Most people who claim to do their homework do so by studying at the wrong university.The truth is most people don’t have access to non-biased sources of information and rely on what providers who are promoting their own practice have to say.Some of these providers may genuinely believe in what they’re selling but I’ll do often they are claiming miracles from the hundred thousand dollar device they just purchased to differentiate themselves from providers who didn’t buy this new toy.Liposuction is the same as it always has been. It’s a small stainless steel tube connected to a vacuum pump.The biggest change in the bus action came with the understanding that adding epinephrine to the numbing solution made blood loss smaller with a faster recovery and making this much safer. The research of Dr. Jeffrey Klein was also revolutionary in teaching us that the amount of lidocaine or numbing medicine used in liposuction was not accurate the way we believed it to be before his research. Dr. Klein showed us that 800% more lidocaine could be used when combined with epinephrine in liposuction when adding it to tumescent solution. This allows us to do liposuction with patients awake which in my opinion is a major advantage and had the biggest impact on how liposuction is performed. Various forms of liposuction such as smart Lipo, VASER etc. etc. are still traditional liposuction with a secondary pre-treatment of the fat using either laser or ultrasound. Radio frequency treatments are also separate from the liposuction procedures. There are three modalities of surgical radiofrequency treatment These are mono polar, bipolar and plasma. Personally I Purchased the plasma version which is called J Plasma or Renuvion. Body tight is Another option. The truth is these advances to liposuction can be slightly helpful but are far from revolutionary and don’t really make all that much difference.They can be really helpful especially in areas like the chin and neck. I would venture to say that a talented provider without a radio frequency device is hands-down better than an average provider with every possible device available.Recovery is exactly the same and varies only on the level of aggressiveness and a proper use of numbing solution.surgeons who don’t wait 15 to 20 minutes for the epinephrine in the numbing solution to work will have more bleeding, more bruising and patience with a longer recovery. They will cover you for chin and neck liposuction is lightning fast compared to other procedures. Most people can go back to work in a day or two and the amount of bruising is fairly minimal effort good technique is used. If someone’s in a hurry and don’t give her the epinephrine time to work then the patient will be left Black and blue.Of the different devices the use of VASER has the potential for creating the biggest change. This can be helpful when trying to get rid of rockhard breast tissue in gynecomastia surgery. It’s definitely not needed in the chin and neck. Because the device can powerfully remove fat it is also a device that has left more people grossly disfigured than any other liposuction equipment. Think Porsche turbo in the hands of a 16-year-old with a learners permit.Personally I chose not to purchase the VASER. I’m certain cases I know it could help me. I also know that the worst case disfigured patients I see on the Internet and in my office all had liposuction done with this device with providers who are trying to do things like etching or high definition contouring.The reality is that there’s no way on gods earth a lay person can possibly understand techniques or equipment for liposuction by doing online research. It’s taken me 13 years of medical training and 20 years of practice of which 10 years was devoted exclusively to liposuction and fat transfer to get to where I am today. you don’t have access to unbiased information to start with.There is only one variable patients should be concerned about.This is pretty much true for all cosmetic surgery.Find the best provider for your procedure and everything falls into place with the highest chance of a good outcome and expectations set correctly so you know what you can get and what is not possible.in your case this means a solid explanation of facial skeletal structures and why in your case this contributes to your double chin, the impact of age, skin laxity, underlying skeletal structures, differential procedures such as facelifts etc. and the limitations of liposuction and the very real limitations of non-surgical skin tightening.Start consulting in person with local board-certified plastic surgeons. Continuing counseling with new surgeons until you find one you feel comfortable with.Personally I think five consultations is probably a good number. Resist the temptation of letting the enthusiasm of the surgeon or their sales team get you to put down a deposit at the time of consultation.Business consultants that help plastic surgeons run successful practices will drill this into every practice. Get the patient to commit with a date and a deposit at the time of consultation. This serves the surgeon really well but it’s not in the patient’s best interest.Continue having in person consultations until you feel you found the right provider.You should get a very nice result. If you’re willing to have the right procedure you’ll have a mind-boggling results.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD
