ENLiposuction is not a way of losing weight. It is done where a local pocket of fat resists diet and training and where the skin is elastic enough to shrink over the new contour.
This page covers how the operation goes, how the techniques differ, which departments in Stuttgart belong to the AlenMed partner network and how the trip is put together: what to know before planning liposuction in Stuttgart, Germany.
Who the operation suits and who it does not
The operation suits people with a stable weight, elastic skin, local fat deposits and no serious concurrent illness; it does not suit anyone hoping to lose weight with it. Typical areas are the abdomen, the flanks, the thighs, the inner side of the knees and the chin.
No result should be expected with marked skin laxity after weight loss or pregnancy, when other operations such as a lift are discussed, or with an unstable weight; smoking before surgery and clotting disorders also stand in the way. Surgery does not treat obesity, and the volume of fat removed is limited by safety, not by the patient’s wishes: the more fat, the greater the loss of fluid and blood.
A separate situation is lipoedema, a painful overgrowth of fatty tissue on the legs and sometimes the arms. That is a medical indication: both the route and the payment are decided by doctors and the insurer, not by the patient. For the general picture, including how lipoedema surgery differs, see liposuction in Germany.
Which techniques are used
The basis is the tumescent technique: a large volume of solution with an anaesthetic and adrenaline, which constricts the vessels, is infiltrated until the tissue swells (hence the name), and the fat is then aspirated with thin cannulas, hollow tubes inserted through small incisions. This reduces blood loss and, with the anaesthetic already in the solution, makes some operations possible without a general anaesthetic.
The variants are power-assisted liposuction, where the cannula tip moves rapidly back and forth, and laser- and ultrasound-assisted liposuction, where laser or ultrasound first breaks down fat cells. The surgeon chooses the method for the area and the quality of the skin, not the patient by name, and more expensive does not mean better: in studies, the choice of technique reflects the surgeon’s experience and the patient more than any advantage of the device. See also laser liposuction.
Where operations are done in Stuttgart
Liposuction in Stuttgart, Germany, can be discussed with the plastic surgery departments of three AlenMed partner hospitals. Klinikum Stuttgart, which brings together three municipal hospitals in Stuttgart, has a Clinic for Hand, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery (Klinik für Hand-, Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie).
The Diakonie-Klinikum Stuttgart has a department of plastic and aesthetic surgery and hand surgery. Prof. Frank Werdin is the hospital’s lead medical director (Leitender Ärztlicher Direktor) and head of that department, and Dr Matthias Pfau is its second head physician.
The Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus in Stuttgart has a department of plastic and aesthetic surgery headed by Dr Ulrich E. Ziegler. The hospital itself confirms in its reply how much liposuction experience a department has.
How the trip works, from consultation to taking off the garment
The trip has three parts: the consultation, the operation with the first days of recovery, and the follow-up. At the consultation the surgeon examines, marks and photographs the areas and discusses technique and anaesthesia, followed by tests and the anaesthetist’s assessment. The hospital may build in a pause before surgery, so plan the dates with some slack.
The operation is a day case or involves one night in the hospital. The compression garment goes on in the operating theatre and is worn for several weeks; swelling and bruising are normal at first, and exertion and sport are limited for a while. Lymphatic drainage, a gentle massage that helps fluid leave the tissues, is prescribed by the hospital, not chosen by the patient.
The final contour takes months to settle as the swelling goes down, the tissues heal and the skin contracts, so the follow-up appointment is planned before departure and the return flight is agreed with the hospital. What to wear and avoid afterwards is set out in the patient information on liposuction from the German Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (DGPRÄC), in German. For what the bill is made of, see liposuction prices in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Can the consultation and the operation fit into one trip to Stuttgart?
Sometimes, but the hospital decides. Surgery first needs the surgeon’s examination, tests and a talk with the anaesthetist, and the hospital may build in a pause. From the description and photographs of the areas, the department says whether both fit into one visit or two trips are better.
How many nights will I spend in the hospital?
Usually none or one. A small liposuction is normally a day case, while after a large volume or a general anaesthetic the patient stays overnight under observation. The written estimate gives the exact number of nights, and accommodation for the trip is booked around it.
Can a general anaesthetic be avoided?
Yes, if the operation is small. The anaesthetic is already in the tumescent solution, so for a correction of the thighs, for example, local anaesthesia may be enough; several areas or a large volume usually need a general anaesthetic. The surgeon and the anaesthetist decide after the examination and tests.
When can I fly home after liposuction?
After the follow-up appointment, whose date the hospital sets. There the surgeon checks how the small incisions are healing and the swelling is settling, and removes stitches if needed, so do not buy the return ticket before it. The surgeon also explains what to observe on the journey.
How AlenMed arranges liposuction in Stuttgart
An enquiry starts with a description of the task and photographs of the areas, which go to a partner hospital’s department in Stuttgart; the department replies with an appointment date and a written cost estimate. AlenMed works with 86 partner hospitals in 38 German cities and 345 doctors, and its office is in Munich; we provide an interpreter at the appointment and help with the visa and accommodation.
Before the trip, ask, ideally in writing: who operates, which areas the plan covers, the type of anaesthesia, how many nights in the hospital, how many check-ups are included and on what terms a correction is done.
This material is for information only and is not an offer; the extent of the operation is decided by a doctor at an in-person consultation.