Liposuction

Liposuction is defined as the removal of fat from deposits beneath the skin using a hollow stainless steel tube (called a cannula) with the assistance of a powerful vacuum.

Liposuction can be accomplished either with the use of general anesthesia, or with heavy IV sedation, or totally by local anesthesia.

The normal body has some amount of fat under the skin. The aim of the liposuction or suction lipectomy operation is to flatten the profile of any areas of the body that have an excess of fat. It is not designed to be a way of losing weight itself. Removing too much fat yields an unnatural and unattractive appearance. Also, a complete lack of subcutaneous fat looks and feels abnormal.

Ideally, patients have already lost weight but are left with areas that are resistant to further exercise and diet. Liposuction does not remove stretch marks.

Types of Liposuction

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is a technique that uses large volumes of dilute local anaesthesia that is injected into the fat causing the targeted areas to become swollen and firm (tumescent). This technique provides anaesthesia to large volumes of subcutaneous fat and permits liposuction totally by local anaesthesia.

Modified Tumescent Liposuction

Modified tumescent liposuction refers to a combination of tumescent local anaesthesia plus some form of systemic anaesthesia (general anaesthesia or heavy IV sedation).

Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL)

Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL) requires the use of a large volume of tumescent fluid and uses a metal probe to deliver ultrasonic energy and heat into subcutaneous fat.

Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)

Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL) uses power supplied by an electric motor or compressed air to produce either a rapid in-and-out movement or a spinning rotation of an attached liposuction cannula.