Are there different techniques for liposuction?
Yes, there are several different techniques for liposuction, including tumescent, super-wet, ultrasound-assisted, and power-assisted. All of them use a cannula to break up deposits of fat and a suction mechanism to suck the broken up fat out of the body. With both the tumescent and super-wet techniques, the surgeon infuses the area to be treated with a solution of saline (saltwater), epinephrine, and lidocaine. This solution swells the tissue and makes liposuction easier and safer, since it also acts to reduce bleeding and as an anesthetic. The amount of solution used is the main difference between tumescent and super-wet liposuction. In ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, the surgeon uses either a special cannula that emits ultrasound waves or passes a paddle that emits ultrasound over the skin above the treatment areas. The sound waves liquefy fat cells, which are then suck out by the cannula. There is a risk of burns using ultrasound. In power-assisted liposuction, the surgeon uses a s
