Liposuction, Vaser lipo, Smart lipo, Tickle lipo, Power X, Water jet, what do all these terms mean?
Which one is better for me?
A number of medical technology industries are involved in a fierce advertising battle to increase their share in the body contouring market, and although many techniques for breaking up fat cells have been developed, there is no clear winner and the companies have resorted to inflated claims and catchy slogans to promote their products.
In essence, liposuction by any name, consists in breaking up fat cells and then removing the debris through a thin steel tube. The break-up of the fat is aided in all of these methods by infusing a fluid meant for intravenous administration into the sub cutaneous fat layer, then applying mechanical, vibratory, sonic or laser energy. Lastly a thin metal tube attached to a syringe or a suction pump is used to evacuate the fat and fragments of cell fat tissue.
The gold standard of liposuction methods continues to be the manual, mechanical breakdown. The absence of external sources of heat or sonic trauma, greatly diminishes the risk of tissue burns, as seen in the laser techniques or nerve injury and pain as seen after sonic or ultrasonic methods.
The history of alternative methods for fat removal has been that of a flooding of the media with unproven claims, an initial period of enthusiasm followed by disillusion and abandonment.
Only the traditional liposuction, or liposculpture, thanks to improvements in cannula design has proven to be the time tested, most consistent and reliable tool in a seasoned body contouring surgeon armamentarium.
The mechanical systems are also the ones that allow fat removal through the smallest cannula (tube) and this allows for shorter scars.
As someone with very extensive experience in liposuction, who is up to date and who evaluates any system that potentially could improve my results, I am convinced that good results in body contouring surgery are totally dependent on the judgment and expertise of the surgeon and not on the use of the gadget “du jour”.
A thorough evaluation, a well thought out plan and an impeccable technique are the key to a satisfied patient