If you are considering undergoing liposuction to remove stubborn fat deposits, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options available. While traditional liposuction has been the gold standard for years, a crop of new liposuction treatments are giving traditional lipo a run for its money.

So, how do you know which type of liposuction is right for you? Check out this breakdown for answers.

Traditional Liposuction

Traditional liposuction, or suction-assisted liposuction (SAL), has been around since 1974. Developed by two Italian gynecologists named Arpad and Giorgio Fischer, liposuction became available to consumers in 1982 after being perfected by a French surgeon named Yves-Gerard Illouz. Traditional liposuction is done by inserting a cannula under the skin and using an aspirator to suction fat out. The surgeon breaks up the fat by moving the cannula back and forth, as the aspirator removes the loosened cells. Often, your surgeon will use a tumescent fluid composed of saline, epinephrine and lidocaine

The incisions are then closed up, and the patient is dressed in a compression garment to help the body drain fluid and maintain a desirable shape while it heals. The garment must be worn for several weeks following the procedure. You will experience some swelling following the procedure, and you may not see full results for up to several months. If you have other procedures during your liposuction procedure, you may not notice full results for several months, and you may be required to wear compression garments longer than with liposuction alone.

VASER Liposuction

VASER liposuction (also called liposelection) is different from SAL in many ways. First off, VASER liposuction is better suited to patients who do not have large deposits of fat to remove, but who are looking for body sculpting in smaller areas. VASER uses ultrasonic sound waves to loosen body fat instead of the traditional movement of the cannula. VASER liposuction is performed by inserting ultrasonic probes into the fatty tissue in the desired area. The vibration of the ultrasonic waves replaces the motion of the cannula, loosening the fat cells and emulsifying the tumescent fluid. An aspirator is then used to suction out the tumescent fluid and detached fat cells.

The benefits to VASER are less pain and a smoother look than traditional liposuction. Because VASER doesn’t require body fat to be broken up via cannula, it also means less bleeding and less bruising during recovery.

Whether you are a better candidate for VASER or SAL depends on several factors, including your body shape, amount of fat you want removed, and Dr. Chau’s expert recommendation. If you are interested in learning which procedure is best for you, please contact Dr. Chau’s office for a consultation at 888-966-9471.