Why Ultrasonic Liposuction is a Good Option

How has Ultrasonic Liposuction Changed Liposuction?

During the later half of the twentieth century, with the increase of disposable income and an ever increasing sense of ones vanity, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures grew in popularity. Liposuction was one of the procedures that took the plastic surgery world by storm. The simplicity, relatively low complication rate, and immediate results resonated a chord deep within the collective public.

With anything, demand spurs innovation. In the continual pursuit to “build a better mousetrap” the medical field has been adapting the process of liposuction to match innovations in technology. At it’s heart, it is still a simple process of literally using a small hollow tube (cannula) to literally suck the fat out from under your skin. However, with the advent of ultrasonic technology the procedure has been streamlined to simplify the process.

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Ultrasonic Liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction is not a procedure that is designed for everyone. The ideal candidate is not a person that needs to have significant adipose (or fat) tissue removed. The perfect candidate for ultrasonic liposuction or external ultrasonic liposuction is someone that needs to have those pesky last few pounds removed.

Given the technology behind the ultrasonic method the hidden pockets of fat are more easily broken down. This allows for more direct results to those problem areas like under the chin, back of the arms and inner thighs. This method works best for those who have tried all other weight loss methodologies but still have those stubborn pockets of fat. When more traditional methods of fat loss are proving to be futile many patients turn to the simplicity of ultrasonic liposuction.

What is Ultrasonic Liposuction?

 

The basics of liposuction have remained unchanged since it’s introduction to the mainstream during the early 1980s. Your physician will make a series of small incisions around the treatment area. The incisions will be used as a subcutaneous pathway for the cannula. The cannula, after having been connected to a suction device, will be inserted below the skin and moved back and forth across the treatment area simultaneously sucking out the excess fat.

With the adaptation of ultrasonic technology in the medical field liposuction was a natural fit. Initially the treatment area will be injected with saline and lidocaine (local anesthetic) solutions. This will allow for more easy removal of the adipose tissue after the ultrasonic treatment. The ultrasonic device will be used (either internally or externally) to break down the fat stores. The ultrasonic sound waves literally have the ability to burst or emulsify fat cells. This serves two purposes, to help break down difficult deposits of fat that are not easily lost through traditional weight loss methods, while making that fat easier to remove in its liquid state. Using the cannula in a standard method then allows for rapid removal of the difficult to remove fat stores from the desired treatment locations.

Internal vs. External Ultrasonic Liposuction

There are two main methods being used today regarding ultrasonic liposuction. Which method works best is still up for debate and should be discussed with your primary care physician. Internal Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL) uses a specially modified cannula that has been fitted with ultrasonic technology on the tip of the device. This allows for the ultrasonic waves to be more easily distributed to any location the cannula can reach. This procedure is ideal for more difficult to access areas like under the chin and the inner thigh.
External Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (XUAL) works much the same as its internal counterpart; however, the ultrasonic waves are applied externally to dissolve the fat prior to the use of the cannula. The external version is ideal for the applications on the broader patches of skin like on love handles, lower back and chest. Depending on where you opt to have the procedure performed either UAL or XUAL may be best suited for you.

Why Choose Ultrasonic Liposuction?

The various methods of liposuction have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Power assisted liposuction and water assisted liposuction may be better for removing large amounts of fat stores; however,  as previously discussed ultrasound assisted liposuction is ideal for removing fat from more fibrous areas of the body. Examples of typical location treated using ultrasound assisted liposuction include upper back, male chest, and the lower leg.

Some advantages of ultrasound assisted liposuction include less blood loss to the treatment area and the ability to remove fat from difficult to reach locations. Many times ultrasonic liposuction will be done using local anesthesia. This will allow for a cheaper procedure for the patient (on average between $2,000 – $3,500). Often times if multiple areas are going to be treated in one sitting you can arrange a price savings with your physician. Since local anesthesia is often used in ultrasonic liposuction this makes it a quicker overall procedure for the physician compared to similar procedures using general anesthesia.

Patients as a collective are said to experience a quicker recovery time when using UAL and XUAL. Typical side affects include bruising and swelling of the treatment area. Minor sutures to close the pathway for the cannula usually heal within seven to ten business days. The patient can expect mild discomfort which should last for approximately a week post surgery. Typical ultrasonic liposuction procedures are done on an out patient basis, allowing the patient to go home only hours after the surgery.

Potentially Negative Side Affects

While there are positives to the procedure, like any surgery, there are negative side effects as well. The procedure itself is often a longer experience for both the physician and patient compared to other popular versions of liposuction.  There have been increased reports of seromas (fluid filled pockets below the skin) in patients which require return visits to the physician for draining. During earlier versions of the technology the ultrasound treatment was linked to increased tissue death (necratitis); however, this has been largely corrected by using a pulsating form of the ultrasonic delivery.

It should be cautioned that ultrasonic liposuction has not yet been approved for use by the FDA. So you will likely ask your self, What does this mean? The answer is simple, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet formally ruled on the safety and efficacy of ultrasonic methods for its use in liposuction. While this procedure is performed thousands of times daily in America there can still be some unforeseen consequences abound not yet flushed out by the FDA approval process. Your physician still has the ability to use his or her medical judgement to apply the ultrasonic technology in the liposuction setting.

So is Ultrasonic Liposuction Right for me?

Any surgical procedure has risks linked to it. Just because a procedure is commonplace does not mean it is immune from serious complications and even death. For these reasons it is important that you do your homework on the physician and facility that will be performing the procedure. You will want to check their references, accreditation, background and patient satisfaction.

Remember to use common sense, if a situation seems too good to be true then it probably is. Liposuction can be a great procedure leaving the recipient happy with the ultimate results, or it can be your worst nightmare.  Be smart about how you proceed, shop around, talk to past patients, and take your time. It could be the best research you’ve ever done.

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