It’s no surprise that liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. Just about everyone has an area of their body that holds onto a little more fat than they’d like, and the idea of permanently re-shaping those “trouble spots” is pretty appealing. Fortunately, we live in exciting times when it comes to liposuction. Our Los Angeles liposuction specialists are world-renowned pioneers who have helped develop some of the latest innovations in liposuction techniques.
To find out more about liposuction surgery in Los Angeles at Marina Plastic Surgery Associates, call us at 877-298-9915 in Marina Del Rey or use our simple online form to request a consultation.
The History of Liposuction
The liposuction procedure has its roots in Europe, and dates back to the 1970s. In 1974, an Italian gynecologist invented the procedure, which involves inserting a tube, called a cannula, and using suction to remove fat. In the late 1970s, a French plastic surgeon popularized the procedure for strictly cosmetic uses, and it was introduced in the United States in the early 1980s.
In its early forms, liposuction required general anesthesia and a longer post-surgical recovery. Manually forcing a larger cannula through the fat caused a lot of trauma to surrounding tissue, with significant bruising and bleeding. The incisions were larger, and sometimes results were uneven, indented, or lumpy looking. Refined sculpting of the tissue was difficult with the available technology.
Liposuction Milestones
Tumescent Technique
In 1985, a California surgeon invented the tumescent technique, which has dramatically improved the safety, comfort, and results of liposuction. This involves flooding the area to be treated with a large volume of anesthetic solution, which makes for easier, more refined fat removal and less damage to surrounding tissue. The advent of tumescent liposuction allowed liposuction to be performed using local anesthesia with virtually no blood loss. Within a relatively short time tumescent liposuction became the worldwide standard of care.
Power Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Power-assisted liposuction is a significant improvement over traditional liposuction, and is considered by many to be the safest and most effective lipoplasty method available. The innovative, gently vibrating PAL cannula represents a major advance in the field of body contouring, offering patients:
- Gentler removal of fat
- More refined sculpting for improved body contours
- Shorter procedure and recovery time
- Smaller incisions
Smartlipo™
Smartlipo is an exciting innovation in liposuction technology that is less invasive than earlier liposuction methods. The Smartlipo cannula emits laser energy, which liquefies the fat, allowing it to be easily removed, either with suction or through the body’s natural cleansing process. Smartlipo is a great option for liposuction patients who want:
- A shorter, safe procedure
- A more comfortable recovery
- Tightening of the skin in the treated area
In addition to liquefying the fat, the laser’s heat also seals blood vessels and stimulates tissue tightening, which can improve healing and results. Smartlipo can be performed alone, or to enhance results from another liposuction procedure.