Which Liposuction Procedure is Right for Me?

Plastic surgery has become very prevalent in recent years. One of the most popular procedures has been liposuction with nearly 250,000 surgeries performed in 2017, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

There is a lot of information available about liposuction and the different types of procedures, but sometimes it isn’t easy to understand what the differences are between them and which type might be best for you. In this post, we’ll review the liposuction technology options and help you understand the differences.

The six types of liposuction treatments available are Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL), Tumescent Liposuction, Laser-Assisted Liposuction (also known as Smartlipo), Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (or VASER), Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) and High Definition Liposuction (HDL).

Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL)

SAL is the traditional/regular liposuction – the removal of fat from the body through the assistance of some form of suction.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction is similar to SAL, but is typically very effective, less painful and has a quicker recovery time. Click here to learn more about the tumescent liposuction technique.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction

Laser-assisted liposuction uses heat energy from a laser to help perform the procedure. The Smartlipo laser is an advanced technology that is marketed as a less invasive liposuction procedure that is safer with quicker recovery, reduced bruising, and enhanced skin tightening compared to SAL. It is said to melt fat, coagulate blood vessels, and tighten skin. If you are looking to have more than one area sculpted, we would recommend the VASER technology.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (VASER)

Ultrasound energy is another technology used to assist in breaking up fatty tissue, which makes the aspiration much easier for the surgeon and causes less damage to the internal tissue. One additional benefit of VASER, versus Smartlipo, is that the ultrasound technology does not destroy the fat. This process allows the fat to maintain its viability so it can be transferred back into other areas such as the buttocks, face, and breasts.

Power-Assisted Liposuction

Power-assisted liposuction may be a good option for those with high volumes of fat that needs to be removed. A special, vibrating cannula is used to help break up and remove the fatty tissue. The main benefit of using the PAL is quicker fat removal and less surgeon fatigue. Our surgeons will often incorporate this tool while performing ultrasound-assisted or high-definition liposuction. 

High-Definition Liposuction

High definition liposuction is a specialized version of liposuction that focuses on enhancing the underlying muscular definition of the torso by performing very selective superficial liposuction and muscle enhancement with fat grafting. Dr. Broadway was one of the first U.S. surgeons to perform H-D Liposuction and has trained many other surgeons on this technique worldwide.

If you are interested in learning more about liposuction in Denver and want to see if you are a candidate for the procedure and which technique might be right for you, contact us to schedule a consultation with one of the top board-certified plastic surgeons in the Denver area. Call 303.680.8989 or email info@broadwaymd.com today.