Types of Liposuction

There have been many articles in the news in the past few years about new types of liposuction or fat removal treatments that have been developed to help patients lose weight. The number of fat removal treatments that are on the market can make it difficult for patients to decide which procedure is right for them. Here is an overview of the different types of liposuction that are available in the United States.

Tumescent Liposuction

The tumescent technique involves the use of a solution that is injected into the treatment area. The injections contain local anesthesia (to numb the area and cause the fatty tissue to swell up) and epinephrine (to constrict the blood vessels and result in less blood loss).

Ultrasonic Liposuction

The second stage of the liposuction procedure involves the removal of fat with a cannula. The cannula suctions excess fat out of the body. Medical device manufacturers have designed specialized cannulas that make it easier for surgeons to vacuum fat out of the body. In the ultrasonic technique, the cannula emits sound waves into the body to break up fat and make it easier to suck out of the body. LipoSelection is an ultrasonic liposuction system that is commonly used by U.S. plastic surgeons.

Power Assisted Liposuction

The power-assisted cannula has a vibrating tip that is designed to loosen fat cells and make them easier to remove.

Laser Liposuction

In laser liposuction surgery, the tip of the cannula emits laser energy to break up fat cells during the procedure. Laser liposuction systems are marketed under the names Smartlipo, SlimLipo, and CoolLipo.