Body-Jet Liposuction: What You Need to Know

Written byRiannon WestallUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byRiannon WestallUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

85% Worth It rating based on 53 reviews

$4,800 average cost

1 to 2 days of downtime

Local anesthesia

Suitable for all skin tones


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Body-Jet is a water-assisted liposuction (WAL) procedure used to remove excess fat from the stomach, thighs, butt, hips, and arms. It’s sometimes combined with laser liposuction in a procedure called AquaLipo. 

Compared to traditional tumescent liposuction, Body-Jet is less invasive. It uses a fine, pressurized stream of water to break up the fat before it’s sucked out via a cannula (a thin tube). According to one study, WAL causes less tissue trauma, which leads to less swelling and bruising and a faster recovery.

Like other kinds of liposuction, it’s not a weight-loss procedure. But if you have small pockets of fat that diet and exercise haven't improved, you may be a good candidate.

Body-Jet is similar to SmartLipo (which uses a laser to break up the fat before it’s removed) in that both cause less trauma and have shorter recovery times than traditional lipo. However, SmartLipo also stimulates collagen production, which tightens skin and helps prevent sagging after the fat’s removed. It has a significantly higher Worth It Rating from RealSelf members than Body-Jet. 

Some people also compare it to VASER liposuction, which uses ultrasound energy to break up the fat. The other key difference between Body-Jet and VASER is that the latter also has skin-tightening benefits, so it’s especially beneficial if elasticity is a concern. 

In some cases, water jet-assisted liposuction may also have medical uses, such as improving lipoedema—a condition that causes abnormal fat distribution, leading to painful swelling.

Interested in Body-Jet liposuction?

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Pros

  • You’ll need only local anesthesia, which has a lower risk of side effects and complications than general anesthesia.
  • Because fat is gently broken up with a precise water jet before it’s removed, swelling and bruising are typically less severe than with liposuction. That also means a quicker, less painful recovery.

Cons

  • RealSelf members who rated Body-Jet Not Worth It saw more minor changes than they wanted.
  • Some people report that bruising, discomfort, and significant swelling can last weeks to months. For some, it takes up to a year for all the swelling to resolve.

  • Average Cost:
  • $4,800
  • Range:
  • $441 - $8,950

Your price will depend on your doctor’s practice location and level of experience, as well as the size and number of areas you’re having treated. If you’re considering WAL for lipoedema, your health insurance plan may cover the procedure, though most don’t.

You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.

Interested in Body-Jet liposuction?

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Your surgeon will use a local anesthetic to numb the area, and you may also choose to be lightly sedated. 

Then they’ll make tiny incisions and insert a small, fan-shaped water jet, which detaches the fat from the surrounding tissue before removing it through a cannula. You can expect the procedure to take about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the areas.

Compared to traditional liposuction, Body-Jet lipo recovery is quick. You’ll have some bruising, swelling, and discomfort, but you can usually return to work in one or two days.

Dr. Kristine Brecht, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle, explains in a RealSelf Q&A that “the swelling doesn’t start to go down until about two weeks later. Main healing happens over the first six to eight weeks and improves for up to a year.”

Avoid strenuous activity for at least those first two weeks of healing. Your doctor may also recommend that you wear a compression garment, to help reduce swelling.

Body-Jet results can be considered permanent, in that the fat that’s been removed is gone. However, if you gain weight, the remaining fat cells can expand. A healthy diet and regular exercise are essential to maintain your results.

Updated June 13, 2023

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