The ideal candidate for liposuction is not overweight but has excess accumulation of fat in certain anatomical locations. The most common locations in women are the abdomen, flanks, and thighs and neck. Other areas include the arms, back, and buttocks. In men the most common area is the lower abdomen and love handle. It is important that the overlying skin is relatively firm. If the skin is very loose for instance in the abdominal area, that patient may be a better candidate for an abdominoplasty. The method of liposuction involves tumescent infusion followed by fat extraction. I use power assisted liposuction which gives me greater ability to sculpt the fat. It is important to understand that liposuction is a sculpting procedure requiring experience and three dimensional skill.
An exciting new technology in liposuction is ultrasonic liposuction. This involves the use of an ultrasonic probe that emulsifies the fat prior to extraction. Ultrasonic liposuction (UAL) is more aggressive. In my practice indications for UAL include men, areas that have had previous liposuction and in patients that have a small amount of lax skin for instance in the arms and abdomen. The UAL energy causes some skin contraction (tightening), which does not occur with conventional liposuction. UAL has become a very rewarding technology for my patients. There are other emerging technologies involving laser probes. At this point they appear to be more expensive, and offer no additional benefit. Before I will offer a new technology to my patients it has to be proven, offer an advantage over existing technology and be safe. Not just a marketable buzzword.
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