Ultrasonic liposuction Melbourne
Many people lead a healthy lifestyle and are at or near their goal weight, but find themselves left with stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t go away. This can be a very frustrating situation. Some people may choose liposuction to get rid of those last bits of fat and achieve the body image they desire. This is a surgical procedure that can be used to remove deposits of fat tissue.
Here at Bayside Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ross offers traditional liposuction, and he also offers a newer version called ultrasonic liposuction. What are the differences? When might each be preferred?
Traditional liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat tissue from the body. For the procedure, small incisions are made in the skin. An instrument called a cannula is inserted just below the skin, and the surgeon moves it around inside of the body to remove the unwanted fat tissue via suction.
Liposuction is not intended as a method of weight loss. This is because there’s a limit to how much fat tissue can be safely removed during a liposuction procedure. Those who need to lose a significant amount of weight should do so prior to having liposuction. Rather than overall weight loss, liposuction offers body contouring, by removing unwanted pockets of fat from particular areas.
Ultrasonic liposuction
Ultrasonic liposuction is similar in many ways to traditional liposuction. The procedure still uses a cannula to remove fat tissue from the body. The difference is that the device also emits ultrasound waves, which are sound waves with frequencies that are above the range of human hearing. The ultrasound waves help to break up tissues, particularly more fibrous tissues. This can allow for the removal of tissues that might be harder to remove through traditional liposuction. It also requires less force on the part of the surgeon to move the cannula through the tissues.
What are the benefits of ultrasonic liposuction?
Ultrasonic liposuction may have a variety of benefits:
- More precisely removing fat in smaller or more delicate areas, including the areas of the neck, chin, bra strap area, and ankles.
- Refining the contours of an area that has previously received liposuction. If an area has previously had the procedure, there may be some scar tissue present, and ultrasound waves help to break this up during a second liposuction procedure.
- Removing fibrous fat tissue. Areas such as the “love handles” (on the sides of the waist) tend to have more fibrous tissue mixed in with the fat, which can make traditional liposuction more difficult. Ultrasound helps to break up the tissue so it can be removed.
- Easier recovery. Because the surgeon needs less force to accomplish the procedure, there is less swelling and bruising as well as less blood loss during ultrasonic liposuction. This makes the recovery period easier and more comfortable.
- Avoiding damage to nerves. If liposuction will occur in an area near important nerves, then the ultrasound may help the surgeon to avoid damage to those nerves by reducing the amount of force necessary to accomplish the procedure
- Increasing skin contraction. In order to achieve good cosmetic results from liposuction, the skin overlying the treated area needs to contract, so that the patient won’t be left with sagging skin. Ultrasound waves can help to stimulate this process, as they enhance skin tightening.
There are also cases where traditional liposuction may be a better option. Your plastic surgeon should discuss the risks and benefits of each option with you.
Ultrasonic liposuction Melbourne
Here at Bayside Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ross offers both traditional and ultrasonic liposuction to his patients. When you come for a consultation appointment at one of our three offices in the Melbourne area, he’ll first examine you and learn about your goals for your appearance. He’ll determine whether you’re a good candidate for liposuction, and will then explain your options to you, including the risks and benefits of each. This will allow you to make an informed decision about what’s right for you. To book an appointment, please contact our office by calling us on 03 9596 8888 or using the form conveniently located at the bottom of this page.