Body Aesthetics
Liposuction and Body Contouring in Antalya
All Surgeries
Liposuction is not a weight-loss operation but a body contouring procedure. We contour the abdomen, waist, back, hips, thighs, arms and chin using VASER, PAL and 360 liposuction.
Surgical removal of sagging and excess skin in the abdominal area
Adding volume through fat transfer to different body areas
Minimally invasive tightening procedure for the lower abdominal area
Circumferential tightening procedure for abdomen and waist area
Surgical correction of sagging in the arm area
Treatment of sagging in inner and outer thigh areas
Shaping and volume enhancement procedures for buttock area
Aesthetic adjustments for foot and ankle area
Treatment of fat accumulations and sagging in knee area
Liposuction and Body Contouring in Antalya
Liposuction is not a weight-loss operation but a body contouring procedure. We contour the abdomen, waist, back, hips, thighs, arms and chin using VASER, PAL and 360 liposuction.
Liposuction, commonly referred to as fat removal surgery, is a surgical procedure in which excess fat is removed from specific areas of the body using thin cannulas in order to reshape the body contour.
There is an important distinction to make from the beginning. Liposuction is not a weight-loss operation. I consider liposuction primarily a body contouring procedure.
Some areas of the body may have disproportionate fat deposits, bulges or contour irregularities compared with a person's overall weight and body proportions. These may occur in one particular area or in several areas together. Even when a patient's body mass index is within the normal range, removing fat from selected areas may create a more balanced and proportionate body shape.
During a liposuction consultation at my clinic in Antalya, I evaluate the patient's body in three dimensions. I explain which areas may benefit from contouring, listen to the patient's wishes and create the surgical plan together with the patient.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
The most suitable candidates for liposuction are generally people who are at or near their normal weight but still have excess fat in certain areas.
A patient may have lost weight but still have fullness around the abdomen and waist. Another patient may be at a normal weight but have disproportionately prominent hips or outer thighs. In men, fat around the abdomen and waist may remain despite weight loss.
These are examples of patients who may benefit from liposuction.
For patients who are significantly overweight, however, I do not recommend liposuction as a method of losing weight. The purpose of liposuction is to improve body shape and proportions rather than to reduce body weight.
Which areas can be treated with liposuction?
The areas we most commonly treat include the abdomen, waist, back, hips, inner and outer thighs, arms and under the chin.
However, these areas should not always be considered separately.
For example, a patient may say, “I am only concerned about my abdomen.” During examination, we may see that fat around the waist and back is also contributing to the overall width of the torso.
If only the front of the abdomen is treated while the waist and back remain relatively full, the body may appear slim from the front but disproportionately wider from the side.
For this reason, the abdomen, waist and back often need to be evaluated and contoured together.
The same principle applies to the hips and thighs. The goal is not to remove as much fat as possible. It is important to preserve a natural transition between the buttocks, hips and legs.
Abdominal liposuction or tummy tuck?
These two procedures are frequently confused.
If the main problem is excess fat and the skin quality is good, liposuction may be an appropriate option.
However, if there is significant excess skin following pregnancy or major weight loss, liposuction cannot remove this loose skin. Similarly, separation of the abdominal muscles or laxity of the abdominal wall cannot be corrected with liposuction alone.
In these patients, an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) may be required. For some patients, combining liposuction with a tummy tuck may be more appropriate.
It is not always possible to make this decision accurately from photographs alone. In particular, assessing skin laxity and the abdominal wall may require an in-person examination at my clinic in Antalya.
What are the different liposuction techniques?
Patients researching liposuction today will encounter many different terms, including traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction, PAL, VASER liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction and 360 liposuction.
These terms do not all mean the same thing. Some refer to different technologies, while others describe the way the procedure is planned or performed.
Traditional liposuction
Traditional or suction-assisted liposuction involves removing fat using thin cannulas connected to suction.
This is essentially the basic principle of liposuction. Through small entry points, the cannula is introduced into the fatty tissue and fat is removed in a controlled manner from the areas planned before surgery.
The important factor is not only the cannula being used, but also where and how much fat the surgeon removes.
As there are now several technologies that can assist liposuction, I do not frequently use the traditional technique alone in my practice.
Tumescent liposuction
The tumescent technique is sometimes misunderstood. It is not a separate liposuction device.
During surgery, a specially prepared solution is introduced into the area to be treated. This prepares the tissue for liposuction and helps reduce bleeding.
This principle is widely used in modern liposuction surgery. I use the tumescent technique in all of my liposuction procedures.
PAL – Power-Assisted Liposuction
With PAL (Power-Assisted Liposuction), the cannula makes small, rapid back-and-forth movements. We use this technique frequently in our practice. Tickle Liposuction is also one of the power-assisted systems that uses mechanical movement.
It can make surgery easier when treating larger areas or firmer, more fibrous fatty tissue. It may also be useful in areas that have previously undergone liposuction.
VASER liposuction
VASER liposuction uses ultrasound energy.
The fatty tissue is treated with ultrasound energy before being removed with cannulas. Ultrasound-assisted techniques may have certain advantages in more fibrous areas such as the back and the male chest (gynecomastia).
VASER can also be useful in revision liposuction, when fat needs to be removed from an area that has previously been treated. It may also facilitate more detailed contouring when we want to thin the fatty layer further.
At our clinic in Antalya, we frequently use VASER liposuction in appropriately selected patients.
Laser-assisted liposuction
Laser-assisted techniques use laser energy to treat fatty tissue, which may then be removed by aspiration when necessary.
Like other techniques, this method has its own advantages and limitations.
I do not use laser-assisted liposuction in my own practice. When creating body contours, I prefer power-assisted liposuction and, when appropriate, ultrasound-assisted techniques.
Because the thermal effect created by laser energy needs to be carefully controlled, it is not a technique I personally prefer in my surgical practice.
360 Liposuction
360 liposuction is not a separate device or liposuction technology. It describes circumferential contouring of the torso.
When the abdomen, waist, flanks and back are evaluated and treated together, we are effectively contouring the torso through 360 degrees rather than treating only the front of the body.
I find this approach particularly important when defining the waist, because treating only the front of the abdomen may not produce the desired change in the overall waistline.
Which liposuction technique is better?
In my opinion, there is no single answer to the question, “Which is the best liposuction device?”
In my practice, I generally use power-assisted liposuction (PAL/Tickle Liposuction).
If I am performing revision surgery in an area that has previously undergone liposuction, or if I want to thin the fatty tissue further for more detailed contouring, I use VASER liposuction.
I therefore choose the technique according to the patient's anatomy, the characteristics of the fatty tissue and the result we are trying to achieve.
Will the skin sag after liposuction?
This largely depends on the quality and elasticity of the patient's skin.
When skin elasticity is good, the skin may adapt more effectively to the reduced volume after fat removal.
However, we cannot expect the same response in a patient who has lost a significant amount of weight, has had several pregnancies, or already has substantial skin laxity and stretch marks.
For this reason, when planning liposuction I do not only ask, “How much fat is there?” I also consider, “What will the skin do after this fat is removed?”
After examining the patient at our clinic in Antalya, we may recommend liposuction alone when skin quality is good. If significant skin laxity is present, liposuction may need to be combined with an appropriate skin-tightening or lifting procedure.
Does liposuction remove cellulite or stretch marks?
No. I think it is important to make this clear from the beginning.
Liposuction is not a treatment for cellulite and it does not remove stretch marks, because these conditions are not caused simply by the amount of fat beneath the skin.
Body contour may improve significantly, but expecting cellulite and stretch marks to disappear after liposuction would not be realistic.
What is recovery like after liposuction?
During the first few days, swelling, bruising, tenderness and tightness are normal.
We generally ask our patients to wear a compression garment for approximately four weeks after surgery.
We see our patients for a follow-up examination on the third day after surgery. We remove the dressings and advise them that they can take a warm shower when they return home.
Swelling gradually decreases over the following weeks. Following more extensive procedures, it may take approximately three months for the actual body contour to become apparent.
Complete recovery—including softening of firmness in the treated areas, improvement in changes in sensation and feeling as comfortable as before surgery—may take three to six months.
The small scars at the cannula entry points may take approximately one year to mature and fade.
Can the fat come back after liposuction?
During liposuction, we physically remove some of the fat cells from the treated area. As a result, these areas may accumulate less fat than before.
With mild or moderate changes in weight, the body shape achieved with liposuction can generally be maintained. However, with substantial weight gain, the remaining fat cells can enlarge and fat may also become more noticeable in other areas of the body.
For this reason, maintaining a relatively stable body weight is important for preserving the result over the long term.
What are the risks of liposuction?
Liposuction can be performed safely with appropriate patient selection and careful surgical planning. However, like any surgical procedure, it has potential risks.
Swelling, bruising and temporary changes in sensation can occur after surgery. Less commonly, infection, fluid accumulation, asymmetry or contour irregularities may occur. Serious complications are uncommon.
The level of risk can vary depending on the patient's general health, the extent of the areas being treated and whether other procedures are performed during the same operation.
For me, the priority in liposuction is therefore not to remove as much fat as possible, but to work within safe limits and remove the appropriate amount of fat to create a smooth, natural body contour.
Liposuction and Body Contouring in Antalya
As a Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist in Antalya, I first listen to what my patients would like to change and then evaluate their body as a whole.
Sometimes a patient comes to me asking only for abdominal liposuction, but during examination we may find that contouring the waist and back as well would create a more balanced result.
The opposite can also happen. A patient may believe that liposuction is what they need, while the main problem is actually excess skin. In these cases, we may discuss a different procedure such as a tummy tuck, arm lift or thigh lift.
For me, the fundamental goal of liposuction and body contouring is not to remove as much fat as possible. It is to remove the right amount of fat from the right areas in order to create a body shape that is appropriate for the patient's own anatomy.
Op. Dr. Mahmut Ulvi Kayalı
Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist – EBOPRAS
Antalya, Türkiye
