In 2016, liposuction was the most performed plastic surgery procedure in the Unite States. The procedure is an extremely effective way to remove stubborn fat from various places around the body, and also to provide contour. What can be tricky for would-be patients is the numerous “versions” and “variations” of liposuction that can either be helpful or gimmicky.
Liposuction veteran and board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Lee says there’s a clear choice that’s stands above the others: SAFELipo. The technique uses the same instruments as traditional liposuction, but in a way that produces dramatically improved contours and fat removal results for patients.
Liposuction – Top Procedure
Over 400,000 patients received a liposuction procedure in 2016. It remains the top surgical procedure because it works and produces instant, lasting results. “Liposuction is actually the number one performed plastic surgery procedure that exists,” shares Dr. Lee.
He says people who get traditional liposuction want it because they have extra fat they don’t want around the waist, hips or even calves. Liposuction can be used almost everywhere on the body using an instrument called a cannula. “It’s like a long probe that we use through a small incision to remove the fat,” says Lee.
Sorting Out Lipo
Liposuction has been around for decades, but it’s no longer just one method – there are many options. Dr. Lee says the majority of the newer techniques all involve some sort of trauma to the fat tissue “It might be laser or ultra sound, but most of the new methods heat up and kill whatever cells are in that area.” Lee says with this method fat cells are killed off, but so are all other structures in the area, like blood vessels and nerves. For that reason, he’s not a huge fan of traditional liposuction. “That’s really why I don’t prefer those techniques.”
Another type of liposuction, or style if you will, does interest Dr. Lee, and that is SAFELipo.
Why Chose the SAFELipo Technique
SAFELipo can be a safe, effective alternative to traditional liposuction, according to the creator of the technique, Dr. Simeon Wall – who also trains other board certified plastic surgeons to use the procedure. Dr. Lee, who recently wrote a paper on the procedure, admits at first he was skeptical, but is now on board. “The proof is in the results. I went from doing 1-2 liters of liposuction on my patients to 4-6 liters in patients and those patients come back and it’s a game changer.”
SAFELipo isn’t a technology, it is the enhanced use of specialized cannulas to achieve a superior result. Lee explains that SAFELipo is a multi-step process, making up the acronym SAFE:
- S – Fat Separation
- A – Aspiration
- F – Fat
- E – Equalization
Lee says using special cannulas and the SAFELipo method allows him to get a better result, using a 3-step process. “You aren’t just removing the fat, but you are doing more contouring. You are treating more surface area and so the result is a dramatically different result than what I was able to achieve before.”
Lee says he gently uses a basket cannula to detach the fat, then targets the fat for suction removal – without destroying surrounding tissue. SAFELipo preseves blood vessels and nerves, while removing fat cells. The surgeon doesn’t have to use a lot of tugging or pulling force, like in other liposuction procedures. This step is followed by the smoothing out process, or equalization. “I always compare this to grading a driveway,” explains Lee.
Lee believes SAFELipo offers patients the best body contouring option: “In my opinion it’s been the greatest contribution in the last 10-15 years in terms of liposuction.” Lee says he’s a true believer in the benefits of SAFELipo and says it beats traditional liposuction, hands down. “My comparison with traditional liposuction, where thats one step, this is 3-4 so it does take longer, no question. But once you do it, there’s no going back to the traditional way.”
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