Liposuction is the procedure of removing the fat from the body using the suction process. Small and thin cannula tubes when inserted into the skin suck the fat in a painless way. There are several techniques of liposuction that are safer and easier for the body. A few of them are tumescent liposuction, dry technique, wet technique, super wet technique, ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, Vaser liposuction, power-assisted technique, laser liposuction and water jet assisted liposuction. Tumescent liposuction makes use of a large amount of diluted anesthesia to cause swelling to the targeted tissue and remove the subcutaneous fat . It is the extremely safest methods and uses a micro-cannula, which causes negligible or no scars. The dry technique is an outdated method of liposuction and does not use anesthesia during the procedure. The technique is not in use as it causes loss of blood. The wet technique uses local anesthesia; however, it uses large amounts of anesthesia approximately 100ml and results in moderate blood loss .
The super wet technique of liposuction is another popular method, which uses half the volume of the diluted anesthesia used in the tumescent liposuction procedure. However, surgical blood loss is common in this procedure. Ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, commonly known as the UAL technique uses tumescent fluid and a metal paddle to heat the subcutaneous fat through ultrasonic energy . However, the technique requires large incisions, which causes surgical scars after the completion of the procedure. Internal UAL results in skin burns and severe scars, while external UAL technique uses only a metal probe. Another technique called the Vaser liposuction or liposelection is an alternate option to traditional liposuction. Vaser liposuction removes the fatty tissues beneath the skin and gives a good sculpture to the body. It is a common procedure for contouring the body rather losing weight. Vaser liposuction uses the sound waves along with manual movement to breakdown the fat tissues. The procedure involves less blood loss and bruises.
Power assisted liposuction technique or the PAL technique uses devices that contain an electric motor or compressed air to cause a spinning movement to the liposuction cannula . PAL technique is an easier procedure for the surgeons and less traumatic to the patients. The next technique of liposuction is the laser technique, which is the most common procedure implemented for both weight loss and body sculpturing. Other common names of laser liposuction are liposculpture and laser lipolysis. Instead of using the cannula to remove the fat tissue, the laser melts the fat tissue first and then uses the suction method to remove the liquid fat . The laser technique causes lesser number of scars when compared to any other technique. The heat used during the laser technique contracts the tissues and tightens the skin to produce a smoother skin. The laser effectively targets the fat cells. It protects the muscle cells and nerve tissues from damage.
Water jet assisted liposuction is another famous technique, which is as common as the laser technique. This technique does not follow any of the above mentioned liposuction techniques, such as removing the injecting dilute anesthesia, using ultrasonic waves or melting the fat with heat energy. Instead, the water jet assisted liposuction dislodges the fat and takes out the fat cells by passing a stream of saline into the tissues . The micro-cannula sucks the loosened fat from the body by making very small incisions in the body. The water jet assisted liposuction helps the surgeon to make a detailed anatomical assessment of the procedure and produces excellent results. Thus, each liposuction procedure uses different techniques in removing the fat cells from the body.
Works Cited
Hanke, C. W., Sattler, G., & Alam, M. (2005). Liposuction. Elsevier Saunders.
Klein, J. A. (2000). Tumescent Technique: Tumescent Anesthesia & Microcannular Liposuction. Mosby.
Shiffman, M. A., & Giuseppe, A. D. (2007). Liposuction: Principles and Practice. Springer Science & Business Media.
Siemionow, M. Z., & Eisenmann-Klein, M. (2010). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Springer Science & Business Media.
