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    Type of Liposuction

    There are several different “types” of liposuction available in today. All of the “newer” techniques are in reality variations of the original standard technique developed over 30 years ago which employ the infiltration of tumescent fluid prior to surgery in order to decrease the risks of bleeding as well as numbing the target areas both during the surgery and post-operatively. After the fluid has been injected, the fat may be treated using one of the newer technologies such as ultrasound or laser in order to “melt” the fat prior to its removal. After treating/melting the fat, traditional liposuction is always performed in order to physically remove the fatty tissue from the body.

    Standard Tumescent Liposuction: Even though the field of liposuction is constantly evolving, all forms of suction assisted lipectomy (SAL) currently being performed utilize some variation of the original tumescent technique first performed back in 1977. The tumescent technique entails infiltrating large volumes of fluid containing dilute amounts of medicine (lidocaine and epinephrine) into the fatty tissues prior to performing the liposuction procedure. The purpose of this fluid is to provide numbing of the area to be liposuctioned as well as minimizing chances of bleeding and bruising during and after the procedure.

    Ultrasound-assisted liposuction: Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)(Vaser)(High def) uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat prior to its removal by surgical suctioning. The specialized ultrasound cannula is inserted after infiltration of tumescent fluid as above. After the fluid is in place, a specialized ultrasound emitting cannula is inserted that transmits vibrations to break down fat cell membranes for easier transport of the fat molecules from the body by standard SAL techniques.

    Laser-Assisted Liposuction (e.g. Smart Lipo, Cool Lipo, Slim Lipo, etc) is a technique that utilizes thermal energy to emulsify and remove excess fat from target areas. Similar to UAL, a specialized laser emitting cannula is inserted taht melts the fat from the target areas prior to their removal via standard liposuction techniques.

    When looking into liposuction, do not be allured by gimmicks, lower costs, or quick-fix solutions that pale in comparison to the artistry and skill of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure   Just remember, an excellent liposuction result has far more to do with the surgeon’s integrity, good judgment, skills and artistry than any new machine which promises perfection. As a contouring and sculpting procedure, liposuction is similar in many ways to sculpting a beautiful piece of artwork; finding the right sculptor is far more important than finding the right chisel.

    To find out more about liposuction please contact us at 310-246-2355

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