Liposuction in San Diego

The first step in the liposuction (liposculpture) procedure is to insert a slim, hollow tube known as a cannula through small incisions near the targeted area. Once inside, the cannula is moved through the layers of tissue to extract the necessary fat. To accommodate the needs of all of our patients, our surgeons offer three of the most advanced liposculpture techniques: tumescent liposuction, power-assisted liposuction and new SmartLipo™ laser-assisted liposuction. During tumescent liposuction, a large volume of dilute anesthetic is injected into the targeted area, causing the fat cells to swell up and consolidate. This improves the surgeon’s ability to remove the unwanted fat smoothly and more effectively. The tumescent technique can also reduce postoperative pain, bruising, swelling, and blood loss, allowing more fat to be safely removed. Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) can be performed in conjunction with the tumescent technique, and involves the use of a specialized vibrating cannula. The cannula’s rapid vibrations loosen deposits of fat quickly and comfortably, making the targeted fat cells easier to remove. As a result, power-assisted liposuction patients often experience less bruising and a shorter recovery time than after traditional liposuction treatment. PAL is especially helpful for areas that have been previously treated for liposuction and for male gynecomastia surgery. SmartLipo™ is one of the latest advances in liposuction technology and is offered by our surgeons. It is a laser-assisted liposuction procedure which uses laser energy delivered through a very small cannula. This appears to lead to less bruising, faster recovery and better skin tightening. Contact our practice in La Jolla, San Diego to discuss the benefits of liposuction (liposculpture) or another body contouring procedure. Click here to watch a video on liposuction at Umansky Plastic Surgery.