What is the Best Lipo Method?

Liposuction is a blend of art and science.  I think Liposculpture is a more appropriate term.  I think the best results come from meticulous attention to detail, using many different tiny powered cannulas, excellent thorough evenly placed numbing fluid, avoidance of general anesthesia, and utilizing many different positions during the procedure.  The most  important factor is the skill set of the surgeon.  

Far more important than the
liposuction technique is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon.

See the below link on some
suggestions on finding a #SuperiorLiposuctionSurgeon

Thanks for your question; it's one that a lot of people have
because there are so many options now for liposuction patients. First of all, I
think you were wise to avoid laser liposuction. In my experience, liposuction
techniques that use heat, like laser, radiofrequency and ultrasonic energy, can
cause a lot of problems. The same heat that liquefies the fat also causes
damage to the tissues surrounding the fat, not only killing the fat cells, but
killing other very important types of cells as well. This thermal injury causes
intense inflammation, subsequently causing even more cells to die and more scar
tissue to form in the targeted areas. This scar tissue causes the formation of dermal
adhesions which ultimately result in contour deformities such as indentations
or ripples.

I think that traditional liposuction can be fine, as long as
you don’t try to go too thin, and at a minimum, it’s performed by a
board-certified plastic surgeon with plenty of experience. Power-assisted
liposuction is considered by many to be quite a bit easier on the patient and
surgeon, and it’s a tried-and-true form of liposuction, with most surgeons feeling
like they achieve very good results with it.

I developed a comprehensive body contouring method called
SAFELipo that many doctors around the world have adopted. It uses a 3-step
process of fat separation, aspiration, and equalization that combines the
benefits of liposuction, fat shifting and fat grafting. This process approach
allows some unique advantages in shaping all parts of the body, breasts, and
face. The very careful, unique separation
step allows for removal of the maximum volume of fat while preserving healthy
tissue and optimal blood supply to the area. The final equalization step ensures
a smooth, thin layer of remaining fat for visibly smoother and more thorough results.
These steps also allow for treatment of adjacent areas that may not need
liposuction, but do need skin tightening.
Because of the dramatic, smooth, sculpted results surgeons achieve, as
well as the very low rate of complications and bruising, and shortened recovery
with SAFELipo, I believe it to be the best liposuction method.

I recommend you consult with a board-certified plastic
surgeon who specializes in body contouring and can show plenty of his or her
own before and after pictures of the exact procedure you’re looking to have done.
He or she can give you guidance tailored to your specific physical
characteristics and goals. Good luck!

There is no one best liposuction...at least not yet. Different techniques may have different applications and benefits depending on the patient and surgeon. This can vary with the location of  the liposuction site ase well. In some instances, i have used laser, ultrasound, power assisted, nutational, syringe suction assited lipectomy/lipoplasty.

I always compare liposuction and surgeon to car and driver. In a car race such as NASCAR, the car does not win the race. What matters is who is driving the car. Similarly, in liposuction, surgical outcome its not based on the  method, but the surgeon doing the liposuction. Essentially, the best result in liposuction depends on the training and experience of the surgeon. Your surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.


There are many technologies available to assist the Plastic surgeon. The most common ones are ultrasonic (Vaser & Lysonix) and laser (multiple brands). Each technology carries its own inherent risk and benefits.
No matter which technologies used as an adjunct to liposuction, it is the training, experience, and judgment of the Plastic surgeon that makes the most difference in outcome. The surgeon should select the method that will deliver the best result for the patient. As an expert in all the methods of liposuction, I select which method to deliver the best result.
 

There isn't one right answer as to which type of liposuction is better. Each surgeon has his/her own technique that works best for them. Sometimes it depends on the area and the patient, that can determine the method, as some surgeons use a combination. But the most important thing to consider is the experience of your surgeon, check to be sure of Board Certification in Plastic Surgery and ask to see lots of before and after pictures. Some surgeons can arrange for you to speak to one or two of their patients that have been through the procedure.

One method is not any more or less painful than another in liposuction although for some patients, the vibration felt with power liposuction may distract the nerve endings and make it feel less bothersome, but after the anesthetic solution is injected liposuction is comfortable for most patients. The end result may be the same regardless of using conventional tumescent liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction, water jet liposuction or laser-assisted smart liposuction. The good result you obtain from the liposuction is dependent on the surgeon's experience and talent.

Liposuction has been around for about 30 years. Obviously, there was an evolution and refinement of the technique over the years. What you call "traditional" lipo is the basic standard technique that is done by every surgeon. This involves injecting the targeted fat compartment with a dilute lidocaine solution (numbing agent) and epinephrine (vasoconstrictor). This causes local anesthesia for the region infiltrated. Most surgeons as opossed to dermatologists, will use some additional anesthetic from IV sedation to general anesthesia.

The proponents of strictly local anesthesia are not telling the whole truth. Most will supplement the patient with oral pain pills and anxiolytics prior to the procedure or use intramuscular Demerol injection when "the awake" method becomes just too painful.

Different tools were also developed that can give more efficient fat removal. VASER ultrasound technology, power assist liposuction, waterjet liposuction and laser liposuction. None of these give better results than traditional liposuction except in certain conditions. Patients, especially males who are more fibrous, gynecomastia, previous liposuction where there's more scarring can benefit from these machines. In my practice I've been using the VASER for over 8 years with excellent results. Remember, it is not the machine, but the surgeon that makes the difference! Good luck!

You are not alone in being confused by all of the options for liposuction, and marketing hype makes it even more difficult to decide. The first thing to keep in mind is that liposuction is surgery, not  a spa treatment. Next, it is helpful to know what all lipo procedures have in common: a dilute local anesthesia mixture is injected into the fat to help numb the area and reduce post-op bruising. If the only anesthesia is this local injection, it is called 'tumescent" technique and this is an anesthetic method, not a liposuction technique. Many patients prefer to have some intravenous sedation for comfort, and others might decide on general anesthesia to go completely under. So there are 3 anesthesia techniques commonly employed, although it is often described as local vs. general. Finally, there are technologies that are added on, such as ultrasonic (VASER), or laser (multiple brands) and others. The thing to be wary of here is that they all add additional risk, for example skin burns with the laser. The marketing pitch is often additional skin tightening, which is very minor according to published studies. Ultimately it is the training, experience, and judgment of the surgeon that makes the difference, and your recovery should be smooth regardless of the technique.

There are many liposuction techniques that sound great like "laser" and "vaser" (which is ultrasonic) but really they are all just a marketing gimmick. All of the techniques are designed to make the operation easier on the surgeon by melting the fat cells because liposuction is actually a lot of manual labor! Many surgeons quit when they get tired, instead of when they have achieved the best result. All of the newer technologies have no advantage to the patient and are no less invasive, but have increased risk of complications. Vaser can cause burns of the skin and fluid collections called seromas. Laser liposuction claims to tighten the skin better but there have been no study's showing that this is true. Furthermore, laser liposuction coagulates the blood vessels, which are important for healing and can limit what you can do in the future, including certain types of tummy tucks. I was recently asked to be an expert adviser for zwivel on this topic. Power liposuction is traditional liposuction with a vibrating cannula that makes it easier on the surgeon, but without any increased risk of complications. In addition, I can combine power liposuction with the "SAFE" liposuction technique, which is the best technique to avoid contour deformities. In my opinion the optimal outcome after lipsosuction has more to do with the effort and expertise of the surgeon than any new product.