There are many types of liposuction and some techniques are better than others depending on the goal the patient is trying to achieve. It is important for the liposuction surgeon to know the difference between the techniques that will reliably deliver results and which techniques are fads created by marketing campaigns. The types of liposuction surgery can be distinguished by two categories based on the fluid injection and the mechanism used to suction the fat from the treatment area.
Fluid Injections
The dry liposuction technique is an old technique that does not use any type of injection prior to beginning the procedure and is rarely used today. The various wet techniques are considered to be safer and the dry technique is being drastically phased out of practice
Wet liposuction technique uses an injection containing a local anesthesia containing epinephrine to numb the treatment area. An adrenaline is also contained in the injection which minimizes the amount blood loss. The volume of fluid injection is less than the amount of aspirate, the combination of fatty substances and fluids, removed from the body. Wet liposuction is an older technique that is also rarely practiced due to safer techniques like tumescent liposuction.
The super wet liposuction technique is generally used for removing higher volumes of fat and is ideal for large procedures. It is similar to wet liposuction expect that in a super wet procedure the amount of fluid injected into the treatment area is equal to the amount of fat to be removed.
Tumescent liposuction is the preferred choice today because the injection limits blood loss and makes it easier to remove the body fat. It also eliminates the need for a general anesthesia as the lidocaine acts as the local anesthetic to numb the treatment area and the epinephrine causes the capillaries to constrict. The amount of bleeding is significantly reduced compared to other techniques. Tumescent liposuction is often used in conjunction with other assistive techniques like laser assisted liposuction or ultrasound assisted liposuction.
Liposuction Mechanisms
Suction-assisted liposuction is the traditional type of liposuction mechanism. The cannula, or suction tube, is controlled by the surgeon in a back and forth motion. It is the mechanical force that breaks up the fat and removes it from the body.
Power-assisted liposuction or PAL uses a motor or compressed air to create a spinning or in-and-out motion with the cannula. It speeds up the process by eliminating the need for the surgeon to manually perform the motion.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction or UAL uses a metal probe to produce an ultrasonic energy which breaks down the fat into a liquefied substance. This makes it easier to remove the fat after the tumescent fluid is injected because the fat cells are already broken down.
Laser-assisted liposuction is a very popular type of liposuction technique for localized areas of the body such as those in the facial region. It uses a small fiber which guides the laser to the area where the fat is to be removed. The heat generated from the laser literally melts the fat so it is easy for the cannula to suction and remove from the area.
Water-assisted liposuction is a relatively new technique that is only recently becoming widely adopted by plastic surgeons. It uses a slightly pressurized beam of water to break up fatty tissue as it is being removed by the cannula. The water is actually a saline fluid that is neutral to the body’s fluid composition.
There are many types of liposuction and non surgical liposuction alternatives that a patient can choose from but ultimately the choices are limited by what the patient is expecting from the procedure since some techniques are better for certain types of treatments than others. Anyone considering liposuction surgery should schedule a consultation session with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss their goals and the different liposuction techniques that can help achieve the desired results.