Liposuction Q&A
71%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
492 Reviews
Liposuctionbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Liposuction Cost: $5,150

Learn about Liposuction

2,757 people and 780 doctors are talking about Liposuction

Get Free Email Updates

Liposuction, Liposelection, Liposculpture - What's the Difference?!

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD
Question viewed 8,557 times
Tags: comparison

What is the difference between all of these types of lipo: Liposuction, Liposelection, Liposculpture? What type works the best?

19 answers to Liposuction, Liposelection, Liposculpture - What's the Difference?!

+4

Liposuction options between conventional liposuction, ultrasound assisted liposuction, and laser

Liposuction is formally referred to as Suction Assisted Lipectomy, whereby fat cells are removed using a small cannula and a vacuum assisted device. The technique is well recognized, safe, and commonly used by most plastic surgeons. Recent advances have changed the scope of liposuction to include an added benefit of not only removing the fat through suction, but also dissolving the fat with energy. The energy types are ultrasound energy (VASER) or laser. The process of ultrasound assisted... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+4

There are some equipment differences between the various...

There are some equipment differences between the various "types" of liposuction but really all are about the same, just fancy names for the same thing trying to sound different, better, or more elegant. Basically the result you will get depends far more on the nature of your skin and its ability to shrink and the sculpting eye and skills of the surgeon than anything else. No technical developments or advances have occurred in liposuction that exceed these two factors or can cover... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+3

Focus on choosing a surgeon, not on the marketing word used

Liposuction is the basic technique. in small areas, where you are doing small volumes, i sometimes use the word liposculpture, because we are focusing on shape more than on volume (we always focus on both). I find that patients spend too much time online (that's you, if you are reading this), and not in offices speaking to surgeons. Most surgeons will offer free consultations. Go talk to them. At the end of the day, your results will depend on the person performing the procedure.... more
Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD

Chevy Chase Plastic Surgeon

www.dccosmetics.com

+3

Technology vs. Marketing

While there have been both medical and technolgical changes in liposuction, not all of them are such huge advances as marketing campaigns would suggest. From a medical standpoint, the procedure has changed with the use of a wetting solution, both with constituents and quantity. The very first liposuction techniques were performed Dry, where fat was directly removed through a suction cannula. No wetting solution was used, and there was a significant amount of bleeding and bruising... more
Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+3

There is no difference between them

Many different terms have been created to help brand a practice or make the advertised procedure appear special. Any liposuction procedure involves the removal of fat in such a manner as to leave a desired shape. Sculpting is therefore part of the process. Aggressive sculpting to reveal underlying musculature may involve excessive removal of fat which may not support the overlying skin, thereby resulting in complications. Indentations may occur as a result of liposuction when performed... more
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Help! I don't understand all of the liposuction machines and techniques???

Tumescent liposuction, VASER Lipo, Smart Lipo, Cool lipo, Pro Lipo, Slim Lipo, Water Jet lipo... What does this all mean? If I don't get Smart lipo does that mean I'm dumb? If my surgeon recommends Slim Lipo does that mean he/she isn't a "Pro"? It truly is a ridiculous situation we have come to with regard to liposuction and the number of people trying to cash in on America's desire to be rid of its collective fat. In well motivated patients, body contour improvement can be a very more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction, Liposelection, etc.

The first was suction-assisted liposuction, then Ultrsound liposuction and Tumescent liposuction. All these are different techniques of suction-assisted liposuction. Ultrasound liposuction uses ultrasound to disolve fat the suction the disolved fat Tumescent liposuction infuses large volume of fluid with other medications then perform any other method of liposuction. The new comers: Smart Lipo and Water Jet Lipo. There is no significant experience with these methods. There is no... more
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

The skinny on Lipo

The basic procedure is LIPOSUCTION -- removing fat with the aid of a suction device. Since its introduction, liposuction has undergone many advances. The original procedure is the simultaneous mechanical breaking down of fat together with suctioning using a tube attached to a vacuum device (aspirator). Tumescent Liposuction - infiltrating the fatty layer (subcutaneous tissue) with fluid (with medication mixed in) before suctioning the fat. LipoSelection - a marketing term introduced with... more
J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction, Liposuclpture, Liposelection etc etc

With apologies to Genesis - Chapter 1. First, there was SAL - Suction assisted Lipoplasty and the Plastic surgeons looked at what they had done, and it was good they liked it and shortened it to Liposuction and then to Lipo. Evening came and then morning--that was the first stage. Then, came the invention of local infiltration anesthesia AKA Tumescent solution which dramatically reduced blood loss and the pain of liposuction and allowed small volume liposuction to be done without general... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Definition of Liposuction, Liposculpture, Liposelection

The difference between liposuction, lipo-sculpture and lipo-selection is the same as the difference between wine and alcoholic grape beverage! These words are simply marketing terms and are synonymous.
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

Difference between liposuction, liposelection, liposculpture, is arbitrary

Don't focus on the tools the surgeon offers, focus instead on his results. Ask to see pictures. Ask to see pictures of cases similar to yours. Well trained plastic surgeons keep a photographic record of their results. Check out the blog post for an approach to liposuction of the flanks that could be called liposculpture, but is really just changing up the areas normally liposuctioned. There is also a video on cannula size, which I think is more important. see video
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction FAQ

With all of the gimmicky terms used to describe liposuction, it is no wonder that there is so much confusion to the layperson interested in this procedure. Despite all of the misinformation and confusion, there are actually more commonalities with the techniques than differences. All of the techniques require the infiltration of fluid (tumescence) to numb, constrict blood vessels and inflate the tissues to be treated. In addition, all techniques require the breaking up of the fatty tissues... more
Sam M Sukkar, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

All are liposuction, but liposculpture implies a refined technique

I agree that all of the terms are basically liposuction. I also agree that the terms liposelection and liposculpture are used as marketing terms. I do use the term liposculpture to refer to lower volume more refined liposuction to change the contour of body areas in people who are not overweight , are fit, and simply haqve small areas of diet resistant fat which can be removed to improve body contour. Larger volume fat removal in heavier people I refer to as liposuction. Newer techniques... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction, liposelection, vaser, slim lipo, smart lipo, liposculpting

Marketing and trickery. It shouldn't be part of medicine and plastic surgery, but it is. Many "plastic surgeons" are not trained as surgeons at all. But that is part of another answer on what to look for in a doctor. Ultrasonic and laser use energy to melt fat. They do so in different ways, but the effect is the same. They help break up fibrous fat. Vaser and UAL are ultrasonic energy. Slim lipo and Smart lipo are lasers. All liposuction involves liposuction and remoal of... more
Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

It is all liposuction.

All of these terms are used for marketing. Some prefer to use liposuction, liposculpture, microliposuction, liposelection etc. Medicine, like many other things, is also a business and plastic surgeons will use different terms to help 'market' their technique. Ultimately, the result will depend on the surgeon. There are different modalities that can assist a surgeon, such as: Power-assisted liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, laser assisted 'liposuction", radiofrequency etc. more
Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Marketing Terms for liposuction

Hello, Much of what you see in liposuction terminology indicates marketing input. Your terms are basically the same. "Liposelection" is a trademarked term for the VASER system. It was likely coined by a marketing guy. Best Regards John Di Saia MD
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction vs. Liposelection

Liposelection by Vaser is an ultrasonic liposuction technology. Vaser is useful for treatment of areas that are densly fibrous such as the back and male breasts. Vaser and Power assisted liposuction are performed with tumescent liposuction. The result of any procedure depends on the training of the physician. Liposuction is the most commonly performed surgical procedure each year in the United States. Surprisingly, the majority of physicians performing liposuction in the United States... more
Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

+1

Liposuction, liposelection, etc.

It's all in the name! They are all forms of liposuction, period. The other terms are all marketing tools used by companies and some individuals.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

What works best is what works best in the hands of the plastic surgeon.

I have been very impressed by the improved results using the Vaser Liposelection system. So much so that I have not used "traditional" liposuction in years. That is not to say that traditional lipo is not worth using. I get what I consider, and patients consider, to be superior results with Vaser. Other plastic surgeons prefer the more traditional technique and are pleased with their results. To answer your question: -Liposuction is the removal of fat using a suction... more
Edmond A. Zingaro, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question