The Different Types of Liposuction Techniques, Explained

It’s the “gold standard” of fat reduction and the current top aesthetic procedure performed around the world. A recent International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) survey showed that liposuction treatments rose 24.8 percent in popularity over the last year. As the most effective treatment for fat removal, it does more than just take the fat out. Experts stress it’s not a weight-loss aid, but a body-reshaping treatment. Like a sculptor, a good physician will not just remove the stubborn fat, but shape the body as well. Here, experts explain the different approaches and tools used in the various types of liposuction treatments available now.

1 / 6

Traditional Liposuction

This is the most common type of liposuction. It involves making small incisions in the skin and using a suction device to remove excess fat. “There is a lot of marketing that distorts the realities of liposuction,” says New York plastic surgeon Brad Gandolfi, MD. “All types of lipo start out the same. A small cut is made in the skin and the fat is suctioned out. From there, we can divide liposuction types into traditional, powered, and liposuction with energy additions.” Traditional liposuction is done less often now with the advent of power-assisted lipo, which improves surgeon fatigue says Dr. Gandolfi.

puckons/ i stock/ getty images 2 / 6

Power-Assisted Liposuction 

This type of liposuction uses a cannula that moves in a rapid back-and-forth motion to loosen the fat before it is suctioned out. “Power-assisted liposuction, or PAL, uses a variety of tools that vibrates the tip of the liposuction cannula to help remove fat,” Dr. Gandolfi explains. “These come in different brands and are marketed under many names. There is no evidence that one is better than another.” This approach can make the procedure faster and more efficient, and may also reduce trauma to the surrounding tissues.

Getty Images 3 / 6

Tumescent Liposuction

This type of liposuction involves injecting a large amount of a saline solution, along with a local anesthetic and sometimes epinephrine, into the area to be treated. Houston, TX plastic surgeon Olga Bachilo, MD says she performs tumescent liposuction in conjunction with power-assisted lipo. “I use epinephrine and lidocaine fluid to infuse into the tissue before doing liposuction with a vibrating hand tool,” she says. “This allows fat cells to be detached and allows me to remove them out of the body, yet they are still intact and viable and are able to be transferred to other areas of the body if desired.”

Photo Credits: Shutterstock | Image Used for Illustrative Purpose Only 4 / 6

Water-Assisted Liposuction 

This type of liposuction, also known as “water jet” or “hydro-jet” liposuction, involves using a jet of pressurized water to break up and remove the excess fat. This can make the procedure faster and gentler than traditional liposuction, and may also reduce the risk of complications. For patients who do not want to risk an internal burn using energy based devices, this is a viable option. “Energy tightens tissue through heat transfer, however, too much heat can cause a burn,” explains Nashville, TN plastic surgeon Daniel A. Hatef, MD. “Sometimes these burns are seen on the skin, and it is unsightly, but most of the time these burns are internal, and they manifest as strange contours and irregularities. This is why some surgeons are advocates of using no energy.” Dr. Hatef adds that some doctors prefer to perform traditional, power-assisted or water-assisted liposuction to remove as much of the fat as possible and let the skin retract on its own.

jacoblund/Getty Images 5 / 6

Laser-Assisted Liposuction

This type of liposuction uses a laser to liquefy the fat before it is removed. This makes it easier to remove the fat, and may also help stimulate collagen production, which can improve skin tightness. You may hear Laser Lipo referred to as a brand name like SmartLipo, S.A.F.E. Lipo or AirSculpt. “The addition of energy has potential benefits that must be weighed with the risks of tissue injury from their use,” notes Glen Carbon, IL plastic surgeon Ryan Diederich, MD, who employs S.A.F.E. lipo at his practice. “We have also seen further development of the degree of contouring, learning that the body is not a static image, rather a dynamic structure and we need to evaluate it as an active, 360 structure. We continue to see refinements in liposuction with hi-definition liposuction for those wanting a more defined look, maximizing the body contour.” Recovery time is generally shorter than traditional liposuction.

Photo Credits: Model Used for Illustrative Purpose Only 6 / 6

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction

This type of liposuction uses ultrasound energy to liquefy the fat before it is removed, making it easier to remove the fat. “VASER is the name of a device that uses Ultrasound energy to disrupt and liquify fat cells before they are suctioned out,” explains Dr. Bachilo. “This method kills fat cells, so they can no longer be transferred to another area.” When you hear the terms Hi-Def or 360, this just means etching is done to create contour and 360 refers to going all the way around the torso, adds Dr. Bachilo. 

Photo Credits: Alex Butko / Shutterstock It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: "8806970", formId: "a8aef9b2-6178-4dad-9e2a-98b7661febc2" }); Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State Virtual AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search