subject: What Are Some Of The Most Common Forms Of Liposuction? [print this page] Liposuction (also calledl lipoplasty and suction lipectomy) is a very large business. Hundreds of thousands of procedures are performed every year in the United States alone, and the surgery is equally popular in areas throughout the world such as Europe, South America and parts of Asia.
The word liposuction means literally the suction of fat. During the surgery, a surgeon removes excess fat from a specific target area through the use of small tubes called cannulas. By moving a vacuum-powered cannula through the patient's target area, the doctor can break up and remove the unwanted fat.
All forms of suction lipectomy operate off of this basic principle. However, the exact details of a surgery vary a lot. Not every lipoplasty is the same. There are a number of different techniques and ways to perform the surgery and remove the excess fat.
The most commonly performed technique is the tumescent method. In the tumescent method, the doctor injects large amounts of fluids into the target area before he or she begins to break up and suction out the fat. These liquids tend to include local anesthetics and agents to minimize blood loss. The tumescent fluid causes the fat to swell up and become turgid, which makes it easier to remove. This technique was pioneered in the mid 80's, and it is still the most popular liposuction method.
Another technique is laser lipolysis. This technique uses a surgical laser to target and break down clumps of fat prior to their removal from the body. This makes it easier to remove tough or difficult fat. Another related technique is ultrasound assisted liposuction (UAL), which makes use of ultrasound waves to break up the fat cells. Laser lipolysis seems to work best for removing smaller, but more difficult or delicate fat deposits. Opinion is currently divided regarding UAL. Some doctors think it is amazing and extremely effective; others find it dangerous, citing the possibility of ultrasound burns.
Recently, a number of techniques have been lanced, all of which are still fairly new. The water jet method uses a special cannula which uses jets of water to help loosen the excess fat before it is removed. Another recent development is custom acoustic liposuction, in which the cannula is powered by an air compressor. The air compressor causes the cannula to vibrate in a special 3-dimensional pattern which makes it move more easily through the patient's fatty tissue.
Each of these different techniques has its pros and cons. Exactly which technique is best for you will depend on your own individual goals and circumstances.
