Liposuction is a very popular form of plastic surgery today. People enjoy the benefits of getting rid of stubborn pockets of fat when diet and exercise are not enough. It is a very safe plastic surgery with a long and successful history. It can be a great procedure to eliminate fat from the face, neck, arms, breasts, abs, hips, thighs, calves, and ankles.

If you are considering having liposuction to take care of some of your "problem" areas, you will need to understand the different techniques employed in order to make an informed decision. The main methods available currently are traditional liposuction, tumescent, ultrasonic, and the super-wet technique.

The traditional method of this plastic surgery procedure involves the use of a cannula, a small tube that is inserted under the skin. It acts like a vacuum, suctioning out the unwanted layers of fat from the targeted regions. The cannula is actually used as the wrecking ball, breaking up the fat deposits first to make it easier to be sucked out. When all the fat has been removed, the incisions are closed with stitches.

Another technique, one of the newest and most sophisticated, is the tumescent liposuction method. In this technique, the plastic surgeon first injects the fatty tissues with anesthesia, specifically lidocaine. This numbs the region and the fat swells and hardens up. Epinephrine is also injected to constrict the nearby blood vessels to reduce blood loss in the area.

The combination of these fluids makes it only local, not general anesthesia necessary, reduces the associated risks. It also allows for better control of liposuction of specific fat deposits. The incision holes are often smaller with the tumescent method of liposuction plastic surgery because tiny, micro-cannulas are used. Basically, tumescent liposuction makes the recovery process quicker and less painful with smaller scars.

The ultrasonic plastic surgery technique is also known as UAL and it shoots ultrasonic waves at the fat deposits to liquefy them so that they are easier to remove with the cannula. This method is preferred over traditional lipo when the targeted area is the upper abdomen, hips, or back. It is also good for getting rid of large portions of fat at one time.

The Super-Wet method, is a plastic surgery style that is very similar to the tumescent method in that fluid is injected to harden the surrounding tissues. The main different is that despite its name, it actually uses less fluid than the tumescent technique. The plastic surgeon will inject only as much liquid as is equal to the amount of fat that to be sucked out.

The down side is that the super-wet method actually results in more blood loss than the tumescent, but the advantage is that the process is shorter, only two hours in duration. Tumescent lipo can last up to five hours long. It is also believed that the super-wet process is safer because less fluids are being inserted into the patient's system.

Each liposuction plastic surgery technique has unique advantages and disadvantages, but having a good understanding of each type will help you choose the best one for your preferences.