Traditional Liposuction vs New Techniques

Although liposuction was a very basic procedure when it was first introduced, with liposuction’s increasing popularity, there have been advancements in the technique that make it both less invasive and more affordable. Thanks to these advancements in medicine, there are now two different types of this technique besides the basic, suction technique- Ultrasonic lipo and laser lipo.

The standard liposuction technique uses a suction tube to break up and remove excess fat. This technique was introduced in the U.S. in 1982 and it gradually gained popularity over the years. In a traditional lipo, the patient is placed on a general anesthesia. Once the area is prepared for the liposuction, the surgeon will make an incision for the suction tube, or aspirator. This traditional technique tends to be more invasive because the surgeon must sometimes force the suction tube through the fat to remove it evenly underneath the skin. This causes some trauma to the skin and many patients will have some swelling and bleeding after this type of liposuction. Most of the time, the patient must spend the first night of recovery in a hospital. This allows for close observation in the event of any complications related to the lipo.

An ultrasonic liposuction is one of the newer liposuction techniques. This technique employs the use of ultrasonic waves to loosen and emulsify the fat before it is to be removed. The surgeon will start by injecting tumescent fluid at the site of the liposuction. This solution works as both a local anesthesia and an emulsifier to liquefy the fat, which makes it much easier to remove. The surgeon will then use a special cannula, or hollow tube, to emit ultrasonic waves beneath the skin to break up the fat. This is especially helpful in fibrous areas such as the lower back or in male breast tissue. The liquefied fat is then removed via a small pipette that does not cause as much trauma is in a traditional liposuction. Laser liposuction is very similar, except the doctor will use thermal energy, or lasers to emulsify the fat for easy removal. These two techniques tend to be less invasive and patients can return to their normal activities a lot sooner than if they were to undergo traditional liposuction.

Although these newer liposuction techniques have their advantages, you should also be aware of some of the drawbacks. Laser liposuction is a fairly new technique, and has only been readily available since 2006. As a result, a laser liposuction might be more expensive simply because the equipment is expensive and not always readily available. Furthermore, it may be difficult to find a qualified plastic surgeon who can perform a laser liposuction because the technology is so new.

If you are interested in any type of liposuction, you can only get the best advice from a board-certified plastic surgeon. They will be able to address all of your concerns, and answer all of your questions.