Liposuction Surgery Techniques

In summary, liposuction is the procedure of removing fat cells from certain areas of the body. How it’s done exactly, however, is a bit more complicated, requiring various liposuction surgery techniques.

These techniques are divided into two types: techniques on applying the ‘wetting solution’ which is required to minimize blood loss from the liposuction area, and the actual fat removal techniques.

The most common wetting solution techniques are:

Wet technique – This involves infusing about 100 mL of saline, local anesthestic and sometimes, epinephrine into the liposuction area, limiting the amount of blood loss to about 20% of the fluids sucked out from the incision.

Super-wet technique – This technique involves the injection of diluted local anesthesia into the liposuction area in greater amounts, about the same amount as the fat to be removed, resulting in even less blood loss, appoximately 8%.

Tumescent technique – The tumescent technique is the most popular technique in applying the wetting solution during liposuction surgery and the reason is because it is the safest.

With this technique, even greater amounts of diluted lidocaine and epinephrine are injected into the subcutaneous fat, making it easier for them to be removed, while producing virtually no surgical blood loss.

After tumescent liposuction, blood-tinged fluids tend to leak out from the incisions, which is normal and can help minimize the swelling, and should last only for a couple of hours.

After the wetting solution has been applied, the incision can now be made and the fat removed, which can be done using either of the following techniques:

Suction-assisted liposuction – This is also called the traditional liposuction technique wherein a tube is inserted into the incision and moved back and forth to break down the fat cells and vacuum them out.

Power-assisted liposuction – This technique is basically the same as the suction-assisted technique, but the difference is that the tube is powered by an electric motor or compressed air instead of being operated manually.

Laser liposuction – With this technique, a laser probe is inserted into the incision to melt the fat before sucking it out while simultaenously tightening the skin. It is also the most expensive technique.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction – This techniques uses sound ways to break down the fat cells before sucking them out.

Water jet-assisted liposuction – This technique uses pressurized streams of water to dislodge the fat, making it easier for them to be removed. This is considered by many to be the gentlest technique and may require a short recovery period only.

Before you go into your liposuction surgery, make sure you ask your Florida liposuction specialist which techniques he prefers, and why. You can also ask to see pictures and videos if available to see how these techniques are performed.