" abs.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Contrary to popular belief, liposuction is not a solution for obesity.

Instead, liposuction, a procedure that removes localised fat deposits, is a great option for those looking to contour or reshape certain parts of their bodies, such as the arms, abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, or calves.

It's also a procedure helpful for getting rid of stubborn pockets of fat, which are difficult to shed with dieting or exercise.

Take your cue from stand-up comedian and actress Amy Schumer, who embraced liposuction after she'd "reached a place where [she] was tired of looking at [herself] in the mirror", especially when traditional weight-loss methods like "grilled chicken and walks" weren't helping.

The star posted a photo of herself post-liposuction, smiling at the beach and her caption detailed: "I feel good."

And, while liposuction permanently removes fat cells from your body, it's also necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the procedure.

How to prepare for a Liposuction procedure?

If you need more clarification on whether a liposuction procedure is right for you, that's okay because the first step is to schedule a consultation with the doctor you have shortlisted.

This is where you'll share with the liposuction doctor what you're hoping to achieve, in other words, the changes you'd want to see in your body after the procedure.

Even as you share your expectations, the liposuction doctor should also discuss the realities of what can be achieved with this procedure- for your body, specifically.

The doctor should perform a physical examination to assess parts of your body that you want to reshape, check the thickness of your fat layer in those areas, and note your skin's elasticity.

As with any other surgical procedure, the liposuction doctor should find out about your medical history, drug allergies, and medication use during the consultation. You must be honest and upfront about your lifestyle habits, if you are a smoker, have a surgical history, etc.

You should ask what to expect after the procedure, such as the downtime involved and what you would need to do to maintain the liposuction results.

Find out, too, whether any follow-up procedures would be necessary and the costs to consider from start to finish.

Of course, by the end of the consultation, the liposuction doctor should recommend a liposuction technique suitable for your clinical condition and explain how it would work to achieve the desired results.

How much does liposuction in Singapore cost?

Liposuction costs in Singapore vary depending on the liposuction doctor's experience, the procedure's complexity, targeted body parts, facility costs, anaesthetist fees, consumables, medications, surgical instruments, aftercare and follow-up treatments etc. You should note that liposuction cannot be covered by Medisave or insurance as it is an elective cosmetic procedure.

What happens during liposuction surgery?

Modern-day liposuction is performed as a day surgery procedure, so extensive hospitalisation is not needed. It is an MOH requirement for liposuction (any form) to be carried out in an approved Day Surgery or hospital. The doctor is assisted by trained surgical professionals and anaesthetists to look after the patient.

On the day of the procedure, the doctor will mark out the areas of the body that will be treated.

The anaesthetist will take care of your vital stats and ensure that you are comfortable throughout, while the liposuction doctor works on removing excess fat.

Liposuction may take anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the clinical condition of the patient and the body regions to be treated.

The incisions are closed with stitches after fat removal has been completed. Patients must don a compression garment, which will significantly help to reduce post-op swelling and skin retraction.

The post-op team will take care of you in the recovery room for observation, and you will be subsequently discharged home on the same day to rest.

What to expect after liposuction?

Tiredness

Patients may experience drowsiness or tiredness post-op due to sedation during the procedure. You should inform a family member, relative or friend to bring you home after.

Swelling and discomfort

You may feel sore, akin to post-workout soreness after the procedure. Painkillers will be given to help you cope with that. Bruising and swelling, and discomfort will resolve gradually as your body heals.

Compression garments

Post-liposuction, patients will be required to put on a medical-grade surgical compression garment for about four to eight weeks.

Stitches removal

Depending on the liposuction doctor, stitches may be removed 7 to 10 days post-op.

Reduced activity

As with other surgical procedures, you should give yourself a few days to recover before returning to work.

However, there's no need to be bed-bound right after the procedure; doctors usually recommend that patients stay mobile such as walking to help boost blood circulation.

Follow-up appointments

The follow-up appointments will depend on the liposuction doctor and his or her protocol. Do check with the doctor on this.

How do I maintain optimal liposuction results?

It's true - you do have to put in the effort to maintain optimal liposuction results after your procedure.

Even though liposuction gets rid of the fat deposits permanently, there's still a chance that you can lose the contours that you've achieved with liposuction after the procedure - should you neglect to keep a healthy lifestyle.

Balanced and Healthy diet

Maintaining a balanced diet is important - with protein, fibre, healthy carbohydrates, good fats and essential vitamins.

To do so, you can choose foods with less fat; remove the skin and fat from meats before cooking them. Grill or roast your meals instead of frying (or deep-frying) them, and let your soup cool and remove the solidified fat before drinking.

Since foods with fibre can keep you feeling fuller longer, it's also good to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. High-in-fibre foods include oatmeal, black beans, avocado, berries, pears, apples, and brussels sprouts.

It's also usually easier to reduce sugar in your diet by choosing to drink water instead of sweetened drinks or requesting less syrup in your drinks and desserts.

As a guide to a balanced diet, you can refer to the Health Promotion Board's "My Healthy Plate", which recommends eating half a plate of fruits and vegetables, a quarter a plate of meat, and a quarter a plate of carbohydrates during every meal.

Regular exercise

Regular exercise and staying active are greatly encouraged.

There are many ways that you can be active in your day-to-day lifestyle, such as doing household chores or brisk walking home from the MRT station.

It's best to plan physical activities that you can keep up with in the long run, so you'll be able to see your liposuction results last the same way too.

Where can I get liposuction in Singapore?

Before settling on a clinic offering the lowest prices, consider how the doctors there can help you achieve the desired results with their experience and expertise in specific liposuction techniques.

Dr Ivan Puah

Dr Ivan Puah, at Amaris B. Clinic, is an accredited liposuction doctor in Singapore who is the Lipo Peer Review Committee Chairman.

Even with over 15 years of liposuction experience, Dr Puah continues to refine his skills and develop new surgical techniques to improve his clients' results.

Since liposuction involves contouring and sculpting the body, choosing a doctor with a keen aesthetic sense is essential.

"Liposuction is 30% science and 70% art form. When carrying out liposuction, it is essential that the doctor has a deep understanding of the patient's unique fat anatomy to achieve natural-looking results. This means working through the different layers of fat, from deep adipose layer, superficial and subdermal adipose layers and carrying out meticulous sculpting work with the appropriate surgical approach and cannulas," shares Dr Ivan Puah.

Amaris B. Clinic

An award-winning medical aesthetics clinic, Amaris B. Clinic has received multiple industry accolades and recognition as the go-to clinic for body sculpting over the years.

Since its inception in 2004, the clinic has prided itself in personalised care for its clients, realistically managing their expectations and prioritising their safety.

The clinic provides various liposuction options, including Modern Liposuction with MDC-Sculpt®️️ Lipo technique, Vaser Liposuction, 4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo), Corrective Liposuction (Lipo Revision) and Laserlipolysis (Laser Liposuction).

Arrange for a consultation

If you're looking for answers to your questions about liposuction, arrange for a consultation with Dr Ivan Puah at Amaris B. Clinic.

During the consultation, Dr Puah will assess whether or not you're a suitable candidate for liposuction and take you through the process from start to finish.

By the end of the consultation, you'll be better equipped to make an informed decision about getting liposuction in Singapore!