Achieving your ideal physique often requires a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced, low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise. However, despite these efforts, stubborn fat can be resistant to change. Liposuction is a popular and proven solution for removing unwanted fat and achieving more sculpted body contours. Thanks to technological advancements over the last few decades, you have multiple safe and effective liposuction options to choose from.
At Umansky Plastic Surgery, we offer three types of liposuction: tumescent liposuction, power-assisted liposuction and Smartlipo laser-assisted liposuction. Each option has unique benefits and considerations, and understanding them can help you make an informed decision about which type might be best for you.
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is the most traditional form of liposuction offered at Umansky Plastic Surgery. It involves injecting a solution of saline, lidocaine and epinephrine into the targeted area through small incisions. This tumescent solution (sometimes called a wetting solution) facilitates anesthesia and helps reduce bleeding and swelling. Once the area is numbed, Dr. Umansky will use a small cannula to suction out the unwanted fat through the incisions.
How Do the Ingredients in the Tumescent Solution Work?
Saline is a sterile saltwater solution used to dilute the other two ingredients in the tumescent solution. It helps to distribute the solution evenly throughout the targeted area and provides hydration to your body.
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that helps numb the area and reduce discomfort during liposuction. This allows Dr. Umansky to perform the procedure with you awake but not in pain.
Epinephrine is a medication that helps constrict blood vessels in the area, which reduces bleeding during the procedure. This makes it easier for Dr. Umansky to remove excess fat and reduces the risk of complications during and after your procedure.
Ideal Candidates for Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction is a versatile option suitable for most people, regardless of their body shape. It is a good choice if you have a large amount of excess fat, as it can remove higher volumes of fat than traditional liposuction. Tumescent liposuction should only be considered if you have firm, elastic skin; it does not provide skin tightening, and lax skin may appear looser once it isn’t filled out by fat deposits.
Tumescent Lipo Recovery Time
After tumescent liposuction, you’ll likely need a few days to a week off from work and four to six weeks off from strenuous activities. Because the tumescent fluid numbs the area to provide local anesthesia, the recovery for this type of liposuction is typically faster and easier than liposuction that involves general anesthesia. There is also less swelling and bruising because the tumescent fluid constricts the blood vessels, which makes for a quicker and more comfortable recovery.
Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) uses a specialized cannula that vibrates at a high frequency to break up and remove fat from the body. As with tumescent liposuction, Dr. Umanksy makes small incisions in the treatment area to insert the cannula. The cannula is attached to a power source that causes it to oscillate back and forth rapidly, which helps to dislodge the fat cells from the surrounding tissue. This process reduces trauma to nearby areas and minimizes bleeding and bruising.
PAL allows for more precise fat removal compared to other liposuction techniques. The oscillating motion of the cannula makes it easier for your plastic surgeon to navigate through delicate or tight areas of the body while also providing better visibility and control during the procedure.
Ideal Candidates for Power-Assisted Liposuction
Of the three liposuction options, PAL is particularly effective if you’d like to remove a large volume of fat. Power-assisted liposuction is also a good option if you have dense, fibrous fat that might be difficult to remove with other types of liposuction. This type of fat is often found in areas like the upper back, upper abdomen, flanks (“love handles”), thighs and male chest (gynecomastia).
PAL Recovery Time
Recovery time for PAL is similar to that of tumescent liposuction but slightly shorter since the powered cannula offers a more gentle treatment. Most patients return to work within a couple of days and resume more arduous activities within a few weeks.
Smartlipo® (Laser-Assisted Liposuction)
Smartlipo is a laser-assisted liposuction technique that’s less invasive than traditional forms of liposuction. During the procedure, Dr. Umansky creates small incisions in the treatment area, through which he inserts a thin tube containing a laser fiber. The laser energy targets and liquefies the fat cells, which Dr. Umansky then suctions out through a cannula.
The laser energy used in Smartlipo has multiple benefits. Melting your fat makes it easier to remove with less trauma to the surrounding tissues, and the heat from the laser helps close the blood vessels in the surgical area for less bruising and swelling. One of the biggest advantages of Smartlipo is that the laser stimulates collagen production, which helps to tighten and smooth the skin in the treated area.
Ideal Candidates for Smartlipo®
Smartlipo is the ideal type of liposuction if you’re concerned about loose or sagging skin. It is also best if you’re looking to remove small to moderate amounts of fat from areas such as the chin, arms, thighs, abdomen and love handles.
Smartlipo® Recovery Time
While the recovery time for liposuction can vary depending on the extent of the procedure and the size of the areas treated, Smartlipo with local anesthesia typically provides the fastest recovery time of the three liposuction options.
Liposuction at Umansky Plastic Surgery
At Umansky Plastic Surgery, we are committed to providing the safest, most effective treatments possible. We can evaluate your areas of concern and goals to help you choose the right liposuction procedure.
If you have a lot of excess fat to remove and are willing to take a little more time for recovery, tumescent liposuction or power-assisted liposuction may be the best choice for you. If you have dense, fibrous fat, power-assisted liposuction may be the best choice. If you’re concerned about loose skin in the treatment area and would like a faster recovery, Smartlipo may be the way to go. In some cases, tumescent liposuction can be combined with power-assisted or laser-assisted liposuction to provide the benefits of both techniques.
It’s important to keep in mind that recovery time can vary based on the amount of fat removed and the areas treated. In addition, some patients may need or wish to undergo general anesthesia for their liposuction treatment, which involves a slower recovery process compared to using local anesthesia.
No matter what type of liposuction you choose, we use extra small cannulas, which reduces your discomfort and recovery time after the procedure. Smaller cannulas also allow us to use smaller incisions, resulting in smaller scars.
Discover the Liposuction Technique to Sculpt Your Ideal Physique
When it comes to plastic surgery procedures like liposuction, it’s essential to understand your options and make an informed decision. Choosing the best liposuction technique may seem daunting, but it’s not something you have to do alone. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as William Umansky, MD, or Jeffrey Umansky, MD, is crucial in helping you determine the ideal procedure for your specific needs and circumstances.
To schedule your personalized liposuction consultation at Umansky Plastic Surgery in San Diego and be one step closer to your more sculpted physique, call (858) 281-4560 or fill out our online contact form.