Power-assisted Liposuction: What is PAL?

Power assisted liposuction (PAL) is just the use of a vibrating handpiece and cannula to help reduce the energy a surgeon needs to expend to complete a liposuction procedure. I started using PAL last year to help limit how much I was sweating in the OR. Not only did it make the procedure less burdensome for me, but I have seen better results when using it. I have seen notably less bruising and swelling after the procedure because I am using less force to drive the cannula through the tissue. I was a bit of a skeptic before I started using the technology, but now truly believe that it improves my results. 

Hello Pixie Girl,

Thank you for your question about Power-Assisted Liposuction, commonly referred to as PAL. It's great to see you're doing your research to understand various liposuction techniques.

PAL is a modern liposuction technique that enhances the traditional method with the use of a device that adds a gentle, rapid, vibrating motion. This power-assisted mechanism is integrated into the cannula, the thin tube used to break up and remove fat during liposuction.

Here's how PAL stands out:

Efficiency in Fat Removal: The vibrating tip of the cannula in PAL helps in breaking up fat cells more efficiently. This efficiency can make the fat removal process faster and more thorough compared to traditional liposuction.

Precision and Control: The power assistance gives the surgeon greater control and precision. This can be particularly beneficial in areas with denser fat or when dealing with larger volumes of fat.

Reduced Physical Strain for the Surgeon: Because the device assists in the fat breakdown process, there's less physical effort required from the surgeon. This can lead to a more consistent performance throughout the procedure.

Potential for Reduced Trauma: The gentle movement of the PAL cannula can potentially result in less trauma to the surrounding tissues compared to traditional liposuction methods. This might translate into less bruising and swelling for the patient post-procedure.

Versatility: PAL can be used effectively on various parts of the body, just like traditional liposuction, and is suitable for a wide range of patients.

It's important to note that while PAL offers these advantages, the success of any liposuction technique greatly depends on the skill and experience of the surgeon. If you're considering PAL, it's crucial to discuss it with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can provide personalized advice based on your specific goals and body type.

Best wishes,

Dr. J. Timothy Katzen

Dear Pixie Girl thank you for your question.

PAL stands for "Power-Assisted Liposuction." It's a surgical technique used in liposuction procedures to remove excess fat from specific areas of the body.

In PAL, a specialized cannula (a thin, tube-like instrument) is used. Unlike traditional liposuction, where the surgeon manually moves the cannula to break up and remove fat, in PAL, the cannula has a vibrating tip. This mechanical vibration assists the surgeon in breaking up fat cells more efficiently and with less manual effort. This can result in a smoother and more precise fat removal process.

PAL is known for its effectiveness and reduced surgeon fatigue compared to traditional liposuction. It can be used in various body areas, including the abdomen, thighs, hips, and arms, among others. The choice between PAL and other liposuction techniques often depends on the patient's specific needs and the surgeon's recommendation.

Liposuction in general describes negative pressure used to extract fat cells. Liposuction can be done "manually" by attaching a metal rod (cannula) to a syringe and applying manual negative pressure on the syringe plunger. Traditional (machine assisted) liposuction accomplishes this with a cannula attached to suction tubing and a vacuum machine. In Power assisted liposuction (PAL), the cannula has a handpiece that allows it to gently vibrate, "powering" it to break up fat cells with more ease and more efficiency. There are multiple other "energy" modalities (such has ultrasound, radiofrequency, thermal etc technology) that can also be added to the liposuction cannula/procedure in similar fashion to help with breaking up fat cells and or treating the overlying skin/tissues where needed.

Liposuction is like photography: the skill of the operator is MUCH more important than the technology.

Having said that, I do like power-assisted liposuction (PAL) for fibrous areas where it's more difficult to remove the fat: the upper back and the male breast are two areas where I do use PAL.

The oscillating tip facilitates the fat removal and reduces surgeon fatigue. I used to do a great deal of ultrasonic-assisted liposuction (UAL); I find PAL offers the same advantages in difficult areas at less cost and with greater safety.

Good luck!