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Surgency is a free resource for Canadian patients and caregivers. Private pathways Canadian physician in the public system to help you find the right surgeon for your needs.

As a family doctor in the public system, I believe transparency is a form of care. I created Surgency to help my patients struggling on long waitlists who wanted to understand all their options for timely medical attention.
Surgency is a free resource designed to empower and educate—helping you understand private pathways and find accredited surgeons within Canada. I hope Surgency brings you clarity.
Dr. Sean Haffey

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes localized deposits of fat through small incisions, using a thin tube called a cannula connected to a vacuum or syringe. It is a body-contouring procedure — not a weight-loss procedure.
Think of fat as coming in two categories: the fat under your skin that responds to diet and exercise, and stubborn fat pockets that stay no matter how lean or fit you get. Genetics largely decide where those stubborn pockets sit — the lower belly, love handles, inner and outer thighs, knees, upper arms, back rolls, or under the chin. Liposuction removes those specific pockets to bring your shape closer to what you see in the mirror after years of effort.
The surgeon makes one or more small incisions (usually 3–5 mm) in hidden areas, infiltrates the target zone with a saline-based fluid containing local anaesthetic and a vasoconstrictor (the "tumescent" solution), then passes a thin cannula back and forth through the fat layer to break up and suction out fat. The skin then re-drapes over the new contour as it heals.
Common liposuction techniques include:
Most commonly treated areas:
Diet and exercise change overall body fat but cannot "spot reduce" stubborn areas. Liposuction is the most reliable way to permanently remove targeted fat cells (those cells do not grow back, although remaining fat cells can still expand with weight gain). It can refine proportion, restore confidence in clothing, and bring out muscle definition you've already built.
Liposuction time depends heavily on the number of areas treated and the technique. A single small area (e.g., chin) can take 30–60 minutes; a multi-area body case (abdomen + flanks + thighs) typically takes 2–4 hours. Add time at the centre for check-in, anaesthesia, and recovery.
Basic steps
1. Check-in and confirmation
You meet the team, review your surgical plan, and the surgeon marks the treatment areas while you're standing (this matters — fat sits differently when you lie down).
2. Anaesthesia
Depending on the size of the case, options include local anaesthesia with oral sedation (small areas), IV sedation, or general anaesthesia (larger or multi-area cases).
3. Position and prep
You're positioned to give the surgeon access to all marked areas. The skin is cleaned and draped sterilely.
4. Tumescent infiltration
The surgeon makes small access incisions and infiltrates the fat layer with a sterile saline solution containing local anaesthetic (lidocaine) and a vasoconstrictor (epinephrine). This numbs the area, reduces bleeding, and makes fat easier to remove.
5. Fat removal
A thin cannula is introduced through the small incisions and moved back and forth through the fat layer to break up and suction out fat. Energy-based devices (PAL, VASER, laser, or radiofrequency) may be used at this stage.
6. Cross-tunnelling and refinement
The surgeon works from multiple incisions and angles to create a smooth, even contour and avoid divots.
7. Skin tightening (if applicable)
If using a radiofrequency or laser device, the surgeon delivers controlled energy under the skin to encourage tightening.
8. Closure
Most incisions are tiny and closed with one or two sutures, or sometimes left open to drain.
9. Compression garment
A snug compression garment is placed before you wake up to control swelling and help skin re-drape.
10. Wake-up and instructions
You recover in the post-anaesthesia care unit. Most patients go home the same day.

Every body heals differently—follow your surgeon's plan.
Liposuction recovery is generally easier than a tummy tuck or breast surgery, but swelling and bruising are heavy in the first 2–3 weeks, and the final result takes months to fully appear.
Reality check:
You'll feel sore, tight, and bruised—like a heavy workout combined with an extensive bruise. Drainage of the tumescent fluid through the incisions is normal and can be heavy.
Goals: Manage pain, drain fluid, walk safely, prevent blood clots.
Activities: Short, frequent walks starting day 1; wear your compression garment 24/7; absorbent pads under clothing to catch drainage; sleep on your back if abdomen treated, on the opposite side if flanks treated.
Tight, swollen, bruised—still day-to-day improvement.
Goals: Reduce swelling, return to light routines.
Activities: Most patients return to desk work around days 4–7. Keep walking. Continue compression garment 24/7 (most surgeons require 4–6 weeks of consistent garment wear). Avoid lifting more than 4–5 kg (10 lb).
Bruising fading; swelling gradually improving.
Goals: Return to most normal activity, light exercise.
Activities: Walking, light cardio, and upper- or lower-body work that doesn't strain the treated areas (with surgeon approval). Driving usually permitted once off narcotics. Compression garment continues during waking hours, sometimes overnight.
The work phase.
Goals: Build endurance, return to full fitness.
Activities: Most patients return to full gym routines by 4–6 weeks. Swelling is most stubborn in the lower abdomen, inner thighs, and ankles (if lower body was treated). Lymphatic drainage massage can help.
Final result emerges.
Goals: Allow swelling to fully resolve and skin to retract.
Activities: No restrictions. Final contour usually visible at 3 months; skin retraction continues up to 6–12 months, especially with energy-assisted techniques (BodyTite, VASER).
Most liposuction recoveries are uneventful, but it's important to recognize what's not normal. Call your surgeon or seek care immediately if you notice any of the following:
When in doubt, call. Your surgical team would always rather hear from you early than late.
Liposuction pricing depends heavily on the number of areas treated, the technique used, the anaesthesia type, the surgeon's experience, and the city. Always ask for a written, itemized quote.
Typical range: $4,500 - $15,000+ depending on number of areas
Typical range: CA$8,000 - CA$25,000+ for comparable procedures, usually higher in major metro areas.
Quotes vary widely—not just by surgeon, but by what's included. Request line items for: surgeon, facility, anaesthesia, garments, follow-ups, technology surcharges, and clarify the revision policy if a touch-up is needed. Be cautious of bargain pricing—liposuction is technique-sensitive, and revision surgery costs significantly more than getting it right the first time.
Liposuction is widely advertised and widely under-performed. The same procedure done by a high-volume, board-certified plastic surgeon and a weekend-trained "cosmetic" provider can produce dramatically different results. Choose carefully.
Ask how many liposuction cases they perform each year—not just "cosmetic procedures" in general.
Liposuction is highly technique-sensitive because:
Also ask about their case mix:
For a more in-depth guide read, How to Understand Surgeon Credentials in Canada
Request recent data, ideally for liposuction specifically:
A careful surgeon should explicitly assess:
They should also compare liposuction to:
Ask:
Choose accredited centres (e.g., Accreditation Canada or CAAASF) with:
You want a written plan for:
Request an itemized quote including:
Surgeon and plan
Technique and safety
Recovery and after-care
Costs and logistics
Liposuction works best for a specific kind of patient—the closer you are to that profile, the better your result. Reminder: this is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for your doctor's/surgeon's professional opinion.
Yes and no—you can reach out to any of the private surgeons listed on Surgency without a referral. Their intake teams are happy to answer questions, explain what they treat, share pricing ranges, and walk you through next steps.
However, to book a formal consultation with the surgeon, you'll typically need a referral from your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Don't have one? Many of the clinics can help coordinate a virtual GP appointment to get the referral paperwork sorted. All surgeons listed on Surgency offer virtual initial consultations, so you don't need to travel until you and the surgeon have agreed on a plan.
Before your consultation, expect the clinic to request relevant medical records and recent diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, lab work, etc.). Having these ready speeds up the process and lets the surgeon give you specific guidance on your very first call.
Your surgeon's instructions come first—follow their plan if it differs.
Stabilize your weight
Build cardiovascular fitness
Quit nicotine—this is critical
Medication review
Optimize medical conditions
Set up a recovery zone
Bathroom and hygiene
Clothing
Help at home
Stock easy meals
Skin prep
What to bring
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Surgeons—who meet our listing criteria—pay a flat fee to list on the Surgency platform. To maintain objectivity, there are no commissions, referral fees, nor any ranking or recommending one surgeon over another.
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Your personal risk depends on your anatomy, BMI, smoking status, medical history, the number of areas treated, and the volume of fat removed. This is informational only, please discuss your specific risks with your surgeon.
Liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the treated areas—those specific cells don't regenerate. In that sense, the result is permanent.
The catch: the fat cells that remain, in both treated and untreated areas, can still grow if you gain weight. Because there are now fewer fat cells in the treated zones, future weight gain often shows up unevenly—sometimes in places that were never bothering you before, like the upper back, mid-back, or upper abdomen.
A few things to keep in mind:
If your weight has been bouncing around, or you're planning future pregnancies or major weight loss, it's usually worth waiting until things stabilize before having the procedure.
If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us directly.
Please note: Surgency is not a clinic itself. Nor can we help with emergency situations, or provide personalized medical advice—that is between you and your surgeon. If you are experiencing acute or severe symptoms, please present to your local emergency department or urgent care centre.


Double board-certified surgeon (CA & US) renowned for her "Golden Ratio" approach to aesthetics, combining the precision of microsurgery with a commitment to female empowerment with 15 years of experience.