Written by: Lesi Beamon Mackey
7/7/2008 8:18 AM

Liposuction became accepted as a method of shaping the body in the mid and late 1980’s.  The operation was very primitive: the size of the metal tubes (canulas) used to suction fat was the thickness of a ball point pen.  The procedure was performed in a “dry” fashion; wetting solution used in Tumescent Liposuction was not developed until the early 1990’s.  The use of tumescent technique has diminished significantly the blood loss during surgery and hence the bruising after surgery.

            In the late 90’s the advances include smaller suction tubes and Ultrasonic assisted lipectomy, now known by several names: Vaser, Ultrasculpt and Liposelect.  The main advantage of using the ultrasound was the greater ease of performing liposuction in areas of dense (thick) fat like the hips, bra straps and chest.  The down side was the potential for burns and increase in chance for temporary or permanent nerve damage.  In the hands of experienced Board Certified plastic surgeons, however, the technique improved the outcomes for patients seeking reduction in body fat of the breasts and the trunk as well as those looking for the least scarring when dealing with fatty tumors (lipomas).

            Early 21^st century technology brought the PAL (power assisted lipectomy) like the Microaire liposuction device.  This rapidly oscillating tube allowed for a more rapid removal of fat in patients having large volume liposuction.  An example would be a patient having outer and inner thighs and abdomen and hips all on the same day.  This efficient liposuction device decreases the amount of time the patient is under anesthesia and decreases surgeon fatigue.

            The most exciting development in the past 2 years is Laser Lipolysis (SmartLipo, Cool Lipo).  Both companies offer a laser fiber at the end of very narrow tube (thickness of a paper clip) allowing heat energy to be delivered to fat cells causing them to rupture and release the fat.  The advantages include less tissue trauma, less bleeding and bruising because small veins and capillaries are sealed by the laser.  There are exciting preliminary studies showing significant skin tightening if the laser liposuction is performed correctly. The Smart Lipo MPX device, now available at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg, delivers two different laser wavelengths thus giving the surgeon a more controlled application of heat to the fat to minimizing the rapid rise in temperature from the desirable treatment range to a potentially harmful temperature.  This safety margin is not offered by the Cool Lipo device because its single wavelength causes a steeper rise in temperature for a given amount of laser energy delivered when compared to the Smart Lipo MPX device.  PSSF, as of July 4, 2008 is the first Plastic Surgical practice to offer the dual wavelength technology of the SmartLipo MPX.

            In summary, PSSF now offers all the techniques for Liposuction.  The Board Certified plastic surgeons of this group will carefully choose the right technique(s) for each patient they meet in consultation.

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