What is the Difference Between Liposculpture and Liposuction?

Would you rather be sucked or sculpted? The answer is obvious. The term liposculpture arose as a preferred alternative to liposuction primarliy to connote a better overall impression of sculpture versus suction. In the early years, some practitioners used this term to delineate a practice of lipoetching or superficial liposuction in which more delicate contouring (with a higher risk of creating contour irregularities) is carried out in the upper layers of the fat.
 

Liposuction is surgery to improve the contour of your body by removing excess fat from specific areas.  "Lipo" comes from the greek word "lipos" meaning fat.  Other names for liposuction commonly used by physicians are suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL). lipoplasty, and tumescent liposuction. Tumescent liposuction refers to the injection of large volumes of fluid injected prior to the actual liposuction portion of the procedure.  When you hear the terms, SmartLipo, Cool-Lipo, and Slim-Lipo, these refer to laser liposuction where a laser is used to treat the fat and melt or dissolve the fat prior to it being suctioned out.  These techniques typically require only local sedation and offer quicker recovery due to less swelling or bruising.  The newest technology in liposuction is water assisted liposuction (WAL or Body-Jet).  Body-Jet uses a pulsating stream of water to dislodge the fat while simultaneously suctioning the fat.  This results in much less swelling and bruising  than with other techniques.  Because there is less fluid introduced at one time, it also offers the surgeon greater control over the result.

 Liposculpture was a term originally coined to differentiate ultrasonic liposuction from conventional liposuction because of the potential for better sculpting with this technique. However, with the advancements of  laser-assisted liposuction (SmartLipo Triplex) in the right hands, is able to produce the look of sculpted abs in men or a more defined waistline in women, and this is typically referred to as "high definition liposculpture".  I agree with some of the other answers that the most important determining factor in your result is the qualifications and skill of your plastic surgeon, but that said, in my opinion, laser liposuction (liposculpture) and water-assisted liposuction  produce much better and predictable results than with traditional liposuction.   It is certainly advantageous to patients in terms of results and recovery. Liposculpture is a term often used by physicians in an attempt to enhance the image of the procedure, regardless of whether or not they have incorporated the new technology that has become available in recent years.  

Bottom line: pretty much the same thing! But there are many details that should be considered.At the end of the day, there are many procedures with different names that are ultimately represent same thing: a thin metal tube goes under your skin and sucks out the fat.  Titles like liposuction, liposculpture and a whole host of other customized names can be a purely marketing driven decision to distinguish one doctor from others. There are some nuances, though. Some treatments will utilize other additional treatments as well as the pure liposuction aspect. Many will use energy devices to help tighten the skin. You are going to hear this over and over again, though: at the end of the day, it is the skill of the surgeon who is performing the procedure. The devices they use are secondary to their experience and ability to deliver great results. The most important thing you should seek is proof of a surgeons great work. Look at photos, look at reviews, ask them questions!Important in that verification process is ensuring that their certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.I wish you the best,Dr. Gabbay