Liposuction is a way of getting rid of stubborn fat that will not go away despite your best efforts to improve your lifestyle through diet and exercise. It doesnt remove cellulite, stretch marks or loose skin but can be used to reduce male breasts (gynaecomastia) and excess fluid.

The most common benefits of liposuction include:
  less body fat
  better self-confidence and self-esteem
  ability to wear clothes that were previously unsuitable
  a feeling that your body is now in proportion.

It is not normally available on the NHS except when it is being performed as part of reconstructive surgery.

The operation usually takes from one to three hours and is carried out under general anaesthesia, so you will be asleep throughout. Sometimes, you might have a local anaesthetic (where only one area of the body is numbed and you are awake) if the liposuction is performed on a very small area of the body. If the treatment is on the lower body, an epidural may be used.