LIPOSUCTION IN SEATTLE AND TACOMA
Getting rid of stubborn, unwanted fat can often be a lifelong struggle. Dieting and exercise can help you shed the pounds. Yet, what happens when you are at a healthy weight? Or within a few pounds of goal weight and it just won’t come off? This is where liposuction can come in. Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that can remove stubborn fat deposits from many parts of the body. It also aids in other cosmetic surgeries. Dr. Jonov at Seattle Plastic Surgery offers liposuction procedures in the Greater Seattle and Tacoma areas.
HOW DOES LIPOSUCTION WORK?
There are many different ways to perform liposuction that depend upon the patient’s individual goals, health, and anatomy. Generally, Seattle lipo aims to remove unwanted, stubborn fat from the body. This often happens as part of a major weight loss transformation. The procedure helps patients get rid of the fat resistant to diet and exercise.
Every fat removal procedure will differ based on the treatment area and the individual patient. It is a highly customizable procedure and your Seattle plastic surgeon will cater it specifically to your needs.
History of Liposuction
Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, first became a sensation in the 1970’s. Father and son Italian doctors developed the first blunt tunneling device that soon became the standard. However, the concept of fat removal and body contouring was first introduced by Dr. Charles Dujarier in the 1920’s.
Early liposuction included a large tube to suck out fat and featured more risk and invasive surgical technique than modern liposuction. Over time, the tools cosmetic surgeons used to perform liposuction became smaller and more refined, until Drs. Arpad and Giorgio Fischer developed their blunt instrument in 1974. This catapulted the popularity of liposuction and allowed for liposuction surgical techniques to improve in the coming decades.
In 1982, the first liposuction cannula and techniques around it were developed. This significantly reduced complications, risks, and recovery time associated with the procedure. These two new techniques included the “wet lipo” technique which utilizes a similar method to today’s “super wet” technique.
As the 20th century rolled into the 21st century, other types of lipo became available. The next iteration of liposuction came in the form of lasers. Laser assisted liposuction used lasers to liquefy fat before using more traditional liposuction methods to remove the fat. While lasers sometimes decreased the amount of bruising, they could also result in burns or skin damage. Additionally, fat removed using the laser liposuction method is not viable for fat transfer.
Today, most plastic surgeons favor tumescent liposuction (evolved form of the “wet” lipo technique) and ultrasound assisted techniques. Ultrasound assisted liposuction, or ultrasonic liposuction, works similarly to lasers, except that it comes with less risk. Also, the fat can be transferred to augment other parts of the body such as the breasts, lips, or butt.
