Lipedema Treatment

Cosmetic surgery medical requirements

From 1 July 2023, new regulations around cosmetic surgery were implemented by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) and the Medical Board of Australia. Please make sure you have read and understood these new reforms when considering your cosmetic surgery

READ ABOUT COSMETIC SURGERY MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS HERE

Dr Glenn Murray

Cosmetic Doctor and Medical Director

Dr Glenn Murray completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Western Australia. He continued his training; undertaking both cosmetic medicine and cosmetic surgery training. Dr Glenn Murray has trained with some of the best Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeons in the US and around the world.  He is the past president of the Cosmetic Society and sits on the current ACCS committee for Liposculpture. Dr Murray has an interest in repairing botched overseas surgery and more information on this can we found here.

Dr Murray, our Medical Director, at Absolute Cosmetic Medicine is committed to providing exceptional care to every patient.  His full resume can be seen here.

Payment Plans

Absolute Cosmetic offers multiple payment options including, and not limited to; Cash, Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard etc), AfterPay, Lay-by and Payment Plans.

More information is available on our Payment Plan page.

How much fat can be removed with Liposuction?

The maximum amount of fat that can be removed in one procedure is 5-litres so you must be realistic about the results. It is possible to do multiple procedures to further remove fat cells from fat deposits a few days apart. However, this must be done cautiously. This is called ‘Staged Mega Liposuction’. A healthy diet and regular exercise must be followed the procedure. The improvement results from Liposuction are long-lasting as the number of fat cells in the treated areas is reduced the fat does not shift to other areas in the body.

What results can I expect from Liposuction?

The results may initially look impressive, but you may experience swelling for up to 6-weeks, leading to some disappointment.

The results can sometimes be seen as quickly as 1-month post-procedure. However, 3 to 6 months is average for full results.

Feeling but not seeing hard lumps at approximately 2-weeks is normal. These lumps can last for up to 6-months. The lumps shrink with time and can pull the skin tighter.

Fluid lumps that have a wave in them should be reported to our staff. These can be seromas, but this complication is very rare. They are usually of nuisance only. If a wound oozes puss or becomes red, hot and swollen, you must immediately report this to us.

Please note that Liposuction is designed to remove excess fat deposits, it will not reduce or remove excess skin. Vaser Pro Lipo is a good alternative to a tummy tuck and can offer some skin tightening. We also offer the J Plasma Renuvion Skin Tightening which uses cold helium plasma to tighten the skin. This procedure can be added to a Liposuction procedure.

What happens before the Vaser Pro Lipo procedure?

Smoking and illicit drug use must be strictly avoided before the procedure.  We take smoking very seriously as a high risk for any procedure, so you must be aware of the cancellation policy if you smoke.  Smoking increases the risk of some serious complications during and after surgery.  Ideally, you should stop smoking at least 8-weeks prior to a procedure, cutting down does not reduce the risk of complications, however, the greatest health benefit is gained by quitting smoking for good.  More information about the possible complications, as well as information about how to quit, is available here.

You should be fit and healthy, and avoid blood thinning medication such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicine. At least two consultations are needed before most procedures. A full history and examination will be conducted. You will be started on antibiotics and extensive instructions will be given.

What sort of results can you expect from Vaser Pro Lipo?

The results can be amazing and range from 50-99% improvement. An average improvement is 80%, but with VASER this can be higher. You must be realistic, as results are variable.

What happens on the day of the Vaser Pro Lipo procedure?

You must ensure that you are on time for your procedure. A nurse will go through an extensive checklist to ensure that you are well prepared. All paperwork must be completed before the procedure.

Blood tests and medications must have all been organised before the procedure. Photographs will be taken of the areas to be treated, and you will be fitted with a surgical gown.

You should have fasted for 6-hours and showered in an antiseptic solution. You will be taken into a theatre and connected to a heart and oxygen monitor. A small drip is inserted into the back of your hand and sedation drugs are given. If you are concerned about discomfort from the drip insertion, you are able to ask the nurse for Emla numbing cream to be applied to the back of your hand.

As the procedure is performed under sedation, you should be completely asleep and should not remember the procedure and many hours afterwards. Most procedures take approximately 2-hours, plus 2-3 hours for you to wake up and be fully recovered. A responsible adult must drop off and pick you up and look after you the first night. You should wake up feeling numb and in no pain whatsoever.

What happens after the Vaser Pro Lipo procedure?

The following day you will need to be driven to your review appointment with the nurses and the doctor. The compression garment that has been applied will be taken off and all wounds will be treated.

During the night, it’s wise to lie on an old towel, as the wounds will seep with raspberry cordial-like fluid.

If the consistency becomes that of tomato sauce, i.e. red and thick, the doctor should be immediately called. Our doctors are on call 24-hours a day and will phone you during the first night.

The nurses will give you a bed bath for the first day and showering can occur on the second day. Wounds are usually closed during this first day. You should be up and walking around the house as often as possible, but generally, no exercise and rest should occur for the first 4 to 7 days.

Intercourse should be avoided for the first week. Swimming and sitting in spas should be avoided until the wounds are completely healed or after 2-weeks.

A distinct improvement will be seen during the first week, but swelling may set in for up to 6-weeks. The end result is seen, on average, at 3-months, but sometimes as early as 1-month. For some patients, the end result can take up to 12-months.

Recovery time is quick, and most patients can resume normal activity within 2-3 days after the procedure. We recommend light exercise at 1 week, moderate at 2-weeks, full at 3-weeks, and extreme exercise to be avoided for 6-12 weeks.

Why choose Absolute Cosmetic Medicine for this procedure?

• We were the first in Western Australia to offer VASER PRO.
• ACM also have hi-def equipment and VASER Smooth (for cellulite reduction)
• VASER liposculpture is one of the main surgeries completed in our clinic, and we have a low complication rate
• Dr Murray has performed more than 8,000 Liposculpture procedures
• He holds a Diploma in Liposuction from the Australian College of Cosmetic
• Surgery and is one of the co-authors of Australian Liposuction Guidelines
• We were the first clinic in Australia to offer the J Plasma Renuvion Skin Tightening which is a great add-on to Lipo for those who have loose skin from ageing, weight-loss or pregnancy
• Dr Murray has also been trained by a leading plastic surgeon in Colorado and by one of the grandfathers of liposuction, Dr Pierre Fournier
• Absolute Cosmetic is WA Health Department licensed, including for sedation
• Our experienced nurses are specifically trained in caring for liposuction patients
• We don’t perform cheap methods of liposuction and have assisted many patients that have undergone cheaper treatments in overseas clinics

*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner