How Effective is Tickle Lipo?

Tickle lipo works great for me.  I like it because it allows me more precise control over where I remove fat and how much.  I also think that it is less traumatic to the fat than other forms of liposuction, so when we need to harvest fat for a fat transfer or Brazilian butt lift, the fat has improved viability.  Some of my patients have noticed improved results as soon as the next day with Tickle lipo, and this was never the case with ultrasonic liposuction!

The effects of liposuction, no matter what form (laser, ultrasonic, suction-assisted, or power assisted) all essentially perform the same function, but the ease with which good results can be obtained is not equal, and the same is true for the amount of trauma incurred to the tissue.    

It is still absolutely essential that the surgeon be skilled at liposuction, as you can get contour problems (bumps and divots) with all forms of lipo!

I have tried and taught most every technological application in liposuction.  I find, along with so many thought leaders, that S.A.F.E. liposuction is the safest technique with the smoothest and most predictable results.  S.A.F.E. stands for suction, aspiration and fat equalization. It is performed with tumescent anesthesia.  Much of the technique depends on smoothly pretunneling the areas for reduction to separate the fat and to prepare it for atraumatic suctioning.  A specialized cannula is then used without suction to ultimately smooth the areas of all potential lumps and bumps. Six weeks in a compression garment then maximizes skin shrinkage. 

If you feel good about the doc and comfortable with his explanations and he has a lot of experience, then that is more important than a gimmicky lipo name.  Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Dear Akimber

This is just a propriety name for a type of ultrasonic liposuction.  There will never be a study establishing this as more or less effective than laser liposuction.   Ultimately it is not about the machine, it is about the surgeon.  I think it is worth asking yourself how good is your surgeon if they have to rely on the most gimmick methods.  Pure tumescent liposuction is still the safest method of liposuction.  This method is performed by dermatologic surgeons with small cannulas and has proven itself to be the safest form of liposuction.

I have to be honest, I am extremely bias when it comes to Tickle Lipo. I am an ObGyn turned cosmetic surgeon 12 years ago. I have used every platform, i.e. Lasers, including Smartlpo, SlimLipo, CoolLipo, used VASER, used BodyJet, done traditional lipo and PAL. Tickle Lipo is superior to the rest. I have only offered Tickle lipo to my patients for the last 8 years. It is the most gentle way to numb you. The numbing process is done totally awake with little to no discomfort. Once you are thoroughly numb, we then insert a small suction cannula, that is gently vibrating and rotating. The motion actually aide in your comfort level and causes that fat to liquify for easy and thorough extraction. The surrounding tissues are minimally irritated allowing for a faster healing process as compared to Laser.
The areas you are looking to have lipo'ed are appropriate areas for Tickle lipo.
You have to understand, and nobody who does laser will typically tell you, that the laser process is a 3 step process. First we have to numb you with a cannula that must be jabbed into the tissue. Very hard to do this comfortably with you wide awake, therefore some sedation and/or pain meds are given to take care of this initial pain. The second step is to laser you. That laser beam is small, typically only 1mm in diameter and extremely hot. It actually vaporizes tissues right next to it and severely burns adjacent tissue. Therefore creating lots of damage that takes months to heal. Lastly, suction is carried out, and it is usually done with a cutting cannula which is essentially traditional liposuction. Bottomline with laser you are being burned and then cut. I emphasize this because it is this damage that takes the 3-6 months to heal.
In conclusion, Tickle is comfortable and thorough, minimal surrounding tissue trauma allowing for healing process to be measured in weeks (3-4) vs. laser which is uncomfortable with significant surrounding tissue damage and healing process is measured in months (3-6).
And yes, BTW, Tickle lipo does tickle.:)

Until the Tickle Liposuction unit, the best method for liposuction was the traditional liposuction for the following reasons: Energy source, such as laser, radiowave, ultrasonic, added a new diminsion of complications because of the heat from the cannula. I have seen article after article of burns from such liposuction equipment. Of course, in the proper, skilled hands such complications are more rare.

Another disadvantage of laser or other energy sourced liposuction is the increase time it takes to perform the procedure. They are two step procedures in that first you must melt the fat, and then go back and liposuction the melted fat out.

The Tickle Lipo, contrary to what some think is not an ultrasonic energy source liposuction unit. There is minimal to no heat as it is subsonic. The true name is Nutational Infrasonic Liposuction  (NIL).

Now for the NIL advantages: The specific rotational movement actually only breaks down the fat and not the connective tissues. This procedure shortens the procedure by 25% or more, and because of its lack of damage to surrounding tissues, results in less bruising, swelling, and recovery time. The Vibration-like activity of the cannula tip reduces the pain during and after the procedure. General anesthesia is rarely needed.

An additional benefit is that, unlike laser,etc., it does not harm the Adipose Derived Regenerative Cells (ADRC), and if fat transfer is desired for volumizing the breast, face, hands or buttocks, the fat is more likely to survive, even more so that traditional liposuction.

With all of the above said, the most important factor is still the skill and experience of the surgeon.

For local anesthesia, the tumescent technique is still necessary regardless of the equipment.

I'll disagree with some of the prior comments. I like the Tickle Lipo platform, but it's no magic wand. It's best thought of as a power assisted liposuction (PAL) with some low frequency ultrasound effect. It's very efficent for fat removal and hurts noticably less then traditional in my assessment. I think the actual results are no significantly different then traditional

May mean sound wave lipo, effectiveness is surgeon dependent and than type dependent. Seek in person evaluations from boarded plastic surgeons. 

The bottom line is that the 2 most important determinants of a good liposuction result is choosing the best doctor and having the best skin elasticity.  If you don't have these two things, you won't get a great result regardless of whether you use ultrasonic, laser, or traditional liposuction.  

Dear patients, can we please put this to rest finally??!!