Condition
Stubborn fat that won't go away
It stays even when your weight is stable and your diet and training are regular — what can be done, and when liposuction is not the answer.
Why do some fat deposits stay even when I lose weight?
Fatty tissue is not distributed evenly, and it does not shrink evenly. When you lose weight, the body uses up its stores in its own order, not where a person would like.
That is why deposits stay in the places that are genetically "last in line" — most often the hips, the inner thighs, the upper arms and the lower abdomen. It is not a matter of discipline but of distribution.
Is the problem fat or skin?
This is the question that changes the answer, and most people do not ask it.
If the skin is elastic and pulls back after the volume is reduced, removing the fat is enough.
If the skin has lost its elasticity — after major weight loss, after pregnancy, or with age — removing the fat leaves excess skin that does not pull back. Then a second procedure is done, or both are done in the same visit.
Which of these two situations applies is established at the examination.
If, along with the deposits, you also have excess skin after major weight loss → Excess skin after weight loss
If it is the abdomen after pregnancy, the abdominal muscles are often separated as well as there being fat → Tummy after childbirth
What do we look at during the examination?
The examination takes half an hour on average and is mostly a conversation and an examination while you stand. We look at how much of it is fatty tissue and how much is skin: the skin is pinched and let go, and by how fast it returns we judge whether it will pull back by itself after the fat is removed. We also look at asymmetries that already exist, because a procedure can reveal them, and, for the abdomen, at the state of the abdominal muscles.
We talk about what bothers you and what you expect. If your expectation is something liposuction cannot give — losing kilograms, a flat abdomen with loose skin — we say so at the examination, not after the procedure. Photographs are taken at the examination and used for comparison at check-ups.
What can be done?
| Problem | Procedure | Also, in the same visit |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits that stay with a stable weight, while the skin is elastic and will pull back by itself | Liposuction | Almost always several areas at once: one visit, one anaesthetic, one recovery. The fat taken can be used for a fat transfer in the same procedure. |
| You want buttock volume, and you have fat elsewhere | Buttock augmentation | Liposuction of the area the fat is taken from, in the same procedure. |
| A hollow face, lost cheek volume | Facial fat transfer | Liposuction of the area the fat is taken from, in the same procedure. |
| The abdomen: besides fat, skin that does not pull back, often separated muscles too | Tummy tuck | Liposuction of the flanks and the area above the hips in the same procedure. |
| Excess skin in several places after major weight loss | Excess skin removal (dermolipectomy, body lift, flank lift) | Liposuction of the remaining fat, sometimes in the same visit. |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
→ Doctors and team at Poliklinika Barbel
Frequently asked questions
What about cellulite? Liposuction does not remove cellulite and can make it more visible if the skin does not pull back evenly. Cellulite is a structure of the skin and connective tissue, not an amount of fat. We talk about this at the examination if it is your reason for coming.
Are there non-surgical methods that work? Treatments using cooling, ultrasound or radiofrequency remove less fat per treatment and need more visits; the result is smaller and slower than with liposuction. If you are thinking about them, at the examination we tell you openly what you can expect from them with your amount of fat and your skin.
How long does liposuction take? Liposuction takes 1 to 2 hours per area and is done under sedation or general anaesthesia. You go home the same day.
How long is the recovery after liposuction? Sick leave is about 7 days, you can go out in public after 5 to 7 days, and you return to training after 3 to 4 weeks.
When do I see the result of liposuction? The final result is seen after 3 to 6 months.
How much does liposuction cost? The price depends on the area: liposuction of the flanks costs €1,200–1,500, of the arms €1,500–1,800, of the abdomen €2,500–3,000, and of the abdomen and flanks together €3,500–4,000. The price includes general anaesthesia, check-ups in the first three months and dressing changes.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.