Our surgeons perform the most modern type of liposuction using the Body-Jet liposuction machine. The Body-Jet liposuction technique represents a true advance for patients considering liposuction. The Body-Jet is a liposuction system that uses pulsating water injection at the tip of the liposuction cannula (small tube). This gentle water action dislodges the fat cells.
The fat is then gently suctioned away. Because the Body-Jet washes the fat from the tissues, there is less often less discomfort during and after surgery. While Body-Jet liposuction can be performed with the patient awake, we usually recommend that the patient have IV sedation or general anesthesia during the liposuction procedure. An anesthetic simply makes the procedure a more comfortable experience.
A key point we emphasize is this: the important thing is not what is removed during liposuction, but what remains after the procedure. It is very important that the fat immediately under the skin is preserved so that the skin has soft and smooth contours. The fat under the skin provides structural support for the skin that helps keep the skin beautiful.
The Body-Jet is gentle, so there is usually less swelling, bruising, and pain than with traditional liposuction. This means there can be less down time for patients after surgery. With Body-Jet liposuction, we have a true advance and logical progression of standard liposuction. The Body-Jet is safe, gentle, and leads to a rapid recovery for patients.
Body-Jet Liposuction Surgery Details
The entire staff at the Meridian Center for Surgical Excellence have an extensive experience in treating liposuction patients. Body-Jet liposuction is a common procedure in our practice. Whether performed alone as a single procedure or in combination with other procedures, such as fat grafting to the breast or buttocks, liposuction is performed nearly every day that we operate. Our experience and hundreds of happy liposuction patients should reassure you that you will receive optimal care and results from your liposuction procedure.
Your Body-Jet Liposuction Experience
Very small incisions are placed usually in the hidden areas such as the bikini line, groin, and belly button. A very small tube is then placed to infiltrate the tissues with tumescent solution. The tumescent solution is made up of saline, adrenaline, and local anesthetic. The liposuction is then performed with the Body-Jet machine and cannulas. The cannulas are small in diameter and have a spray of water at the tip. This pulsating saline at the tip of the cannula dislodges the fat to aid in gentle fat removal. Many, many passes of the cannulas are needed to remove the fat and sculpt the tissues. In some cases, the patient will require special positioning. When liposuction of the thighs is performed, the patient is placed on his/her side. This allows precise visualization and access in sculpting the outer thighs, flanks, and buttocks.
After the liposuction is complete the incisions are typically closed with small external sutures which are removed about one week after the liposuction procedure. The body jet technique results in little retained fluid, so the wounds don’t leak fluid and create a mess as occurs in standard liposuction procedures. The areas are then covered with gauze pads and a garment like a girdle is placed. We typically ask for our patients to wear the garment for about one week. After that, the garment becomes optional, but many patients continue to wear the garment for comfort, and to decrease swelling, for several weeks.
Body-Jet versus Other Options
Liposuction is the most established and effective surgical procedure to remove excess fat. Liposuction has an over 40-year record of safety and effectiveness and has been performed by surgeons on millions of patients worldwide.
We use Body-Jet liposuction in all procedures. There are other liposuction techniques such as laser liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction that deliver heat into the fatty layer before the fat is removed with a liposuction cannula. We have found that Body-Jet liposuction provides excellent results and has a greater margin of safety than heat producing machines. Since laser, Vaser and ultrasonic liposuction can increase the time of the procedure and increase the risk for additional complications such as skin burns, we find Body-Jet liposuction to be the best liposuction technology available.
Non-surgical fat reduction methods have become popular; however, their effectiveness is questionable. There are fat heating and fat freezing machines available. These devices involve placement of an external device on the skin and usually require multiple treatment sessions. The best results from these machines yield only a small percentage reduction in the fat layer and sometimes results are minimal and not significant for the patient. These techniques simply cannot compete with the effectiveness of liposuction. With liposuction, the body is sculpted by removing a major portion of the fatty layer in a single session.
Body-Jet liposuction offers various advantages than traditional liposuction. For more information on Body-Jet liposuction or to schedule a consultation, Portland patients can call our office at (503) 783-0544.
