The Four Major Liposuction Techniques

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Did you know that liposuction, sometimes shortened to just lipo, is one of the most popular cosmetic plasticsurgery procedures performed on women and also on men in the United States? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 340,000 people underwent lipo in 2008. Many people choose to undergo this procedure simply because exercise and dieting don't always produce the results they want. Lipo, sometimes used in conjunction with tummy tucks, removes fatty tissue from areas of the body that don't respond to changes in exercise and diet.

Finding a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in liposuction is the most important part of the plastic surgery journey. The search should not be taken lightly. A good way to start your search of physicians is by asking friends who might have recently had the same procedure done. You can also go to the ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery.org, in order to find a certified plastic surgeon in your area.

There are four techniques that have been developed over the years to help create a slimmer silhouette and a more proportional body contour. They include the tumescent, super-wet, ultra-sonic assisted and power-assisted lipo procedures.

The tumescent procedure involves injecting an anesthetic liquid into the areas of excess fat before the lipo is performed. This liquid will contract blood vessels and cause fat to become swollen. The swollen fat pockets will allow your surgeon to quickly and smoothly move his tool under the skin to remove the fat.

The super wet method is similar to the tumescent technique. Fluid is injected into the tissues before it is removed. Really, the only difference is that less fluid is used.

Ultrasound waves break up the fat before it is removed, during the ultra-sonic assisted procedure. This method uses a combination of heat energy and vibration energy on fat, and is commonly used when a secondary procedure is needed. It targets fibrous areas of the body like the upper back or male breasts.

The latest advance in fat removal is the power-assisted lipo. A wand-like instrument is used to break up fatty tissue during this procedure. It loosens up fat cells so that they can be gently sucked away without causing damage to the surrounding tissues.

As with all plastic surgery procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast augmentations and nose reshaping, to name a few, the risks and complications will vary depending on which method is used. Typically, however, the most common risks include blood clots formulating in the leg, excessive blood loss, infection, reaction to anesthesia, asymmetry, hyper-pigmentation, swelling, necrosis and numbness.

There is no doubt you will notice a difference in the shape of your body after undergoing this procedure. Though it may take four to six weeks for the swelling to go down and for your new look to be noticeable, liposuction can be a long-lasting and sometimes permanent way to fix the problem of fat deposits. As a person ages though, the shape of the body may change.

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