techniques-and-methods-for-liposuction

Introduction

Among all the plastic surgery procedures available in the US, liposuction tops the list of the most common and popular procedures. Hundreds of thousands of people get the procedure each year to contour their bodies. Liposuction is an effective body contouring procedure that enhances the shape and anatomy of the body by removing excess fat from localized areas. If fat deposits affect your body outline and aesthetics, you may consider undergoing liposuction.

Liposuction has a history of effectively enhancing the body, making it look beautiful and aesthetically welcoming. Fat deposits often develop due to factors like pregnancy, massive weight gain, aging, etc. Patients often feel lower self-esteem when the body looks aesthetically unwelcoming. However, it is important for you to explore all the available options and discuss the liposuction techniques and methods best for you with the surgeon during the consultation session.

How is liposuction performed?

To Liposuction Houston make it easy for you to understand liposuction techniques and methods, let’s first discuss as to how the surgery is performed. The main goal of liposuction is to eliminate the fat from localized areas so that the body’s aesthetic features and outline can improve. Typically, the procedure is performed under IV sedation with local anesthesia, but depending on what the patient prefers, it can also be performed under general anesthesia as well.

To eliminate the fat deposits, the doctor will create a small incision on the target region. Next, the surgeon will inject a tumescent solution into the target area and then insert a hollow tube called a cannula into the area through the incision. The cannula is connected to a suction pump. Alternatively, a special syringe can also be used in place of the suction pump.

The liposuction techniques and methods start to differ at this point. If you are undergoing the traditional lipo, the plastic surgeon will give the cannula a back and forth motion so that the fat deposits are released from the nearby tissues. The doctor will then use the suction pump or a syringe to remove the fat. The doctor will then suture and close the incision and repeat the same process on all target areas until your body is contoured and shapelier.

Liposuction techniques

The advancements made in medical and plastic surgery technologies, techniques, and procedures have drastically improved liposuction. Over the last few decades, revolutionary developments have been made in liposuction, making it more effective, safer, and less painful.

The liposuction techniques vary on the basis of how the fat deposits are dislodged and then removed from the body. Below are the main liposuction techniques:

Traditional Liposuction: Also called the manual liposuction technique, the traditional liposuction technique is the most common technique despite that fact that even better and less invasive techniques are now available. The reason why the traditional technique is more popular is that the modern techniques are newer and most patients are not prepared to take any risks.

By using the traditional liposuction technique, the plastic surgeon gives the cannula a back and forth motion. This helps release the fat deposits from the nearby tissues. Once the fat is dislodged, the surgeon uses a special syringe or suction pump to remove the fat from the area. The surgeon will then suture and close the incisions. Even though the traditional technique involves more risks and is more painful, the results are impressive.

Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL): Power-assisted liposuction is a modern technique that uses automatic mechanical pressure to dislodge the fat from the nearby tissues before removing it. What this means is that unlike the traditional method, the surgeon will not move the cannula manually to set the fat cells free.

Power-assisted lipo creates little pain and discomfort. Moreover, it has a history of delivering effective outcomes. You will get little bruising and swelling in the operated area. Despite being new, many people are deciding to undergo PAL.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is yet another modern and famous liposuction technique. UAL also has a record of effectively removing fat and contouring the body areas that are poorly contoured and have stubborn fat pockets. UAL uses ultrasonic waves to liquefy the fat deposits within the target area. The fat is then removed with a syringe or suction pump. Ultrasonic waves are extremely powerful and can easily liquefy fat cells.

If you want to have a large volume of fat removed, then the UAL is the best technique for you. It also takes a shorter time than other techniques. Moreover, the surgery becomes straightforward and less painful for the patient. Like the PAL, the bruising and swelling after the surgery are negligible when the UAL technique is used.

Laser Assisted Liposuction: Another modern and more effective liposuction technique is laser-assisted liposuction. The LAL has become very popular in a short span of time. This technique was first introduced in 2007, and it has gained momentum since then. It has a good record of delivering the promised results more effectively and with little pain and discomforts.

The LAL technique involves the use of laser rays to liquefy the fat deposits in the target area before removing it with a suction pump or syringe. This technique, which is FDA-approved, effectively contours and enhances the shape of the body. In addition to melting the fat cells, the laser rays are also used to effectively make incisions and suture the tissues injured during the surgery.

Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL): Water-assisted liposuction is also a modern liposuction technique. With this technique, the surgeon uses powerful, high volume water streams to extricate the fat cells from the nearby tissues. The plastic surgeon introduces the water in the target area with the help of a device called the Body-Jet system. Once the water releases the fat cells, the surgeon uses a syringe or suction pump to remove the fat.

The WAL technique is largely used when the goal is to preserve most of the fat cells so that they can be used or injected in other body areas. For instance, if you also want to enhance your breasts or buttocks with your body fat, then the surgeon may recommend you the WAL technique.

Liposuction methods

There are also different liposuction methods that are used to contour the body, such as:

Tumescent liposuction: Tumescent liposuction is the most common method that is used to contour the body. With this method, a large volume of tumescent solution is injected into the target area with the goal to dislodge the fat cells and make the surgery easy and comfortable. Tumescent solution is made of epinephrine and lidocaine. This solution not only helps release the fat deposits from the tissues but also makes the procedure less painful and restricts bleeding. Furthermore, this method also decreases swelling and bruising.

Wet liposuction: Wet liposuction is yet another major liposuction method. The plastic surgeon introduces a tiny amount of fluid into the target region. A different version of the tumescent solution or a saline solution is often used as a fluid during this method. The fluid is also mixed with local anesthesia or other medicines to reduce the pain and discomfort of the patient during the surgery and to limit the swelling and bruising. However, this method is not so commonly used.

Super-wet liposuction: The super-wet liposuction method involves the use of a moderate amount of saline solution and local anesthesia. Like wet liposuction, the super-wet method is not so common. When used, the surgeon will administer you an extra dose of local anesthesia to reduce the associated pain and discomforts.

Dry liposuction: Dry liposuction is an old liposuction method, and it is not being used these days. This option was used when liposuction was first started and other alternatives were not accessible. Dry liposuction is the oldest method, and it does not use any fluids during the surgery. What this means is that the patient will experience more pain and discomforts and the bruising and swelling will be immense. If your plastic surgeon is board-certified, he will not recommend the use of the dry liposuction method.

Conclusion

Liposuction is the most common and straightforward plastic surgery procedure in the world. The advancements made in surgical technologies and plastic surgery has made liposuction an easy and less painful procedure. If stubborn fat deposits have developed in your body areas like the abdomen, love handles, sides, upper back, thighs, etc., you may consider getting liposuction if exercise and diet do not treat the condition.

When considering liposuction, keep in mind that there are different techniques and methods to perform it. I have explained those methods and techniques in this article; however, you must also discuss it with the surgeon. Make sure to ask the surgeon which technique and method are best for you and what you should expect with the recommended method and technique.