There are several different techniques surgeons use to complete a liposuction procedure.

Some liposuction techniques (like the dry technique) have been deemed unsafe over the years, while other techniques have pushed their way to the forefront.

Before a person decides to undergo any lipo procedure, they should be aware of what each procedure entails.

How is Liposuction Performed?

There are several popular methods of liposuction, but most are simply variations on the two most common methods: Wet Liposuction and Laser or Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction.

• Wet Liposuction is a procedure in which amounts of saline solution, usually containing a local anesthetic, are injected into the fat that is to be removed.

The amount of saline solution is typically less than or equal to the amount of fat to be removed. Surgeons performing this procedure must be careful not to throw off the body's natural fluid balance while this procedure is being done.

Patients receiving this treatment will usually undergo general anesthesia through a fluid IV, as the body will lose quite a bit of fluid during this time. The fluid-infused fat is then suctioned out of the body by way of a long tube called a cannula.

• Laser or Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction uses either a laser to liquefy the fat before it is suctioned away or it uses ultrasonic waves, either above or below the skin's surface, to break the cell walls of the fat apart and liquefy it, making it much easier to suction.

There are other methods in the development and experimental phases, but few others have been approved for general use.

Liposuction Techniques & Procedures

Normally a liposuction procedure is done with a cannula, which is a stainless steel tube inserted into the fat through a small incision. Some procedures use a smaller "microcannula" to allow for better control when removing fat and to leave less scarring.

Dry Technique

The dry technique, which is no longer used, requires general anesthesia. It gets its name from the fact that no local anesthesia (tumescent fluid) is injected into the fat. Due to excessive blood loss, this technique has been abandoned.

Wet Technique

The wet technique, which is also rarely used today, relies on an injection of lidocaine for local anesthesia, adrenaline to minimize bleeding and a salt solution to make the area like bodily fluids. The injected area then undergoes the suction procedure.

Super-Wet Liposuction

Super-wet liposuction is the preferred method used by most surgeons for high-volume liposuction. With this method, the amount of liquid injected is the same as the amount of fat that is to be removed. The super-wet liposuction method may require full anesthesia and IV sedation.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent Liposuction is done by injecting a large amount of diluted local anesthetic (lidocaine) and capillary constrictor (epinephrine) into fat.

The targeted area then becomes tumescent (firm and swollen). Due to the tumescent liposuction’s ability to cover a large area of fat with local anesthetic, the method allows for liposuction to be administered completely by local anesthetic and removes the need for IV drugs and general anesthetic.

Read more about Tumescent Liposuction

Laser Assisted Liposuction

Laser assisted liposuction (Liposculpture) can be used with or without suction techniques. Liposculpture uses a laser housed on a cannula, which lasers away the fat.

The liquid is then drained either through suction by the cannula, or through the incision created to place the laser in the fatty area.

Liposuction lasers are specifically designed to only attack fat cells and pose no serious danger to other cells of the body.

Read more about Laser Liposuction

SmartLipo - Laser Liposuction

SmartLipo - Laser Liposuction was the beginning of laser liposuction.

SmartLipo uses a small laser attached to a cannula to target small areas that may otherwise be unreachable through liposuction.

During the procedure, the laser loosens and melts small areas of fat, tightens skin and stimulates collagen retraction.

Read more about Smart Liposuction

CoolLipo - Laser Liposuction

CoolLipo - Laser Liposuction uses a small laser to target small areas of the fat in the face, neck, and chin areas.

The CoolLipo laser is designed to only attack fat cells and leaves other tissues and cells unharmed, while contouring to the face.

ProLipo PLUS Laser-assisted Liposuction

ProLipo PLUS laser-assisted liposuction offers two different wavelengths to be utilized during liposuction.

The wavelengths can be used simultaneously or at different times, allowing the surgeon several different options to complete the procedure.

LipoLite Laser Liposuction

LipoLite laser liposuction uses the 1064 nm wavelength to dissolve small fatty areas.

LipoLite uses SelectPulse technology, which releases different energy pulses depending on the surgeon’s decision. This allows surgeons to attack several different areas of fat while using LipoLite.

LipoTherme Laser liposuction

LipoTherme Laser liposuction and LipoControl are often used together in liposuction procedures.

LipoTherme uses a small laser to send heat waves to small areas of fat, causing the fat to melt.

LipoControl offers a view of the area undergoing liposuction, allowing the surgeon a clear view of the surgical area.

Mechanisms of Liposuction

Suction-assisted liposuction

Suction-assisted liposuction is the main method of liposuction.

With the suction-assisted method, a small cannula is inserted into the fat through a small incision. A

surgeon then gently pushes and pulls the cannula through the fat, loosening it, and then sucking it through the cannula.

Twin-cannula assisted liposuction

Twin-cannula assisted liposuction uses a special cannula “pair” consisting of a tube within a tube.

The inner cannula, which aspirates fat, does not impact the patient’s tissue.

This technique removes most of the labor from the procedure and, since the two cannulas do not get hot, eliminates the chance of friction burns.

External Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction

External Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction uses a large amount of tumescent fluid and a metal probe to deliver ultrasonic heat into fat.

There is a risk of burning from this method, and it has not been approved by the FDA to be marketed for liposuction.

Internal Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction

Internal Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction uses a long metal probe, which is inserted into fat through a large incision.

Internal Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction is rarely used, as it has a high risk of scarring.

More on Ultrasonic Liposuction

Vaser - Ultrasonic Liposuction

Vaser - Ultrasonic Liposuction was introduced in 2002 and uses soundwaves to loosen fat.

Tumescent liquid is injected into an area and then Vaser ultrasonic probes are used to loosen the fat.

Once the fat is loosened, a cannula is used to remove the fat and liquid. This procedure leaves minimal scarring and lessens post-procedure pain.

More on Ultrasonic Liposuction

The Power Assisted Technique

The Power Assisted Technique uses a motor to spin or create a rapid in and out motion of an attached cannula.

This liposuction method is thought to be easier on the surgeon, but no patient benefits have been found with this technology.

Water Jet Assisted Liposuction

Water Jet Assisted Liposuction uses a steady jet of saline solution to loosen fat.

Water Jet Assisted Liposuction uses tumescent fluid as a local anesthetic. Once the anesthetic has taken hold, the saline jet loosens the fat.

After the fat is loose, a small cannula is used to remove the loosened fat and any remaining liquid. This method is considered noninvasive and has minimal risk of scarring.