All About Ultrasonic Lipo Surgery

Ultrasonic lipo surgery or UAL is a variation of the traditional lipoplasty procedure in which high frequency sound waves are utilized to liquefy fat through a combination of thermal and oscillating energy. The ultrasound source can be positioned internally or externally: in the former the ultrasound equipment is incorporated into the surgical cannula itself (the instrument used to suction out fat) while in the latter, ultrasound is delivered externally to the area undergoing the procedure by means of specially outfitted paddles.

Ultrasonic lipo has certain advantages. It facilitates the removal of fibrous fat typically found the face, neck, abdomen, back and buttocks particularly among men that might otherwise be difficult if not impossible to remove. Additionally, because ultrasonic cannulas act to cauterize the incision area, there is often considerably less bleeding associated with their use than there is with other forms of liposuction.

But UAL carries undeniable risks as well. Ultrasound equipment generates heat thus increasing the possibility of blistering, burning and subsequent scarring. The heat generated by the procedure also increases the possibility of blood clots within the tiny capillaries that supply oxygen to the skin. UAL is implicated in a higher incidence of peripheral nerve impairment that can cause prolonged numbness; for this reason many surgeons feel that UAL is contraindicated for treatment of the face, neck, arms and legs.

Finally UAL is associated the development of seromas, serous fluid filled pockets underlying the skin that cause unsightly bumps and pitting and may persist for a relatively long time after the liposuction procedure is through. Additionally ultrasonic liposuction is more expensive than traditional liposuction. The instruments. The newest equipment – and you want a physician who uses the newest equipment – costs around $40,000 and you can be sure the physician will pass the cost along to his or her patients.

In the end the choice whether or not to use UAL is the patient’s. Weigh the risks and benefits of ultrasonic liposuction carefully before you make your decision.