With new, non-invasive methods of lipolysis, some cosmetic and plastic surgeons have suggested that traditional tumescent liposuction will become obsolete. However, many surgeons still see the benefit of traditional methods.
Liposuction is a technology which is consistently evolving, encompassing many new methods, tools and combinations of previous methods to provide satisfying results for patients. In fact, there are so many new variations of liposuction and lipolysis that some medical professionals have speculated about a coming decline in traditional tumescent liposuction. While a wave of newer, less invasive techniques have been introduced in recent years, there are many plastic surgeons who still favor traditional techniques, with or without the assistance of power, laser, or ultrasonic cannula devices.
Traditional Liposuction
When surgeons refer to "traditional" liposuction [http://www.psplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery/liposuction.cfm], they are generally referring to the tumescent technique without the addition of adjunct methods such as ultrasonic assistance (UAL) or power assistance (PAL). To begin a tumescent procedure, the area to be treated is infused with a solution of saline and local anesthetic to decrease discomfort, constrict the blood vessels to limit bleeding and bruising, and engorge the fat cells, making them easier to remove from surrounding tissue. After the tumescent solution has been administered, a cannula (a thin hollow tube inserted below the skin)
is used to manually break free the fat and then suction it away.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)
UAL adds another step to the tumescent liposuction procedure; a cannula with an ultrasonic tip is used to disrupt the fat cells, liquefying them for easy removal after the area is treated with the tumescent fluid. The high frequency ultrasound does most of the work the surgeon would have to do manually, while also pressing the surrounding connective tissue which is important in obtaining optimal
skin retraction.
Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Another derivative method of tumescent liposuction is power-assisted liposuction (PAL). With this technique, an electric motor attached to the cannula. The motor produces rapid and steady motion of the cannula, which results in the dislodging of fat cells.
The Benefits of Current Methods of Liposuction
While traditional liposuction methods are invasive, meaning that a surgeon must make incisions in the patient's body and the fat is actually suctioned out of the body, the technology has significantly advanced to minimize surrounding tissue damage and post-surgical recovery time. Patients experience shorter, more efficient surgeries with dramatic, immediate and lasting results.
However, since there is still a surgical component involved, plastic surgeons, along with medical device manufacturers, have been in search of new methods to achieve body contouring without the need for surgery. As technology moves the field away from surgical procedures, the question remains: will this new technology make traditional liposuction obsolete?
The Bridge between Old and New: Laser Lipolysis
Introduced several years ago and continually being refined, laser liposuction uses the energy of laser light to break up fat cells. This approach can be used on its own with very small incisions (achieving only lipolysis, or destruction of fat cells) or in conjunction with aspiration of the laser treated area for immediate fat removal. When used only as a method of lipolysis, the ruptured fat cells are left in the patient's body to be eliminated through the body's natural waste-removal process.
One of the more popular names in laser lipolysis is Smartlipoâ„¢. Surgeons across the country are using this as a treatment for smaller areas such as the area beneath the chin where traditional approaches can be too aggressive. Laser liposuction techniques utilize very fine laser cannulas which offer exceptional control of the lipolysis process, resulting in smoother contours and enhanced skin retraction.
The Alternatives to Traditional Liposuction
Three non-invasive body contouring technologies that have been introduced in recent years are ZERONA®, which uses a low-level laser to target and destroy fat cells; LipoSonix™, which uses focused ultrasonic energy to target fat cells below the skin; and CoolSculpting™ by ZELTIQ, which uses selective cooling technology to kill fat cells. As of this writing, not all of these technologies have received FDA market clearance in the United States, but all are expected to become available for a range of applications in many markets in the coming years.
Each of these technologies achieves lipolysis, and each one is non-invasive, meaning that no incisions need to be made in order to destroy the fat cells. Understandably, this leads to faster recovery. Additionally, many of these new forms of lipolysis can take less time, but may require multiple treatments.
While these technologies seem promising for many patients, the results are not necessarily better than, or even equal to the results that can be achieved through tumescent liposuction. For example, more substantial reduction of fat volume simply is not yet possible with these devices, which emphasize more subtle results.
There needs to be more study of these devices and likely further technological improvements before they will begin to approximate the results achieved through surgical liposuction methods today. Of all the devices currently being reviewed, LipoSonix may become the most viable technology, since ultrasound energy has been studied more thoroughly and been is proven to be effective. But the jury is still out LipoSonix, which has a U.S. corporate headquarters near Seattle. The current methods of liposuction still give more dramatic results than non-invasive treatments.
Nevertheless, these new technologies are in their infancy, meaning that there is potential for non-invasive approaches to become a major method for body contouring as time goes on. But as of the year 2010, traditional liposuction certainly has not been made obsolete just yet.
Liposuction is a technology which is consistently evolving, encompassing many new methods, tools and combinations of previous methods to provide satisfying results for patients. In fact, there are so many new variations of liposuction and lipolysis that some medical professionals have speculated about a coming decline in traditional tumescent liposuction. While a wave of newer, less invasive techniques have been introduced in recent years, there are many plastic surgeons who still favor traditional techniques, with or without the assistance of power, laser, or ultrasonic cannula devices.
Traditional Liposuction
When surgeons refer to "traditional" liposuction [http://www.psplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery/liposuction.cfm], they are generally referring to the tumescent technique without the addition of adjunct methods such as ultrasonic assistance (UAL) or power assistance (PAL). To begin a tumescent procedure, the area to be treated is infused with a solution of saline and local anesthetic to decrease discomfort, constrict the blood vessels to limit bleeding and bruising, and engorge the fat cells, making them easier to remove from surrounding tissue. After the tumescent solution has been administered, a cannula (a thin hollow tube inserted below the skin)
is used to manually break free the fat and then suction it away.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)
UAL adds another step to the tumescent liposuction procedure; a cannula with an ultrasonic tip is used to disrupt the fat cells, liquefying them for easy removal after the area is treated with the tumescent fluid. The high frequency ultrasound does most of the work the surgeon would have to do manually, while also pressing the surrounding connective tissue which is important in obtaining optimal
skin retraction.
Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Another derivative method of tumescent liposuction is power-assisted liposuction (PAL). With this technique, an electric motor attached to the cannula. The motor produces rapid and steady motion of the cannula, which results in the dislodging of fat cells.
The Benefits of Current Methods of Liposuction
While traditional liposuction methods are invasive, meaning that a surgeon must make incisions in the patient's body and the fat is actually suctioned out of the body, the technology has significantly advanced to minimize surrounding tissue damage and post-surgical recovery time. Patients experience shorter, more efficient surgeries with dramatic, immediate and lasting results.
However, since there is still a surgical component involved, plastic surgeons, along with medical device manufacturers, have been in search of new methods to achieve body contouring without the need for surgery. As technology moves the field away from surgical procedures, the question remains: will this new technology make traditional liposuction obsolete?
The Bridge between Old and New: Laser Lipolysis
Introduced several years ago and continually being refined, laser liposuction uses the energy of laser light to break up fat cells. This approach can be used on its own with very small incisions (achieving only lipolysis, or destruction of fat cells) or in conjunction with aspiration of the laser treated area for immediate fat removal. When used only as a method of lipolysis, the ruptured fat cells are left in the patient's body to be eliminated through the body's natural waste-removal process.
One of the more popular names in laser lipolysis is Smartlipoâ„¢. Surgeons across the country are using this as a treatment for smaller areas such as the area beneath the chin where traditional approaches can be too aggressive. Laser liposuction techniques utilize very fine laser cannulas which offer exceptional control of the lipolysis process, resulting in smoother contours and enhanced skin retraction.
The Alternatives to Traditional Liposuction
Three non-invasive body contouring technologies that have been introduced in recent years are ZERONA®, which uses a low-level laser to target and destroy fat cells; LipoSonix™, which uses focused ultrasonic energy to target fat cells below the skin; and CoolSculpting™ by ZELTIQ, which uses selective cooling technology to kill fat cells. As of this writing, not all of these technologies have received FDA market clearance in the United States, but all are expected to become available for a range of applications in many markets in the coming years.
Each of these technologies achieves lipolysis, and each one is non-invasive, meaning that no incisions need to be made in order to destroy the fat cells. Understandably, this leads to faster recovery. Additionally, many of these new forms of lipolysis can take less time, but may require multiple treatments.
While these technologies seem promising for many patients, the results are not necessarily better than, or even equal to the results that can be achieved through tumescent liposuction. For example, more substantial reduction of fat volume simply is not yet possible with these devices, which emphasize more subtle results.
There needs to be more study of these devices and likely further technological improvements before they will begin to approximate the results achieved through surgical liposuction methods today. Of all the devices currently being reviewed, LipoSonix may become the most viable technology, since ultrasound energy has been studied more thoroughly and been is proven to be effective. But the jury is still out LipoSonix, which has a U.S. corporate headquarters near Seattle. The current methods of liposuction still give more dramatic results than non-invasive treatments.
Nevertheless, these new technologies are in their infancy, meaning that there is potential for non-invasive approaches to become a major method for body contouring as time goes on. But as of the year 2010, traditional liposuction certainly has not been made obsolete just yet.
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