Liposuction: How Do I Know Which Type to Choose?

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 to PROCEDURES > Body

Posted by Kevin Johnson, M.D.; Board-Certified General Surgeon

By: Kevin Johnson, M.D.

Having a smooth, contoured body is at the top of many people's wish lists, but sometimes diet and exercise don't create the desired results. Liposuction helps Spokane women and men remove stubborn pockets of fat that exercise can't reach.

As technology improves, more options become available for body contouring. Here are some of the most popular liposuction treatments:

Tumescent Liposuction: A solution containing salt water, adrenaline and a local anesthetic is injected into the treatment area to minimize bleeding and pain. The adrenaline shrinks blood vessels to reduce blood loss.

Power-assisted Liposuction: This approach loosens fat cells using a vibrating cannula, the thin tube that is used to suction out fat.

Ultrasonic Liposuction: With this technique, high-energy sound waves create vibrations that rupture the walls of fat cells.

Smartlipo™: The liposuction technique offered at my practice, Smartlipo, uses laser energy to rupture and liquefy fat cells. The body naturally processes any liquefied fat that is not removed through the cannula. I prefer this method because my patients typically experience only mild side effects and the treatment stimulates collagen growth for tighter and smoother skin.

While each option has its own particular set of benefits, the best way to find the right method for you is to discuss your goals with a qualified surgeon. Other options, such as the nonsurgical liposuction alternative CoolSculpting®, can also be discussed.

Add Comment

To discourage SPAM, we ask that you type your code (displayed below) in the text box.

Your Code:
Enter Code:	*