Know Your Liposuction Technologies

Liposuction is one of Australia’s top cosmetic procedures, mainly because it is a highly effective way to remove stubborn body fat. Although traditional diet and exercise is the best method to lose weight, some areas may be more resistant to natural options. Liposuction is used to remove excess fat and sculpt your body to create more flattering curves.

If you’re thinking about getting liposuction, you may be surprised to learn that several different types of liposuction surgery exist. They are all used to remove unwanted fat and create a more flattering figure. However, each type has its own advantages and works in a slightly different way. Your surgeon will give you their professional recommendation during your initial consultation, but understanding the differences between each type of liposuction can help you decide which one is best for your body.

What Is Liposuction?

The traditional and oldest kind of liposuction is suction-assisted liposuction. For this type, small incisions are made in the desired treatment areas. Next, a hollow needle called a cannula is inserted into the incisions to suction fat out of the body. The average recovery time for suction-assisted liposuction is 1-3 months, and patients normally return home the same day as their surgery.

Liposuction is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as a breast lift or tummy tuck. Combining treatments can help patients achieve a full-body makeover effect and make dramatic changes to their physique.

Performed alone, liposuction is still highly effective and can be used on almost any body part. Our surgeons perform liposuction on the hips, belly, thighs, buttocks, back, arms, and even under the chin to improve face shape. Its versatility is one of the most significant reasons why liposuction has remained so popular over the years. Top benefits of liposuction include:

• Re-shape and smooth existing contours
• Remove unwanted fat from stubborn problem areas
• Remove excess fat after extreme weight loss or weight loss surgery
• Sculpt new curves and create a more flattering shape
• Treat certain medical conditions, including gynecomastia (accumulation of fat beneath a man’s breasts)

VASER Liposuction

VASER liposuction is a type of liposuction that breaks apart fat cells and loosens them from deeper tissues so that they can be removed more effectively and gently during treatment. VASER is actually an acronym for ‘vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance.’ The ultrasound technology creates powerful waves that disrupt bonds between fat cells, making them much easier to remove.

VASER liposuction is generally considered a gentle, more controlled form of liposuction, often resulting in less pain and downtime after surgery. The procedure is unique because it allows your surgeon to be extremely precise in the way the fat is removed, disrupting connections between fatty tissue and the muscles underneath without damaging nearby healthy tissue. In other words, less damage during surgery means less swelling and discomfort during recovery.

This type of liposuction is best for patients who are already within 15 pounds of their ideal body weight and are trying to treat small fat deposits to reveal muscle tone underneath. VASER liposuction is also a great way to sculpt curves in the hips and flatten the stomach to create an hourglass figure.

Water-Assisted Liposuction/Body Jet

Water-assisted liposuction, commonly referred to as ‘Aqualipo’ or its brand name, Body Jet, is a type of liposuction that uses a gentle yet powerful spray to help dislodge fat cells and harvest more tissue with minor damage to surrounding areas. Benefits of water-assisted liposuction include less bruising, less swelling, and overall faster recovery time. This type can also be very effective at battling lipedema, which causes fluid to buildup in the lower body.

In addition to removing excess fat, water-assisted liposuction is often used to restore volume in other areas, including the face, breasts, and hips. Your surgeon can essentially ‘harvest’ fat cells and transfer them to more desirable locations to sculpt new curves.

Fat cells are not destroyed during water-assisted liposuction, as they are with other liposuction techniques. Because gentle pressure is used to dislodge fat cells, more cells survive when transferred to another area, resulting in a better outcome for the patient.

Power-Assisted Liposuction

Power-assisted liposuction is similar to traditional liposuction. However, the difference comes in the cannula. In power-assisted liposuction, the cannula has a vibrating tip used to break down dense deposits of fat quicker and easier, resulting in a faster recovery. By disrupting the fat cells before removal, your surgeon can remove more fatty deposits in less time.
The vibrating cannula used during this procedure is also easier for surgeons to maneuver around difficult areas of the body, such as the bellybutton and inner thighs. Thus, power-assisted liposuction is thought to be an ideal sculpting tool and highly effective in creating a leaner physique. Like other types on this list, you can also expect a faster, easier recovery with power-assisted liposuction and still achieve transformative results.

Laser Liposuction 3 small pieces

Laser liposuction works by using laser light energy to heat and liquefy fat cells in your desired treatment areas. Once liquified, the fat cells travel through your lymphatic system and are processed by stomach acid in your gut. Finally, the fat leaves the body as waste via urine, just like dietary fat. The laser technology allows your surgeon to achieve better results than traditional liposuction and often leads to less tissue damage.

Laser-assisted liposuction can also stimulate collagen and elastin production, resulting in skin tightening and a more youthful appearance. Increased safety is another benefit of this type of liposuction. Because of laser liposuction’s minimally-invasive nature, there is a reduced risk of infection and typically less bleeding, bruising, and swelling after surgery. So, if you’re hoping to have a less invasive type of liposuction surgery, laser lipo could be a great choice.

If you’re interested in having liposuction surgery but aren’t sure which type is best for you, don’t worry! Our team of board-certified Specialist Plastic Surgeons is committed to educating our patients about each treatment so you can make the best decision for your body. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

About Forme Institute

The Forme Institute is a group of highly qualified and experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeons. We are committed to providing the best practice procedures and the most innovative treatment options. Our team has 20+ years of combined experience practicing plastic surgery. If you’re interested in having liposuction surgery, contact us today to make a consultation appointment.