In 1987, the first Chicago liposuction patients were issued, and two types of ultrasonic liposuction were developed. Internal liposuction involved the vibrating cannula, while external liposuction requires a machine applied outside the skin just before the procedure.
Ultrasonic (meaning high-pitched sound) liposuction can be done in three ways: the traditional, the wet, or the tumescent liposuction method. The principle is simply to loosen the fat to vacuum out more easily. Sadly, older equipment like cannulae or tubes can kill tissues and burn the skin of patients. These may also cause blisters and scarring. And internal liposuction also brings about more seroma, ball-like collections of body fluid. Seroma may be long-lasting, although they can be treated.
Internal liposuction equipment are costly, hence the procedures are also quite expensive for the patients. The first- and second-generation cannula tips can get so hot that they burn tissues and cause nerve damage. In current equipment, however, water is used to cool the shaft of the cannula to minimize overheating. There can be some tissue burning protection when in the wet method, but the water may also vanish during long procedures. There are even reports of ultrasonic cannulae breaking into pieces while being used in patients, thus requiring another surgery to take these out of their bodies. Titanium cannulae now cost hundreds of dollars, but may be used only about 20 times.
These equipment were first used in Europe and South America, but serious problems arose which harmed patients. In the 1990’s, American plastic surgeons began to adopt and modify technology for ultrasonic liposuction, but with unsuccessful results. In 1999, these surgeons were said to have started monitoring, but it’s been alleged that even the board-certified surgeons’ task force did not monitor accurately and honestly about reported complications.
Many patients have gone for legal claims related to liposuction surgery. Some have nerve damage documented by specialists like neurologists and orthopedists, which is likely to be permanent. Sadly, one surgeon who did the operation on two patients (at least) claimed he did not know of problems like that before. Doctors should report honestly, to improve quality. For medical procedures, doctors must strive to look for the sources of problems and find or create solutions. It is the doctors’ responsibility to report such problems, and not necessarily the patients’. Those who are unaware of recent complications related to the methods employed may be harming their patients without knowing it.
External ultrasonic liposuction devices have been found to cause serious burns to patients, and many doctors have noted no difference using these compared with the tumescent method. For the former, however, requires more time for the procedure, so doctors will not really do it if there were no extra charges. In short, external ultrasonic liposuction is probably safe and might add to a procedure’s duration, but its value is doubtful among reputable doctors. Be sure to interview doctors’ previous patients, and don’t succumb to “modifications” if these are unnecessary. You may only be paying more for something you don’t really need.
