Indianapolis, Indiana – New liposuction technology means less discomfort and quicker recovery for patients. For the first time in three years lipoplasty has surpassed breast augmentation as the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States.
According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, (ASAPS), there has been a 13% increase in the number of liposuction procedures from last year with over 300,000 procedures performed. With the increase in popularity, scientists and surgeons are working on new ways to make the procedure more efficient for surgeons and provide better results for lipoplasty patients.
By Bruce Van Natta, MD
and Carolynn Grimes
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com
Science Improves Liposuction Surgery
Liposuction has come a long way since it was first introduced back in 1974. Dr. Bruce Van Natta, a board certified plastic surgeon with more than 23 years of private practice, continues to seek out new technology for his patients. He says there are a variety of new liposuction methods recently introduced, including the use of ultrasound and laser technology.
How new technology works to improve the patient’s experience:
- Ultrasound or laser energy breaks up the clumps of fat cells to make removal easier using the standard hollow suction cannula.
- An oscillating powered hand piece was introduced that makes the procedure more efficient and easier on the patient and the surgeon.
- A new water-assisted liposuction device uses a spray of water to free up fat cells that are then suctioned away.
New Liposuction Technology Gets FDA Approval
Recently, the FDA approved another new technology for fat removal; HydraSolve, made by Andrew Technologies. This device uses a unique cannula system that warms and pressurizes an internal flow of saline that draws in the fatty tissue, liquefies the fat and preserves the other tissues, nerves and connective tissue, unharmed. Van Natta says, “The advantages of this new liposuction technology would appear to be faster removal of fatty tissue—in half the usual time with less post-operative discomfort and a quicker recovery time for the patient. There is also some research evidence that the fatty tissue removed with HydraSolve is excellent for use in fat grafting.”
The first HydraSolve units are about to be distributed to select plastic surgery practices, including Dr. Van Natta’s, with widespread availability in late 2012. If you are considering liposuction, you may want to ask your board certified plastic surgeon about HydraSolve.