Blog

Know the Types of Liposuction to Determine which Will Work Best for You

Our bodies create the overwhelming majority of their fat cells during two very important stages of development: embryonic development in the womb and later down the road during puberty. 

The way your body stores and distributes calories in the form of body fat was largely determined by a roll of the genetic dice during these two stages. Because of the way your ancestors evolved, you might diet or exercise consistently for years and still struggle against a roll of belly fat or double chin. 

At AW Plastic Surgery in Portsmouth, NH, we use liposuction to help patients remove these excess pockets of fat. Good candidates for liposuction are in good health overall, don’t smoke, and are within about 30% of their ideal body weight. Although celebrities and social media have made people aware of the benefits of liposuction, most aren’t aware there are several variations of the procedure. 

What Are the Different Types of Liposuction?

A plastic surgeon typically helps their patient decide on the best type of liposuction based on:

  • The patient’s overall treatment goals
  • The area or areas being treated
  • Whether liposuction will be paired with other procedures
  • Whether the patient has had other liposuction procedures in the past

Some of the most common treatment areas for liposuction include the belly, back, buttocks, hips, chin, thighs, upper arms, and chest. During all types of liposuction, surgical tools called cannulas are inserted into the treatment area and fat is removed, but what makes them different is the way fat cells are dislodged and how much fat is removed from the body. 

The four types of liposuction include: 

 

  • Suction Assisted Liposuction: In this traditional approach to liposuction, the surgeon uses general or local anesthesia is used to maximize comfort. He inserts a cannula is inserted, which sucks fat from targeted sites. A newer version of this approach called power-assisted liposuction may be used if larger quantities of fat need to be removed.
  • Tumescent Liposuction: Tumescent liposuction, also referred to as fluid injection liposuction, is the most commonly used approach by plastic surgeons today. During this body contouring treatment, a fluid mixture of anesthetic, epinephrine, and saline are injected into the treatment site. The anesthetic helps numb the area being treated, the epinephrine helps minimize swelling and loss of blood, and the saline helps the doctor remove fat cells easier.
  • Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: For an ultrasound-assisted liposuction procedure, a device delivers ultrasonic vibrations that help turn fat cells into an easily removable liquid form. This approach is usually used by plastic surgeons when they’re trying to remove fat cells in fibrous parts of the body such as the upper back or male chest. 
  • Laser-Assisted Liposuction: Fat cells can be liquified using concentrated bursts of light energy, or lasers. After fat cells have been broken down during laser-assisted liposuction, plastic surgeons can suck out and drain them with a cannula. One of the key advantages of this approach is its precision and the ability to help promote collagen growth, which may help keep skin tight and smooth after fat removal. 

 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Liposuction

After you have liposuction, it’s important to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine. Listen to your body, avoid hardcore cardio workouts for a few weeks after your surgery, and you should be able to get back to the gym within about a month of having liposuction. Work with your doctor to create a healthy eating plan that will help you avoid gaining new fat cells and create disharmony after you’ve had body contouring done.

Which Type of Liposuction is Best for You?

If you’re interested in achieving targeted fat loss through surgical body contouring, please consider a liposuction consultation with Dr. Wilson in Portsmouth, NH to determine the best type of liposuction for your goals.

Call AW Plastic Surgery at (603) 294-4526 or contact us through our website.