Dr George Mayson is a leading Cosmetic surgeon in Australia.Dr Mayson is affiliated with the following professional bodies. Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (Surgical Fellow and Past Censor-in-Chief/Interim Vice President), American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery, American Board of Laser Surgery. Any surgeon can create bigger breasts simply by inserting implants of any size or shape. However, Dr Mayson's driving philosophy is to create not just bigger breasts but attractive, aesthetic and sensual breasts - breasts that make you feel feminine, attractive and self-confident while still in harmony and in proportion with the rest of your body. To create a beautiful breast requires expertise, an artistic eye and most importantly attention to fine detail - both in your planning stages and during your actual surgery. And, unless contra-indicated, Dr Mayson prefers implants to be placed 'under the muscle' to produce a more natural appearance rather than a round "stuck on" look that can result with implants 'in front of the muscle'.

Liposuction is indicated for the removal of genetically pre-determined fat deposits that are out of proportion to the rest of your body shape. In contrast to other body fat cells, fat cells in genetically pre-determined deposits are characteristically resistant to diet and exercise. Weight reduction may slightly reduce the prominence of these genetic deposits but you will lose more from your other body areas and so the disproportion will more or less remain. Liposuction, however, can permanently remove these deposits by removing the excess fat cells that make up the deposit.

WHAT AREAS ARE SUITABLE FOR LIPOSUCTION?

Basically, any area of disproportion due to excess fat can be corrected by liposuction. Liposuction should be regarded as a body re-shaping procedure and not a method of losing weight. Common areas in women include the abdomen, hips, inner and outer thighs, around the knees and under the chin. Calves, ankles and arms can also be slimmed down provided there is an excess of fat as opposed to muscle bulk. Men, in comparison, most commonly develop genetic deposits on the flanks ("love handles"), abdomen, breasts and under the chin.

WILL THE DISPROPORTION RETURN AFTER LIPOSUCTION?

No - the reason being that liposuction removes the fat cells that make up the deposit and the remaining fat cells left behind in the treated area cannot multiply to replace those cells removed. Therefore, if you maintain your weight after liposuction, you will keep your new shape!

HOW IS IT DONE?

Liposuction when performed in accordance within established guidelines of Tumescent Liposuction is a very safe and effective procedure. As a general rule, minor deposits can be removed under Intravenous (Twilight) Sedation and Local Anaesthesia, either in our own clinic's Operating Facility or in Hospital. For those patients with large or multiple deposits, General Anaesthesia in Hospital or Day Surgery is recommended. Regardless, however, of where or how it is done, you should always have a Specialist Anaesthetist present for your comfort and safety.

Irrespective of the type of anaesthesia you have, or where it is done, liposuction is still a "walk in, walk out" procedure with no overnight stay in hospital required. You can go home 2 hours after your procedure. However, you must not drive or go home alone. You must be accompanied by a responsible person and have someone at home to look after you during the first 24 hours.

For the best possible contraction of your treated areas, you need to wear a compression garment for the first 6 weeks after your procedure. The garment is not at all conspicuous and cannot be seen through your clothing. Sutures at the tiny incision sites are removed after 7 days.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT AFTER LIPOSUCTION?

Even though you will notice an improved shape immediately after your procedure, the treated areas continue to contract down over the next 3-4 months. Therefore, you will not see your final result until 3-4 months, possibly even 6 months, after your procedure.

Post-operative discomfort varies with the individual and the amount of liposuction done but it is usually only mild in degree and easily relieved by simple analgesics such as Panadol or Panadeine. Bed rest is not required and most patients are up and about the very next day.

How soon you can return to work will basically depend on how much liposuction you have had, your post-operative progress and the type of work you do. Generally, if you do sedentary type work and you have had an average amount of liposuction, you should be back to work after one week.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR LIPOSUCTION SURGEON

Don't decide where to have your liposuction until you've considered the following!

Liposuction, because it is such a safe and effective body re-shaping procedure, is becoming increasingly popular. World-wide, it continues to be a huge growth industry. As a result, more and more doctors are entering the field with the result that standards do vary widely and it is important that prospective patients for liposuction know what to look for when choosing a liposuction surgeon.

  What is the experience and 'track record' of the doctor who'll be doing your liposuction? Seek straightforward answers to the following questions :

1. How long has he/she been doing liposuction?
2. How many cases has he/she done?
3. What complications has he/she had?
4. Has he/she ever been the subject of any litigation over liposuction? If so, how many times?
5. Does he/she hold hospital accreditation?

Hospital accreditation is a very important criterion. Some doctors perform all their liposuction procedures in their rooms simply because they do not have the necessary qualifications, surgical training or experience to obtain hospital accreditation.

  Where is your procedure to be done? If your liposuction is only a very minor one (less than 500cc of anticipated fat removal) it can be done under Intravenous (Twilight) Sedation and Local Anaesthesia in a clinic's Operating Theatre provided that it is suitably-equipped. If, however, it is anything more, for your own comfort and safety, it is better done in a hospital under General Anaesthesia. Therefore, always choose a doctor who at least can give you this choice. If you select a doctor that does not hold any hospital accreditation, you are denying yourself that important choice.

  Will there be a Specialist Anaesthetist present? Irrespective of where it is to be done and regardless of whatever assurances you may be given that an Anaesthetist is not required, insist on having one. Your comfort and safety depend on it. Some clinics may tell you that they never use an Anaesthetist because "they have never had any problems" - and that may well be the truth - but equally they could never guarantee that a serious problem will not arise when you have it done. So play it safe and always insist on having a Specialist Anaesthetist present. If they won't agree GO ELSEWHERE!

The possible consequences of NOT having a Specialist Anaesthetist present include:

• Your procedure could prove a painful and distressing experience. Only a Specialist Anaesthetist has the knowledge and experience to administer the specific medications in their optimal doses and combinations to make the surgery pain-free.
  
  
• If you are told that instead of a Specialist Anaesthetist a Nurse will be giving you the drugs on the doctor's instructions, once again DON'T PROCEED! This is a very UNSAFE practice and one which you should not even consider. Neither the doctor nor his nurse will likely have the knowledge and experience of an anaesthetist in the use of these drugs and how to treat any unexpected adverse reactions to them.
  
  
• Finally, ask yourself this: If there is no Specialist Anaesthetist and you have an unexpected adverse event or reaction to any medication, who in that room will have an anaesthetist's knowledge necessary to treat your emergency situation? The simple but frightening answer is: probably NOBODY!

With Dr Mayson, patient safety is always his prime consideration. Whether he does your liposuction in our own Operating Theatre or in a hospital, we always have a Specialist Anaesthetist in attendance. It is for YOUR safety and comfort that we never depart from this principle.

  Simple removal of fat is one thing and artistic re-shaping of an area is another. Put bluntly, anyone can robotically remove fat. That alone however does not create a good final shape. Fat removal has to be performed artistically with an awareness of ideal body contours. This ability only comes about with years of experience, an eye for detail and knowing how much fat one needs to leave behind in order to achieve the right body shape and curves.

  Don't be misled by gimmicky marketing ploys such as 'we don't do liposuction, we only do liposculpture'. Another gimmick term is 'lipo-shaving'. In truth, they are all liposuction! Some entrepreneurial clinics use such fancy terms to suggest that they are using a different, newer or superior technique of liposuction to others. However, superior results depend on the surgeon's expertise and artistic ability, not on what you call the procedure!

  Don't be guided purely by cost and end up choosing the cheapest quotation. Your own safety, comfort and final results depend on your making the right choice. Experienced doctors often charge more for their services because of their experience and skill. A cheap quotation could reflect the lack of an anaesthetist, no hospital or even perhaps less liposuction experience - scenarios that could jeopardise your safety or leave you permanently disfigured with waviness or depressions in your skin.

  Be wary of 'Free Consultations', 'Nurse Consultations' or 'Online Consultations' over the Internet. Liposuction is a surgical procedure and as such it warrants a careful physical assessment and detailed consultation in person by the doctor who'll be doing your procedure and not by a nurse or other employee. A proper liposuction consultation normally takes about one hour. Brief consultations cannot possibly give you all the information necessary for you to make an informed decision. Furthermore, doctors, like other professionals, are customarily paid for their time in giving you their professional opinion and advice. So, question the likely quality of any consultation that is going to be 'free'.

As regards the Internet, it's a great place to obtain information but be wary of 'Online Consultations'. Liposuction is a surgical procedure and accordingly requires that a doctor assess your body shape, skin elasticity and suitability in person. This cannot be done over the Internet!

   Be wary of any Clinic offering to put a Medicare Item number on your receipt so that you can claim a Medicare rebate for your consultation or procedure. With very few exceptions, consultations for liposuction are NOT eligible for Medicare rebates and it is both illegal and fraudulent for a doctor to willfully enable you to claim when you are not entitled to.