LIPOSUCTION in Scottsdale AZ

Liposuction is the removal of fat cells through a suction tube from designated areas on the human body. These areas most often include the thighs, hips and abdomen. Over the past few decades, there has been much advancement made with this procedure, and patients now have several options to choose from, including both traditional and laser liposuction.

TRADITIONAL VS. LASER LIPOSUCTION

Both traditional and laser liposuction involve the removal of fat cells through a stainless steel suction tube called a cannula. The difference between the two is the way that the fat cells are loosened before they are removed.

Traditional liposuction uses the cannula, which is inserted through small incisions in the skin, then moved in and out of the body, to break up the fat cells. Laser liposuction is a recently FDA approved technique that uses a laser, inserted into the skin, to melt the fat before it is suctioned out of the body.

Plastic Surgeons and Liposuction

Although laser liposuction seems to have benefits, traditional liposuction is still the preferred method of many plastic surgeons. Traditional liposuction has proven to be highly effective fat removal method for over 30 years, while laser liposuction is a newer procedure that has not yet been proven to be superior to more traditional methods in every instance. Laser liposuction usually cannot be used on larger or wider body parts, such as the hips and thighs.

Doctors point out that little or no long-term clinical trials have been performed for laser assisted lipo, thus little is known about the negative side-effects that this technique may cause.

Another concern is that it is possible that more fluid is retained in the body with this procedure than the traditional method, and that when performed by an untrained doctor, heat from the laser can cause burning to occur.