In 2021, more than 1.9 million liposuction procedures were recorded, making liposuction the most popular cosmetic procedure. Liposuction is a treatment where unwanted fat cells are removed from the body through different surgical devices. Liposuction helps to remove stubborn fat from areas that are hard to lose by way of diet and exercise.
However, with more than three types of liposuction, it can be difficult to determine which one will give you the benefits you want. That’s why we’ve found all you need to know about liposuction procedures and included it here so you can decide what type is right for you.
Read on to learn what to expect from liposuction procedures:
Benefits of Liposuction
If you’re thinking about getting liposuction, first consider what you want to gain from the procedure. For instance, do you want to lose weight, emphasize your body contour, or improve your health? All liposuction procedures come with certain benefits that patients want, such as:
- Increased self-confidence
- Removal of stubborn and unwanted fat
- Improved physical and mental health
Understanding the procedure’s benefits will help you determine if a liposuction procedure is right for you. Keep in mind, liposuction is not a realistic weight loss option if your BMI is greater than 30. Its greatest benefit is for individuals who are considered to be of “normal weight”, but have disproportionate areas of fat that are diet and exercise resistant.
Types of Liposuction
If you’ve decided to get liposuction, it’s important to understand the five common types of liposuction. We’ve broken down each type below so you can gain insight into the procedure, its recovery time, and possible side effects.
1. Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction is the original and oldest form of liposuction and can be performed on the arms, back, abdomen, and legs. Pretty much anywhere unwanted fat exists below the skin.
The procedure begins with an anesthesiologist administering general anesthesia, which puts this type in a class by itself as the remaining 4 are all done under local anesthesia. The surgeon then makes small incisions around where the fat will be removed. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will slide a cannula (a hollow metal tube with small holes at one end and a handle on the other) hooked up to a vacuum device, passed through the incisions into the fat space where unwanted fat deposits are suctioned out.
Traditional liposuction may be less expensive than other types of liposuction, but requires general anesthesia, so that additional cost, added to the surgeon’s fee, may turn out to be more expensive. You also need to consider the drawbacks before choosing this type of liposuction.
With Traditional liposuction, you might experience extensive bruising, bleeding, and common side effects from the anesthesia, like nausea or dizziness. This procedure has an average recovery time of one to two weeks, which is much longer than other types of liposuction. While it might be less expensive, remember this liposuction method has more potential side effects and complications. This procedure has a very high incidence of such severe blood loss that many people undergoing this technique will require blood transfusions if multiple body sites are done at the same time.
2. Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction involves injecting a large amount of dilute anesthetic solution (lidocaine) into the fat space to be suctioned. It was developed by Jeffrey Klein MD, a dermatologist in California, and is without question the Gold Standard of liposuction worldwide. Those deposits are then sucked from the body by a vacuum cannula. Unlike Traditional liposuction, this procedure uses local anesthesia, so you have the option of being fully awake yet completely “numbed” so you do not feel anything. Most people choosing this method choose to have “twilight” sedation administered through an IV to help take the edge off. You are still technically awake.
Many patients prefer this procedure because of the local anesthesia. With local anesthesia, you won’t experience the uncomfortable side effects of general anesthesia, like dizziness, nausea, and muscle pain. Also, there is little to no blood loss which means no blood transfusions, and very little swelling and bruising. Finally, another fantastic benefit of Tumescent liposuction is the prolonged numbness after the procedure, sometimes for up to 48 hours, so it is without question, the least painful of all the liposuction options.
The recovery time for this procedure is short compared to the Traditional technique. Depending on the type of work you do, many patients have no trouble going to work the next day. If you want a liposuction procedure that’s quick and relatively painless, tumescent liposuction is for you.
3. Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-assisted liposuction is like tumescent liposuction in every respect except the means by which the fat is removed. The procedure starts by breaking down the fat deposits with a specialized cannula. The cannula is designed to vibrate quickly, which helps to loosen the fat cells and makes them easier to suck out of the body.
Power-assisted liposuction is generally used for removing fat that is stubborn and hard to remove. This procedure tends to be gentler than Traditional liposuction but can be more invasive than Tumescent liposuction. The recovery and results are basically the same as Tumescent liposuction.
4. Laser-Assisted Liposuction
Laser-assisted liposuction involves using laser technology to help break up the fat cells into a liquified form prior to the fat being sucked out through the same type of cannula as with Traditional and Tumescent liposuction. The doctor begins the procedure by numbing the targeted area with a dilute lidocaine solution, i.e., Tumescence.
Then the surgeon will make the sane small incisions, inserting a micro laser device to liquefy the fat walls. Once completed, the fat will be sucked out of the body with the cannula device.
The procedure takes longer than the Tumescent technique because the fat is liquefied before being sucked out. One proposed benefit of this procedure is that the laser tightens and smooths skin, so you’ll notice your skin will have a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance afterward. This claim may be true in certain parts of the body, but has clearly been DISCOUNTED overall, as the skin with Tumescent liposuction tightens and smooths in the same way.
The biggest drawback to this procedure is the risk of thermal injuries (full thickness burns through the skin) from the laser. While thermal injuries are unlikely to happen, they do pose further complications, which can lead to a longer recovery time.
5. Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction is similar to Laser-Assisted liposuction, in that the fat is liquified prior to being suctioned. The liquification is from the ultrasound waves rather than a laser. First, the doctor will numb the target area with Tumescent anesthesia. The surgeon will then insert an ultrasound rod to distribute ultrasound energy to the fat deposits.
Once the ultrasound has liquified the fat cells, they will be sucked out of the body with a cannula.
The average recovery, proposed benefits, and complications are identical to the Laser-Assisted technique (see above).
Get a Liposuction Procedure Today
There are different types of liposuction for everyone’s budget and individual needs. If you want a relatively painless, quick, and effective procedure, choose Tumescent liposuction. Again, worldwide, this is the “Gold Standard” of all liposuction techniques.
We at Popp Cosmetic Surgery are here to make your dream body a reality with our advanced methods and procedures. Our certified team will develop a treatment plan to help you reach your physical goals and stay within your budget.
Are you ready to schedule your liposuction? Schedule an appointment online or call us at (402) 391-4558 to get started.
