Types of Liposuction

The Various Types of Liposuction
|Suction-assisted liposuction (SAL)| Tumescence | Utltrasound | Power Assisted Liposuction | Water Assisted | Laser Assisted

Practically any type of liposuction is based on suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) which is the body fat removal via the suction help. The removal of fat works with a cannula ,a thin tube, that is inserted beneath the skin to loosen the fat. A liposuction practitioner will use a uniquely made vacuum-powered tool to remove the fat from the body.

The field has had progressive enhancements in SAL that include the use of smaller cannulas, ultimately leading to mini incisions and more accurately sculpted contouring of the body. When combining SAL with custom methods it becomes possible from using primarily tumescence and ultrasound techniques.

Tumescence

Tumescence is a treatment applied right before liposuction, in the same surgical meeting. it has also been known to be called the "wet" or "super-wet" technique, it requires soaking the area to be treated with sterile saline to assist corpulent the fat cells and differentiate the fat layer from outer soft tissue and interior muscle and organs.

Basically, tumescence enhances the fat layer, thereby creating the process of removal is easier. The saline is usually merged with the proper balance of lidocaine, and sometimes another local anesthetic, for the patient's comfort in the session and just right after liposuction. Bleeding and bruising is not uncommon so the use of , epinephrine is used to assist.

By merging the tumescence method with liposuction, your surgeon is able to make miniature incisions, using just lite sedation if necessary and have fuller management of the area being sculpted. Moreover, tumescence may decrease recovery period, discomfort, bruising, swelling and the chances of post-surgery bleeding.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)

Ultrasound assistance is a method used as well as suction-assisted liposuction. Some practiotioners conclude that it improves your results. UAL (ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty) uses high-frequency energy from ultrasound to directly break fat cells and knock them loose before the act of suctioning. The procedure can be achieved internally or externally.

* Internal UAL can be a single series of actions when the ultrasound device is in the tip of the canulla. However, more often than not, UAL is done in a two-phase series, where an ultrasound probe is initially put inside to melt the fat prior to the canulla being inserted into the same incision to remove it.
* - External UAL: A device placed outside the body diffuses energy through the skin and soft tissue to the fat. External UAL is typically used as a partner to SAL.

Practitioners who administer UAL find it useful for areas of more fibrous or dense fatty tissue, like the back, upper abdominal area or male breast area. Some plastic surgeons also find it is beneficial as a supplementary or repetitive procedure, for treating wider fat areas, or in mixture with other invasive body-contouring procedures.

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL)

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) is not considered a separate technique, like tumescence or UAL. PAL is generally suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL), with additional depth. It involves unique equipment to give the cannula the power required to remove fat instead of using the physician's manual force and energy. PAL in essence, provides your specialist with less physical strength necessary. It may be a preferred choice, but it does not necessarily improve the results.

Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL)

The most recent addition to the liposuction world is laser assisted liposuction (LAL). This technique uses laser energy to agitate the fat cells to help in the removal process. The laser itself is introduced within a specialized suction cannula. A very good scientific study compared this method, LAL, to traditional SAL. critics say there was no major difference in the results or the recovery period. They claim, the only real distinction noticed was that the laser assisted liposuction took a little more time in the operating room. As you might expect, there has also been some marketing hype with this technology. The proponents of this have termed this "Smart Lipo." The machine itself, for this type of liposuction, is on the costly side, as the whole group of lasers are.

Water Asissted Liposuction

Water-jet assisted liposuction (WAL) also known as the body-jet®  procedure is a type of traditional liposuction, which yields incredible results for patients. The procedure can be performed with a local anesthetic. The body-jet® liposuction machine pumps high-pressured fluid into the individual's fat with a cannula. The pressure of the fluid breaks up the fat so a greater amount of fat can be sucked out than with conventional liposuction. By utilizing water-jet assisted liposuction (WAL) with the body-jet®  little manual pressure is required to take out the fat. In order to decrease the amount of blood lost, adrenalin is pumped into the fluid which makes the blood vessels smaller.

The Final Analysis
So what should one conclude of all these different technologies? Which is the best out there, and whose claims of superior liposuction technique should you be listening to? Honestly, you can have a positive result from any of these techniques, and you can have less than optimal results with any of these techniques.

What is most important is how well the technique is performed which is ultimately dependent upon the doctor using the suction cannula. What you should be looking for, when considering liposuction, is a board certified plastic surgeon with an abundance of liposuction experience. It is this experience that will guide the surgeon in knowing how much fat to remove from which area(s), which technology to use, and whether or not liposuction is the preferred treatment for the area on your body in question.