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 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' practitioners cashing in by offering the treatment to unsuitable patients, sometimes with disastrous 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).
Popular: More and more women are opting to have liposuction
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 men 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 guises, including Smartlipo and Vaser procedures, which use fine cannulas and heat to liquefy and remove fat cells through tiny incisions.
This means delicate areas such as the face, knees and pubic 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 fast 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 prices, not realising that often the doctors don't have the necessary expertise. I've seen a big increase in people coming to me to correct botched liposuction.'
Bruising experience: Hannah McKenzie regrets choosing a liposuction clinic for its lower prices
'I chose the clinic as they were offering the treatment for about £2,000 cheaper than anywhere else,' she says. 'A year after the initial operation, the bruising 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 the London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic, Harley Street, for corrective surgery. He reveals 30 per cent 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 prices were cheap,' says Dr Al-Ayoubi.
Tingy Simoes of BAAPS says: 'Lipo is being offered by everyone from ear, nose and throat surgeons to GPs keen 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.
'Although many non-plastic surgeons and medics are marketing their liposuction services based on having had training to perform a particular type such as Smartlipo, that's not enough.
Another growing concern among surgeons is 'liporexia': patients repeatedly using liposuction as a way to control their weight. Transform, Britain's largest cosmetic surgery provider, has seen a 17 per cent increase in the past year in liposuction procedures – and almost a quarter of patients are repeat customers.
Risk: Experts are warning women to beware of 'cowboy' liposuction surgeons who may botch an operation
'Repeated lipo within reason is safe, but remove too much fat and the skin structure will collapse. Removing large amounts of fat – typically three litres or more – at once can create an imbalance in the body's fluids, which affects the metabolic system and could cause liver or kidney malfunction.
Changes in blood pressure could lead to deep-vein thrombosis. Lipo shouldn't be used as a weight-loss technique or a replacement for healthy eating and exercise.'
Repeat patient: Sophie Scott has had more than four litres of fat removed
'For me, liposuction is no more daunting than a trip to the hair salon,' she says. 'I've now dropped two dress sizes from a 16 to a 12 and have joined a gym to maintain my figure. I did try to lose weight naturally but lipo was always tempting because it's easy.'
If a recent study by US scientists is to be believed, Sophie may find that liposuction carries the unwanted side effect of making other parts of her body fatter.
The researchers claim that a year after having litres of fat removed, patients will have the same amount of fat in their body as they did pre-surgery.
Mallucci warns: 'Liposuction is for sculpting, not for losing weight, and works best on those who need it least – they eat a healthy diet and exercise as much as they can but are left with a few stubborn areas of fat. We can only work with what's there and aim to improve it and the same principle applies post-surgery – consume more calories than you burn and your body will store the excess as fat.
'Anyone considering lipo must concentrate on choosing an expert surgeon. It is surgery and must be taken seriously. It's not about buying what's cheapest.'
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