Liposuction: Information, Doctors, and Risks

Liposuction is always performed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons.

Unwanted fat deposits particularly detract from the overall aesthetic appearance of the body’s proportions:

• on the hips
• on the buttocks
• on the abdomen
• on the thighs
• on the calves, or
• under the chin

This not only affects how people feel about their bodies, but also their self-confidence. Through liposuction, patients hope to permanently correct and enhance their body image.

Liposuction is not a matter of age, but it should be performed while the skin is still firm and elastic.

Liposuction can actually be performed almost anywhere on the body. The procedure is particularly common for correcting the following aesthetic concerns:

• Belly fat
• Love handles
• Saddlebags
• Double chin and
• Cellulite

Of course, when it comes to liposuction, the question arises: Do health insurance companies cover the costs of liposuction?

Both depend on which part of the body is being treated and whether the procedure is performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis:

• Abdomen: starting at 2,500 euros, 1 to 2 days as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
• Upper arms: starting at 1,500 to 2,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
• Buttocks: starting at 1,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
• "Saddlebags": starting at 2,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 6 days as an inpatient
• Thigh: starting at 2,500 euros, 1 day outpatient or 2 to 4 days inpatient
• Calves: starting at 1,500 euros, 1 day as an outpatient or 2 to 4 days as an inpatient

Liposuction is generally a self-pay procedure, as it falls under the category of cosmetic surgery. It is therefore considered a lifestyle choice.

Talk to your doctor to determine whether there are any medical indications for you. If so, it may be worth submitting a claim to your health insurance provider. 

Since the G-BA decision of July 17, 2025, liposuction for lipedema has been recognized as a standard benefit under statutory health insurance under certain conditions—regardless of the stage of the condition.

The patient may need to obtain compression garments or support stockings before the surgery. In some cases, the clinic will provide them. This should be clarified with the treating physician.

Since pain relievers such as aspirin can delay blood clotting, you should avoid taking them for 14 days prior to the procedure. Consuming alcohol and taking sleeping pills is also not advisable.

The necessary preoperative examinations will take place at the clinic the day before the scheduled surgery.

Liposuction is a personalized procedure. The method used may vary from patient to patient. The most common techniques are vibration-assisted liposuction and water-jet-assisted liposuction.

For example, the type of anesthesia (general or local) depends on the area and the extent of the procedure.

Likewise, during liposuction, it may be necessary to simultaneously tighten excess skin over the former fat deposits.

Any such plastic surgery requires careful planning beforehand. This helps reduce complications and speeds up the subsequent healing process.

In cases of lipedema, the pathological fat can be removed particularly gently through liposuction using the tumescent technique, ensuring that the surrounding tissue is preserved as much as possible.

Liposuction is usually performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia when only minor corrections are needed. The patient is given an IV infusion of pain medication.

More extensive procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia. If the liposuction involves the hip and leg areas, spinal anesthesia may also be used.

Depending on the extent of the liposuction, the patient must stay in the hospital for 1 to 8 days after the procedure. Physical activity should be limited for four to six weeks. 

As with any surgical procedure, there is a certain risk of infection. Be sure to consult your plastic and aesthetic surgeon for a detailed explanation of liposuction.

By Paravis - Michael S. Schwartz, M.D., CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Before the actual liposuction procedure, the surgeon marks the areas of fat deposits on the body using contour lines.

The goal of liposuction is not to remove fat cells, but to create a new, even contour in that area of the body. 

To do this, the surgeon palpates the fat deposits through the skin with great sensitivity. In doing so, he decides which fat tissue to remove and which to preserve.

During the liposuction procedure itself, the surgeon makes a small incision, 0.5 to 1 cm long, in a location that is as inconspicuous as possible. This could be in the gluteal folds or in the navel, for example. Through the incision, the surgeon inserts a cannula into the target fat deposit.

The surgeon then suctions out the excess fat cells. Depending on the body area and the size of the fat deposit, the procedure can take between 20 minutes and 2 hours.

The doctor collects the suctioned fat cells during the operation and measures them. This allows the surgeon to ensure that an equal amount of fat is removed from both sides.

After liposuction, the surgeon closes the incision with stitches. While still on the operating table, the patient is fitted with compression garments and support stockings or bandages.

Like any surgical procedure, liposuction carries certain risks. For example, changes in tactile sensitivity, including numbness, may occur in the affected areas after surgery. These symptoms can last for several weeks.

Other possible complications include:

• Bruising
• Scarring and
• excessive loss of tissue fluid

In very rare cases, embolisms may occur as a complication of liposuction, requiring intensive care.

Bruising and scar plaques

In some cases, bruises or scar plaques may develop after liposuction. These are recognizable as superficial irregularities.

The causes of these are:

• inconsistent bandaging of the treated areas after liposuction, or
• a predisposition on the part of the patient.

If bruises and scar plaques do not subside or subside very slowly even after several weeks, further surgery is necessary.

Loss of Tissue Fluid

During extensive fat removal, there may be an increased loss of tissue fluid or blood.

This loss can be compensated for with intravenous fluids or blood transfusions.

Prevention of Complications

During the preparatory phase, the doctor must determine whether the patient:

• is allergic to certain medications or skincare products,
• has any pre-existing medical conditions, or
• is prone to bruising or prolonged bleeding following minor injuries

In the latter case, tests should be conducted prior to liposuction to rule out a blood clotting disorder.

Mild pain and bruising usually occur immediately after liposuction. However, these symptoms subside within a few days to several weeks.

In addition, swelling of the affected area is to be expected after liposuction. It can last up to 3 months.

The small scars from the incisions fade over time and soon become barely noticeable. In most cases, the final results of liposuction are not visible until 6 to 9 months later.

Liposuction involving significant fat removal may result in a brief period of inability to work. However, there is usually only a minor impairment of mobility and well-being.

In the first few weeks after surgery, you should avoid the following:

• Exercise
• Massages and
• other activities that place excessive strain on the affected areas of the body

Cold showers are recommended to stimulate blood circulation and support the healing process.

For a period of about 6 weeks after liposuction, the patient must wear the following around the clock:

• Compression garments
• Compression stockings or
• compression bandages

This prevents unwanted scarring from forming in the cavities created by the liposuction.

These are caused by:

• blood
• dissolved fat, or
• tissue fluid

About a week after liposuction, the doctor should remove the sutures and perform a follow-up examination.

After removing unwanted fat deposits and contouring the relevant areas of the body, the body appears slimmer and more proportionate. This can optimize the body’s shape.

However, liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss. Liposuction can only slim down specific areas of the body with significant fat deposits; it cannot make the entire body slimmer.

There are now numerous specialists and clinics offering liposuction. It is therefore worth comparing services, costs, and patient reviews.

When choosing a suitable specialized clinic for liposuction or a qualified surgeon, you should look for the following quality indicators:

1. Is the doctor specialized in plastic and cosmetic surgery?
2. How many liposuction procedures has he successfully performed?
3. Does he take enough time to provide you with comprehensive counseling?
4. Do they proactively explain the risks of the surgery in as much detail as possible?
5. Do you receive a transparent and comprehensive cost estimate that includes all pre-operative treatments as well as the necessary post-operative care?
6. Does the doctor have suitable facilities for the procedure or even access to a specialized clinic?

In addition to postoperative care and emergency support, cosmetic surgery also requires trust in the surgeon.

After all, liposuction is always one of the most personal surgical procedures for patients.