There are several forms of plastic or cosmetic surgery that feature multiple sub-categories or approaches, and a great example here is the broad realm of liposuction. While the goal of liposuction is always to remove excess fat from the body, there are multiple ways this can be done depending on the needs of the patient and several other factors.Â
At the offices of Steven Warnock MD, we’re happy to offer various liposuction services to patients around Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah – plus consultations with Dr. Warnock and other members of our expert staff to help you determine which is ideal for your needs. This two-part blog series will begin by going over some of the elements of this procedure that remain constant regardless of which type you’re receiving, then will get into the common liposuction varieties, how they differ, and which is ideal for you.
Liposuction Elements That Remain Constant
There are a few elements of the liposuction process that will be standard across all types of liposuction, and should always be expected. These include:
- Use of small incisions: Liposuction always requires the use of small incisions, typically less than an inch in size. These are used to insert a hollow tube called a cannula into the area between the skin and underlying fat layer.
- Anesthesia: Your safety is paramount when it comes to any kind of plastic surgery or procedure; for this reason you will also be given anesthesia (either local or general, depending on the liposuction type) to ensure you remain comfortable throughout.
- Fat removal: This is the core purpose of the procedure – by extracting fat through these small incisions with a cannula, your desired area will become more sculpted and toned as excess fat is removed.
These are just a few of the elements you can expect from any kind of liposuction procedure, and in the next sections we’ll explore some of the different types now used in plastic surgery offices around the country.
Suction-Assisted Liposuction
The original form of liposuction, and one that many people think of when they hear the term, is suction-assisted liposuction. This involves the use of a cannula to physically remove fat cells from the targeted area, along with the use of suction to take away any remaining fat in that region.
Abbreviated SAL, this procedure type is typically best for patients who are not excessively overweight, but do have some undesirable fat deposits in certain areas. It’s also typically used in smaller body regions such as the arms or neck, although larger sections of the body can be targeted with SAL as well.
In part two of our series, we’ll go over the other most common types of liposuction to keep in mind for your needs. For more on this or any of our other plastic surgery services, speak to our staff at the offices of Steven Warnock MD today.