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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.
