Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction
Ultrasonic liposuction is a relatively new technique introduced into the United States for the removal of unwanted localized areas of fat using ultrasonic assisted liposculpturing. In 1987, Dr. Michelle Zocchi first described the use of ultrasonic energy in assisting the performance of a liposculpture procedure. Since then, numerous physicians in Europe and South America have adopted this technique quite successfully. The technique is relatively new to the United States. In ultrasonic assisted liposculpturing, an ultrasonic probe is inserted into the surgical site. Once this is accomplished, the fat is liquefied or rather emulsified by a physical process called "cavitation." The cell membranes are disrupted allowing triglycerides and fatty acids to be released. According to Dr. Patrick Maxwell, "Using this cavitation process to selectively emulsify fat results in smoother effects and a process that is gentler for the patient. The procedure is much less taxing on the surgeon because of the emulsification of the fat. There appears to be a significantly decreased amount of resistance, therefore reducing the amount of trauma encountered with standard liposuction." Ultrasonic assistant liposuction is very useful in areas such as the trunk, lateral and medial thighs, and in very fibrous areas such as the upper abdomen and the male breasts.
The technique for ultrasonic assisted liposuction is somewhat similar to conventional liposuction in that similar anesthesia and post-operative dressings are used. The hallmark to all types of liposuction is, of course, the Tumescent technique.
The Tumescent technique has been used for many years for standard liposuction and is extremely important in ultrasonic assisted liposculpturing.
Other areas that are well treated with ultrasonic assisted liposculpturing are the central truncal areas, proximal extremities and the trochanteric or high hip areas. The equipment is somewhat expensive making this procedure slightly more expensive than standard liposuction.
At the very least, the surgeon should have, in addition to his extensive liposuction training, a live workshop course in ultrasonic assisted liposculpturing.
This energy is then transformed to mechanical vibration. The effect of this energy is to create selective destruction of fat cells with the preservation of vessels, nerves and denser biological tissue. The effect of ultrasound on fat cells is that it causes an implosion of microcavities containing gas and vapor which causes a disruption of the cell membranes, as mentioned above, and in essence liquefies the fat.
Dr. Jackson is one of the members of the Ultrasonic Assisted Liposculpturing Task Force of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery that is currently studying and evaluating all types of ultrasonic equipment.
In an effort to learn the very best techniques and to evaluate the best equipment, Dr. Jackson along with the other members of the Ultrasonic Equipment Liposuction Task Force visited England, France and Italy and studied with European surgeons who are currently using this technique. During that time, they spent a considerable amount of time in the operating room in a hands-on learning experience.
