Liposuction in Turkey

Liposuction is a cosmetic operation that removes small areas of fat that are hard to lose with exercise and a healthy diet - for example on the tummy, flanks ("love handles"), back, hips, thighs, arms or under the chin. The surgeon makes small cuts, loosens the fat and removes it through a thin tube (cannula). The aim is a better body shape, not a lower weight. Results are generally long-lasting as long as you keep a stable, healthy weight, but they cannot be guaranteed.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction.

No. Liposuction reshapes stubborn areas; it does not treat obesity and is not a substitute for weight loss. It works best in people who are not overweight and whose skin is firm and elastic. If you want to lose a lot of weight, that comes first - with diet, exercise or, where suitable, weight-loss surgery - and liposuction can be considered once your weight is stable.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction candidates.

• Close to your goal weight: ASPS describes good candidates as adults within about 30% of their ideal weight. Many surgeons also set a BMI limit - often around 30 - for safety; your surgeon will tell you theirs.
• Firm, elastic skin: liposuction removes fat, not loose skin. If the skin is loose, a lift (tummy tuck, arm or thigh lift) may suit you better.
• Good general health and no conditions that slow healing; stopping smoking well before surgery.
• Realistic goals - for yourself, not to match someone else's ideal.

Send photos, your height and weight and your medical history with your quote request so the surgeon can tell you honestly whether liposuction makes sense.

Sources: ASPS - Liposuction candidates; NHS - Liposuction.

Lipedema is a medical condition: a long-term, often painful and symmetrical build-up of fat, mostly in the legs and sometimes the arms, that diet and exercise barely change. It is treated with compression, movement and, when symptoms persist, a specialised lymph-sparing liposuction - often in stages - to reduce pain and heaviness. Cosmetic liposuction reshapes areas of normal fat for appearance. If your legs are painful, bruise easily or keep growing out of proportion despite a healthy lifestyle, read about lipedema first and tell the surgeon - the plan, the aftercare and the price are different. Lipedema surgery in Turkey

Sources: NHS - Lipoedema; NHS - Liposuction.

Almost all liposuction today starts with tumescent fluid: the area is filled with a solution containing a local anaesthetic and a medicine that narrows blood vessels, to reduce bleeding, bruising and swelling. The fat is then loosened and removed - by hand, or with help from ultrasound (VASER), a vibrating power-assisted cannula, a laser or a water jet. These tools change how the fat is loosened, not the basic operation; the surgeon's skill and judgement matter more than the device. Ask which technique your surgeon uses and why.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction procedure.

VASER is a brand of ultrasound-assisted liposuction: ultrasound energy loosens the fat before it is suctioned, which some surgeons prefer for firmer, fibrous areas (the back, flanks, male chest) and for fine contouring. It is not a "non-surgical" or "scar-free" treatment - recovery is similar, and ASPS lists heat injury (burns) from ultrasound among the possible risks.

VASER packages currently listed on &NewMe: Dr. Ali Cem Oktay from €1,900, Dr. Ayberk Akçay from €2,750.

Sources: ASPS - Liposuction risks and safety; ASPS - Liposuction procedure.

"Lipo 360" treats the whole midsection in one operation - the tummy, the flanks / waist and the back - so the shape changes all the way round, not only from the front. It is one of the most requested packages and is often the base of a BBL. Because more areas are treated, expect more swelling and a longer time in the compression garment than for a single area.

Lipo 360 packages currently listed: Dr. Ali Cem Oktay from €2,650, Dr. İlkay Şamil Beydilli from €3,650, Dr. Abdül Kerim Yapıcı from €3,650, Dr. Ali Kaan Memiş from €4,320, Dr. Ekrem Keskin from €5,000.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction recovery.

High-definition liposuction removes fat more selectively around the muscles - for example to show the outline of the abdominal muscles. It suits people who are already lean and fit; results depend heavily on your build, your skin and keeping a stable weight, and contour irregularities are among the known risks of liposuction. Ask to see the surgeon's own HD results on bodies like yours.

HD packages currently listed: Dr. Ayberk Akçay from €2,750, Dr. Ali Cem Oktay from €3,300.

Sources: ASPS - Liposuction risks and safety.

• Abdomen and flanks - the most common areas. If you also have loose skin or separated muscles after pregnancy, a tummy tuck may be needed instead - liposuction cannot tighten much loose skin.
• Back and bra-line - often treated with the flanks (lipo 360).
• Arms - liposuction suits fat with good skin; with a lot of loose skin an arm lift is usually the better option.
• Thighs and legs - inner and outer thighs, knees; ankle swelling for a while is common after leg liposuction (NHS).
• Face, jowls and neck - small-volume liposuction under the chin and along the jawline. Removing the buccal fat pads of the cheeks is a different operation: bichectomy.

Many surgeons price by the number of areas: one area is listed from €1,880, larger packages up to €5,000. Face and jowl liposuction is listed separately: Dr. Ali Cem Oktay from €950, Dr. Orhan Tuğrul from €1,250, Dr. İlkay Şamil Beydilli from €1,380, Dr. Abdül Kerim Yapıcı from €1,380, Dr. Ali Kaan Memiş from €1,750, Dr. Ekrem Keskin from €2,190.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction candidates.

Fat removed by liposuction can be purified and injected elsewhere - to the buttocks (a Brazilian butt lift, BBL), the face or the breasts. Only part of the transferred fat survives, so the result settles over months and a second session is sometimes needed. A BBL carries its own serious risks and has its own guide: BBL in Turkey. If you want fat transfer, ask for it to be named and priced in your written quote.

Sources: ASPS - Liposuction; BAAPS - Consumer safety guidelines.

• Anaesthesia: usually general anaesthesia; small areas can be done under local anaesthetic.
• Length: usually 1 to 3 hours, depending on the areas.
• Hospital stay: most people stay 1 night - each package on &NewMe shows the nights in hospital.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction.

After surgery you wear an elasticated compression garment (or bandages) over the treated areas. It reduces swelling and bruising and supports the new shape; the NHS says it should be worn constantly for several weeks - you can take it off to shower. Your surgeon tells you how long to wear it day and night and when you can switch to daytime only. Bring or buy a second garment so you can wash one.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction recovery.

• First days: soreness, swelling, bruising and some fluid from the small cuts; walking from day one helps circulation.
• About 1 week: stitches out (unless dissolvable). Back to desk work depends on your job and how many areas were treated - often within 1 to 2 weeks.
• 3 to 4 weeks: gentle exercise.
• 10 to 12 weeks: strenuous activity, if your surgeon agrees.
• Numbness usually fades in 6 to 8 weeks.
• Up to 6 months: swelling can come and go; the final shape is only visible once it has settled - judge the result at around 6 months, not in the first weeks.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction recovery.

Plan to stay in Istanbul for about a week, so the surgeon can check you and the small cuts before you travel - ask how many days they want you to stay before you book flights. Long flights soon after surgery raise the risk of blood clots: keep your compression garment on, walk the aisle regularly, drink water and ask your surgeon whether you need anything else for the journey. Arrange follow-up at home before you leave.

Sources: NHS - Cosmetic surgery abroad; NHS - Liposuction.

Common after-effects are bruising and swelling (which can last up to 6 months), numbness, fluid from the cuts and swollen ankles after leg liposuction. Less common risks include bleeding under the skin (haematoma), fluid collections, infection, uneven contours or rippling, loose skin, changes in skin colour or sensation, burns with ultrasound devices, blood clots in the legs or lungs, fluid in the lungs and, rarely, damage to internal organs. Risks rise when large volumes are removed or many areas are treated at once, which is one reason surgeons limit how much they do in one operation.

Sources: NHS - Liposuction; ASPS - Liposuction risks and safety.

• Your coordinator stays with you through recovery - message them first with photos if something worries you.
• Remote follow-up with your surgeon is part of the process after you return home.

For chest pain, breathlessness, a painful swollen leg, a high temperature or a hot, red, rapidly swelling area, get medical help at home straight away, then tell your coordinator.

• A specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery who does liposuction regularly, registered on HealthTürkiye (the Ministry of Health portal).
• A hospital licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and authorised for international patients.
• Before-and-after photos of bodies like yours, ideally at 6 months or later.
• A written quote naming the surgeon, the hospital, the areas, the technique, the nights in hospital and what happens if a touch-up is needed.

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Sources: BAAPS - Consumer safety guidelines; NHS - Liposuction.