Liposuction is one of the oldest aesthetic surgery procedures, dating back to the 1960s. Today, there is as much of a need as ever for reliable body contouring as more and more Americans adopt a concern with health and fitness, striving to achieve a figure that reflects their lifestyle and values.
To meet the rising demands for liposuction, surgeons have developed alternative lipo techniques that claim to offer customized approaches to fat removal. Here’s why traditional liposuction is still the gold standard among all lipo techniques.
Tumescent liposuction, also known as traditional liposuction, is generally considered the most reliable method of fat cell removal. The technique has been popular for decades, unlike most alternate approaches to liposuction whose potential long-term effects may not be fully understood. Tumescent liposuction uses a simple saline solution to break up fat cells before permanently removing them from the body using suction and a cannula (hollow tube).
Liposuction is a low-risk procedure, but the potential for adverse effects from alternate liposuction techniques comes from the fact that many of these techniques use energy from lasers or ultrasound waves to target fat cells and cause them to dissolve. While such techniques can be effective in destroying fat cells, they may also harm the surrounding tissue, skin or muscles.
Ultimately, all liposuction methods aim to accomplish the same goal of removing fat cells from the body. The exact technique your surgeon uses is less important than your surgeon’s expertise. Because liposuction is a manual procedure, your surgeon’s aesthetic eye for the human form and sensitivity to your goals are important factors in creating your end result. An experienced liposuction surgeon can advise you on the best approach for your needs.
