If your diet and workout routine aren’t helping you shed those excess pounds, plastic surgery offers several options for losing the fat for good – and getting the body you dream of. From liposuction to skin tightening procedures, bodysculpting treatments can help remove bulges and extra skin to create a streamlined silhouette.   

In recent years, more doctors are using power assisted liposuction, a procedure that targets stubborn fatty tissue and can recontour the body for a more natural look. When you’re reviewing different liposuction procedures, consider these benefits and drawbacks of this innovative bodysculpting technique:  

Benefits of Power Assisted Liposuction  

Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) is administered with an innovative vibrating tip on the suction tube that helps loosen the fat cells while it removes them. This prevents excessive injury to the surrounding cells and tissues which means less pain and discomfort during and after treatment. 

Other key benefits of power assisted liposuction include:  

Smaller incisions. The suction tube is much smaller than conventional liposuction procedures, which means your plastic surgeon won’t need to create large incisions around the treatment area. This also means fewer scars and side effects from the surgery.

Fewer complications. Plastic surgery centers such as Marina Plastic Surgery in California, report that power assisted liposuction presents fewer complications than many other bodysculpting procedures such as ultrasound-assisted liposuction. It may be a safer treatment for some people, providing results with minimal pain, discomfort and side effects.

More precision. Since the suction device used in power-assisted liposuction is so small, the doctor has more control and can easily guide the fat removal device more efficiently over the tissues. This reduces the chance of trauma to surrounding cells, and can give you a more sculpted, natural look.

Drawbacks of Power Assisted Liposuction  

The Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Hospital Sart – Tilman Liege in Belgium reports that even though ‘liposuction is currently the most frequently performed aesthetic operation in the world… it is not a trivial surgery and is not always benign.’ Researchers here explain that power-assisted liposuction is still inferior to the vibroliposuction technique, another innovative procedure for fat and cellulite removal  (Source:  National Institute of Health).  

As with any surgical procedure, power assisted liposuction does present some risks during the surgery and recovery stages. Pain is typically managed with local anesthesia and painkillers, but complications may include excessive bleeding, bruising in the treatment area, and swelling for weeks after the treatment. Still, most of the discomfort can be managed with appropriate rest, a healthy diet and visits with the doctor for follow up steps.  

Other Information About Power Assisted Liposuction  

Power assisted liposuction offers a permanent fat removal option, so even if you gain weight after the procedure, the extra fat won’t necessarily get deposited in the treatment area. Most plastic surgeons qualified to perform the liposuction procedure offer different types of liposuction treatments such as tumescent liposuction, laser liposuction and vibroliposuction. 

Your initial consultation will determine which fat removal procedure is the best match for your needs. Liposuction has become one of the leading bodysculpting procedures for removing excess fatty tissue and cellulite from the thighs, hips, abdomen and buttocks. When your healthy lifestyle isn’t helping you get rid of those last few vanity pounds, power-assisted liposuction may be a valuable option for you.  

Learn more about  liposuction in our information guide, or contact a plastic surgeon in your area to find out if PAL is the right match for your bodysculpting program.