Liposuction follows a predictable sequence: pre-operative marking and photographs, anaesthesia, tumescent infiltration, removal of fat through 3–5 mm incisions with a thin cannula, then closing and fitting of a compression garment. Depending on the number of areas, the operation itself usually takes between one and four hours, and most patients go home the same day or after one night of observation.
If you are considering [liposuction in Dubai](/plastic-surgery/lipohp), knowing exactly what happens behind the theatre doors makes the day far less intimidating. Here is the honest, step-by-step version — including what you actually feel at each stage.
## Before Theatre: Marking, Photographs and Final Checks
You arrive at a licensed hospital — not a clinic treatment room — usually in the morning. A nurse checks your vital signs, confirms fasting and reviews your consent forms. Dr. Valente then marks the treatment areas on your skin while you stand, because fat sits differently once you lie down. Standardised photographs are taken for your medical record, and the anaesthetist visits you to confirm the plan agreed at consultation. Nothing at this stage should feel rushed; if a question remains, this is the time to ask it.
## Anaesthesia and Tumescent Infiltration
Depending on the areas treated and the volume planned, liposuction is performed under local (tumescent) anaesthesia, under sedation or under general anaesthesia — [what anaesthesia is used](/blog/liposuction-anesthesia) is decided case by case at consultation, never on the day. Once you are comfortable, the surgeon infiltrates tumescent solution: a large volume of dilute saline containing local anaesthetic and adrenaline. It swells and firms the fat layer, numbs the tissue and dramatically reduces bleeding and bruising. Infiltration takes time on purpose — the solution needs several minutes to reach full effect before any fat is removed.
## Fat Removal Through 3–5 mm Incisions
The surgical part happens through incisions of just 3–5 mm, placed in natural creases and lines where they are easiest to conceal. Through these openings, a thin cannula is passed back and forth in the fat layer in controlled, fan-shaped strokes while gentle suction draws the fat out. This is where surgical judgement matters most: how much to remove, how much to leave and how to keep the surface smooth. For safety, the total removed in a single session is capped at around five litres; larger plans are staged rather than forced into one sitting. Exactly [how long the operation takes](/blog/how-long-does-liposuction-take) depends mainly on the number of areas — typically one to four hours in total.
## Closing, Compression and the Recovery Room
The small incisions are closed with fine sutures — some may be left partially open for a short while to let residual tumescent fluid drain, which is normal and expected. A snug compression garment is fitted while you are still on the table; you will wear it for several weeks, with the exact schedule confirmed at your follow-up visits. You then move to the recovery room, where nurses monitor you as the anaesthesia wears off. Most patients walk, with assistance, within hours — walking from day one is part of the protocol — and go home the same day once stable, or after an overnight stay for larger plans.
## What You Actually Feel at Each Step
- **Marking and checks:** no discomfort — mostly paperwork, photographs and standing still. - **Anaesthesia:** a small cannula in the hand for medication; under sedation or general anaesthesia you feel nothing after that. - **Infiltration and fat removal:** nothing under general anaesthesia; pressure and movement, but not sharp pain, under local with sedation. - **The first hours after:** heaviness, tightness and fluid leaking from the incisions — normal, and managed with simple analgesia. - **The first days:** more sore than painful, like an intense workout; most patients describe it as easier than they feared.
Every plan is different, and the honest answers to the detailed questions — which anaesthesia, how many areas, what your own recovery will look like — depend on your anatomy and goals. A consultation with Dr. Augusto Valente includes a frank assessment of whether liposuction is right for you at all, a written itemised quote and no pressure to book on the day.
