Types of New Jersey Liposuction and Your Safety
Since its introduction in the 1980’s, liposuction has undergone significant improvements in technique and results. The cannulae, or suction tubes, used to extract unwanted fat have become smaller and more efficient over time. Connecting these metal cannulae to a vacuum based liposuction aspiration machine has been referred to as Traditional Liposuction (also known as SAL or suction assisted lipectomy). It has been the “gold standard” against which all liposuction devices have been measured.
Click a link below to learn more about the specific types of Liposuction in New Jersey:
Ultrasonic Liposuction in New Jersey
Ultrasonic assisted liposuction, or UAL, which uses sound waves to break up fat, was first introduced in Europe in the late 1980’s. Based on its popularity there, it was studied extensively by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in the 1990’s before introducing it in the United States. The VASER (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) system of UAL was introduced in 2001 by William Cimino, PhD, a physicist with extensive experience in ultrasonic instrumentation for surgery. The tip of the VASER probes emits a precise amount of ultrasonic energy which specifically emulsifies the target fat cells and spares the skin, blood vessels and nerves. The term Liposelection has been used to describe this level of specificity. Compared with the earlier UAL devices, the VASER system produced the following advantages: thinner probes and cannulae, lower levels of ultrasonic energy required to more effectively melt fat, faster operative times, greater preservation of blood vessels and nerves with less postoperative pain.
Dr. Parker began using the VASER system shortly after its release in 2001. It has enabled him to provide his patients with virtually complication-free, natural appearing body contouring results and a rapid, pain free recovery. He has found VASER Liposelection valuable for patients undergoing both small and large amounts of fat removal.
In addition, it was Dr. Parker’s observation that patients with less than ideal skin tone would undergo improved skin retraction and re-draping during the healing phase after VASER liposuction. This observation was recently confirmed by a prospective study presented in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in October, 2009, 124:23-4: “The VASER-assisted liposuction method demonstrated a 53% improvement in skin retraction per cc of aspirate removed relative to the traditional SAL method and an average reduction of 26% in blood loss compared to traditional SAL. This is the first study to demonstrate statistically significant and clinically-relevant improvements in a new liposuction technology relative to SAL.”
Laser Liposuction in New Jersey
Various companies in the past several years have introduced liposuction systems based on different wavelengths of light used to destroy fat cells. These laser assisted liposuction (LAL) systems are known as SmartLipo, SlimLipo, ProLipo, etc. These technologies use laser frequencies which are not as specific for fat as the VASER ultrasonic energy. This lack of tissue specificity with the laser devices means the energy they emit may cause equal damage to fat, nerves, blood vessels and skin, raising safety concerns. These laser liposuction systems have not undergone the same level of study or scientific scrutiny as UAL or the VASER system. Despite this relative lack of science, these laser systems have been marketed heavily by their manufacturers and the doctors using them. Dr. Parker will continue to evaluate the clinical studies on these devices as they become available and weigh that against the techniques which have given him consistently excellent results.
Other Forms of Liposuction/ Lipolysis
- Power Water-assisted Liposuction is an investigational liposuction technique under study whose early clinical results show promise in terms of providing minimal tissue trauma and a rapid recovery.
- External ultrasound delivers ultrasonic energy through the skin by an external paddle. Its effectiveness continues to be studied and debated.
- Mesotherapy and injection lipolysis are non-surgical alternatives to liposuction. Their safety and ability to deliver satisfactory, consistent results are under investigation.