I get asked a lot about ultrasonic liposuction – so here’s a description of what it is and exactly how it works.
Ultrasonic liposuction employs ultrasonic machines and ultrasonic cannulas, which are the tubes that go into the fat and suck it out with a vacuum. But ultrasonic cannulas are more than just hollow tubes attached to a vacuum. They are devices that emit ultrasonic energy that heats up the tissue, which liquefies the fat. Then the machine is hooked up to a suction apparatus, and as the cannula goes to and fro, the machine vacuums out the fat the ultrasonic energy has liquefied.
What is the difference between external and internal ultrasonic liposuction?
A: The internal form of ultrasonic liposuction is what is commonly known as ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL). It employs a cannula that is hot, and if it’s not moved back and forth or if the physician stops for a moment to think about something or check something, the hot cannula could create bum. So this procedure has greater risks.
That same hot cannula, because it is emitting so much energy, could also go through internal organs or right through the skin from one side to another. Let’s say the physician is working on the left part of the belly. If the physician is not very careful, the hot cannula could go right through the skin to the right part of the belly. So internal ultrasonic liposuction requires a high level of skill, care, and concentration from the surgeon. Other possible side effects can include scarring, pigmentation, blistering, infections, and openings going into the intestine. It’s a tricky procedure, and many physicians who have used it have now given it up. But some surgeons still use ultrasonic liposuction and get good results.
How Ultrasonic Liposuction Works
Ultrasonic Liposuction
External ultrasonic liposuction is used to liquefy fat. The ultrasonic equipment is passed over the skin and moved around with the use of a gel to avoid heating up the skin and creating a bum. Then half an hour later, the liposuction procedure is performed. If you don’t use external ultrasound, you typically take out fat that has the consistency of tapioca. With external ultrasound, the fat is somewhat liquefied, frothy, a much paler yellow, with a consistency of steamed milk on a cappuccino.
What are the advantages of using ultrasonic liposuction?
Ultrasonic liposuction was geared for problematic procedures such as secondary procedures where there was more scarring and it was hard to go through the scar, or for the more fibrous fat that you often have with male love handles or male breasts. The idea was that the ultrasound made the movements easier on the surgeon’s arm and would produce better results.
External ultrasound breaks up and liquefies the fat to some extent, but not that it makes it easier for a physician to do liposuction in any area or that they get better results. It is used it at times, but not very often. But it is a nice, helpful way to smooth things out in the first several weeks after ultrasonic liposuction surgery if there is localized swelling.