What is liposuction?

What are the different types of liposuction?

Yes, a thigh lift is likely to leave a scar. The location and length of the scar are dependent upon where the incision is placed and the extent to which skin is removed. Your surgeon will try to hide this in the natural creases and folds of your thigh region.

These scars will heal over time and can heal faster with the use of over the counter treatments. You should expect most scars to be well hidden with particular underwear or clothing.

• Traditional liposuction - We generally use traditional simple liposuction to remove small areas of fat and usually under local anaesthesia, such as a bulge or lipoma. It is particularly useful for treating the neck and the chin, as it is at least as effective as any other technique, is simple and has the fewest potential complications. We use this regularly to harvest fat for processing and re-injection as fat grafting
• BodyJet or Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL) - This is an enhancement of the traditional technique with the added ability to inject local anaesthetic fluid at the same time as carrying out the liposuction. This fluid pulses from the end of the cannula like a low-pressure washer helping to mechanically dislodge fat. Large volumes can be removed quickly and efficiently. It is particularly good with more difficult areas such as the breast, where the fat is more firmly fixed.
• Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) - MicroAire and Lipomatic are two of several mechanically enhanced techniques. They remove the fat as the motorised cannula moves back and forth, sideways or rotates. It is very effective and popular amongst surgeons, primarily because there is less physical effort involved.
• Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL) - The most successful of these techniques is the Smartlipo, now in its third generation, Smartlipo Triplex. We are lucky to have the pioneer of this treatment, Mr Al-Ayoubi, with his huge experience using the technique in all areas. As in all liposuction, there is skin tightening, but the laser enhances this, particularly around the inner thighs and arms where the skin is thin.
• Cellulaze - Subcision is the standard minor surgical technique in which tethering fibres are cut through tiny stabs. It has been recently popularised by an expensive adaptation called Cellfina. Cellulaze however, does all this by laser, but in addition, has a second laser which shrinks the skin. It can also treat large areas at a single session.

What is Vaser liposuction?

Vaser liposuction breaks apart fat cells and loosens them from deeper tissues. Vaser claimed to be quicker, more effective and less painful than other techniques. However, used elsewhere, we have seen lumpy results and occasional burns. The frequent complication is the development of seromas or collections of fluid requiring drainage. The Cadogan Clinic does not recommend this method of liposuction.

We do not use any ultrasound techniques, popularised in the UK such as Vaser, as we consider that it has no advantage and adds unnecessary complications.