Overcoming the Challenges of Liposuction Surgery
The challenges of liposuction surgery are changing even as advancements in technology make the process safer. New procedures, higher demand for lipostructuring, and numerous other factors mean surgeons now face greater challenges.
As a result, it is more important than ever that leaders in the medical device industry engineer tools which make liposuction surgery safer while improving aesthetic and functional outcomes.
The Pros and Cons of Tumescent Local Anesthesia
Tumescent local anesthesia is used in multiple fields because its disadvantages are minimal and the benefits are plentiful. Cosmetic surgeons favor tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) for multiple reasons, such as:
- It poses less risk to the patient during surgery: General anesthesia has been linked to multiple side effects and in rare cases, death. TLA has significantly fewer risks than general anesthesia because the patient is awake and alert during surgery.
- Allows the patient to move during surgery: The patient is able to move during the procedure, which gives the surgeon quick access to target areas.
- It expands the target area: TLA causes the tissue to swell, making it easier for the surgeon to remove or fill fat while minimizing the damage to surrounding tissue.
The biggest risk with TLA is toxicity, but our Liposat® Power is an infiltration device specifically engineered with this risk in mind. Surgeons can preset TLA volume to a maximum of 30ml. When the designated volume is reached, the machine automatically stops. Moreover, you can increase your client’s comfort by pairing Liposat® Power with our heating dishes, which keep the saline solution at an optimum temperature.
Surgeons Need More Efficient Suction Devices
In the future, surgeons can continue to expect to perform surgeries that require small and large volume fat removal and fat grafting as complex surgeries become more common.
Microfat grafting is becoming a regular procedure to finesse contouring. Advancements in plastic surgery have made it safe to remove large volumes of fat, a growing need as obesity rates continue to climb.
Meanwhile, fat grafting is continuously being used to achieve better aesthetic and reconstructive outcomes. In addition, patients want fat removed from areas where fibrous and tough tissue make liposuction harder on the surgeon by requiring them to exert more force.
Changes such as these have led to the need for more powerful suction devices, such as our suction machine, Vacusat® Power.
Vacusat® Power is a powerful suction device that utilizes a strong but quiet motor to make surgery easier and more comfortable for both you and your patient. We’ve engineered it make the liposuction process more convenient than most suction devices have; it features an additional overflow protection to avoid over suction and a filter to improve patient safety.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-assisted liposuction is a relatively new technology in the cosmetic surgery industry, first emerging in the late 1990s. This lipoplasty method uses a special cannula which exerts tiny, rapid vibrations that separate fat cells, allowing the surgeon to extract adipose tissue faster than similar liposuction methods.
Despite the market’s focus on nonsurgical liposuction, demand for small and large volume lipostructuring for numerous procedures has increased the need for traditional liposuction. This has ultimately led the cosmetic surgery industry toward technologies that are faster, safer, and more comfortable for both the patient and surgeon.
Although research on power-assisted liposuction is limited, several small case studies and reviews suggest power-assisted liposuction minimizes surgeon fatigue and trauma to surrounding tissue while achieving gold-standard aesthetic outcomes.
Reduced Trauma to Septal Fibers with Power-Assisted Liposuction
Plastic surgeon Dr. Afschin Fatemi conducted a small scale case study comparing the preservation of intact septal fibers and extent of trauma to surrounding tissue through in vivo endoscopy after laser-assisted (LAL), power-assisted (PAL), suction-assisted (SAL), ultrasound-assisted (UAL), and water-assisted (WAL) liposuction.
Dr. Fatemi found that preserving septal fibers is critical to skin retraction and elasticity; reduced bleeding, swelling, and recovery time; and maximum aesthetic results. Fatemi explains, “the fibrous septae network of the adipose tissue is attached to the dermis and deeper structures. Because of this attachment, its preservation may be a key factor in maximizing skin retraction after liposuction.”
The case study was conducted on three focus groups: abdominoplasty patients, cadavers, and lipoplasty patients. He used Body-Jet system by Human Med for WAL treatments, Sonoca 180 by Soring Inc. for UAL, Moeller Medical’s Vibrasat® Pro for power-assisted liposuction, and the Aspire platform with SlimLipo laser module with 924/975-nm diode laser by Palomar Medical Technologies Inc. for LAL treatments.
Fatemi’s study found promising advantages of power-assisted liposuction; it produced yellow aspirates while WAL produced red aspirates. This suggests that power-assisted liposuction causes less trauma and bleeding than WAL.
Vibrasat® Pro Overcomes the Disadvantages of Power-Assisted Liposuction
According to many plastic surgeons, the two biggest disadvantages of power-assisted liposuction are the loud motor and vibration from the handpiece that causes fatigue in the physician’s hand.
We are striving to overcome these challenges by engineering revolutionary medical devices that meet the needs of the surgeon and their patients. Our latest power-assisted liposuction device, Vibrasat® Pro, features a newly engineered handle that is cushioned to absorb these vibrations and runs with a quieter motor. It is the only device of its class with a power-boost function that allows you to separate fat at up to 6,000 strokes per minute.
Liposuction Devices for Your Specific Needs
At Möller Medical, we believe engineering advanced liposuction devices that support a surgeon’s distinct techniques and helping them choose the products that will serve their practice best are just a few factors that make surgery a good and safe experience for surgeons and their clients.
If you contact us, one of our agents will gladly tell you how our full suite of liposuction devices can help you meet goals you have for your patients and clinic.
