Power-assisted liposuction, also called PAL, is an exciting and significant breakthrough in body sculpting. If you have persistent areas of fat, desire a more attractive body shape, and either live in or plan to visit Los Angeles, liposuction may be the ideal cosmetic solution for you. To find out if you are a candidate for power-assisted liposuction at Marina Plastic Surgery Associates, call us at 877-298-9915 in Marina Del Rey or use our convenient online form to request a consultation.
The Advantage of Power-Assisted Liposuction
How is power-assisted liposuction different from traditional liposuction? Power-assisted liposuction improves on older methods of liposuction by removing fat cells with an advanced suction tube that gently vibrates at a very rapid speed. Imagine yourself standing next to a ripe orange tree. If you shake that tree, the ripe fruit will fall to the ground, but the leaves and branches will stay intact. Similarly, a power-assisted suction tube can shake clusters of fat cells loose, while nerves, blood vessels and skin remain intact.
With a power-assisted suction tube speedily vibrating back and forth, your surgeon is able to suction fat much more gently than with the standard techniques. Power-assisted procedures are also more efficient at removing fat and require less anesthesia than traditional liposuction. A shorter procedural time means less discomfort for our patients, a lower risk of complications and a quicker postoperative recovery.
Power-assisted liposuction is also a more precise body sculpting tool than traditional tumescent liposuction. Not only are the tube’s tiny vibrations more subtle than manual movements, but the suction tubes are significantly smaller in size. Removing many small pieces of fat yields smoother results than removing fewer large pieces of fat. These are enormous advantages when the surgeon is sculpting precise curves for the most attractive results.
Because the suction tube used in power-assisted liposuction is smaller, the incisions that must be made to insert the tube into the body can also be smaller. The benefits of a smaller incision are a shorter scar, a more comfortable surgery and a shorter recovery time.
A Mommy Makeover Real Patient Story
“I’m just your basic Midwestern housewife,” Andrea says. Then she pauses. “Well, maybe not so basic anymore.” After breast augmentation, liposculpture – a refined power-assisted liposuction (PAL) technique that allowed for precision sculpting of Andrea’s waist, hips, thighs and knees – and a tummy tuck, people Andrea barely knows stop her and say, “Oh my gosh, you look great! What did you do?”
Improved Safety with Power-Assisted Liposuction
The importance of power-assisted liposuction as an advancement in patient safety cannot be overstated. In a research study evaluating the results of over 400 consecutive patients who received power-assisted liposuction, Dr. Stevens and a colleague at Marina Plastic Surgery Associates found that the incidence of complications from power-assisted liposuction was less than half the rate in a similar group that underwent ultrasound-assisted liposuction.
The advantages of power-assisted liposuction are:
- Improved Safety
- Less bruising, swelling or discomfort
- Less anesthesia
- Faster recovery time
- Greater sculpting precision