All 260 Clinics that provide Liposuction in London

Liposuction is a technique to remove stubborn fat that resists the effects of exercise and diet. Several techniques exist with the most common at present being the tumescent technique and ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL). When combined with ongoing exercise and correct diet effects can be long lasting.

Length

The procedure can take between one and three hours depending on the procedure used and the extent of the operation.

Procedure

Liposuction can be carried out either under general or local anaesthetic: It involves the insertion of a tube beneath the skin, which is used to suck up excess fat. A variety of techniques can be combined to make the targeted fat more easily removable; these include saline injection with adrenaline and anaesthetics to reduce blood loss and the use of ultrasound equipment.

Recovery

Normal activity can be resumed as early as a week after the procedure with more strenuous activity possible after three or four weeks. Initial discomfort should reduce rapidly but bruising, swelling can take anything up to six months to return to normal levels.

Risks

Cosmetic risks resulting from the operation are asymmetry of the resulting look and loose skin around areas where fat has been removed. The colour of the skin can also be affected by changes in pigmentation.

Procedures may, in rare cases, result in infection. Fat removal results in fluid-loss, which may result in shock: modern techniques have significantly reduced the fluid loss associated with liposuction and older techniques such as the wet technique should be avoided. Ultrasound techniques while reducing recovery time and fluid loss carry a small risk of causing thermal damage.

A guide to plastic surgery regulations in the United Kingdom

The Department of Health decides on health policy and oversees the National Health Serice in the UK.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is the self-regulating body for doctors within the UK. It holds a register of all doctors registered to practice within the UK. The GMC provides detailed information online about the current status of all registered doctors. Compensation claims will rest on proof that a failure in the 'Duty to Care' has resulted in injury - these claims are persued throught the civil courts.

The British Medical Association is the chief professional organization for doctors in the UK.

BAPRAS, the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons is the main organization that plastic surgeons will belong to.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons represents plastic surgeons who specialise in cosmetic surgery and all its members are on the Specialist Register of Plastic Surgery.

Education

The UK has 32 medical schools spread over a number of administrative regions. Training is usually 5 or 6 years in length though 4 year graduate programmes have become available. The difference in training periods generally applies to theoretical work with set minimums in place for clinical study.

Doctors are ethically responsible for keeping their training up to date through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). All professional associations promote continuing education and organize training. CPD is not mandatory though failure to engage may result in a doctors ability to maintain their 'Duty to Care' coming into question.

Complaints

The GMC will deal with complaints against doctors but its powers only enable it to limit or remove the right to practice: It does not issue fines or grant compensation. The GMC strikes off about 30 doctors each year.

Other complaints should go first to one of the local healthcare authorites.

There is also a health ombudsman (one for each of England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland), independant of the profession.

Storage and Access to Medical Records

The UK has a data protection act. This both protects data and covers the right of an individual to access data held on them - including medical data. Furthermore medical data requested by an individual must be presented in an intelligible manner and within a maximun of 40 days from a formal request being made.

Resources

Healthcare Commission (for ombudsman/complaints, provider ratings etc)
Website: http://www.healthcarecommission.org.london/aboutus.cfm

The General Medical Council (GMC)
Website: http://www.gmc-london.org/
Check status of doctors: http://www.gmc-london.org/register/search/
Role in complaints: http://www.gmc-london.org/concerns/complaints_and_role_of_the_gmc/index.asp

The British Medical Association
Website: http://www.bma.org.london/

British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Website: http://www.bapras.org.london/
Member surgeons: http://www.bapras.org.london/findasurgeon.asp

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Website: http://www.baaps.org.london/
Member surgeons: http://www.baaps.org.london/content/view/18/32/

The biggest choice of liposuction clinics in London with Prices, Patient Reviews, Maps. Everything you need to find the best liposuction for you in London.