Today’s liposuction procedures are offering patients the opportunity to create the body they want with more ease than ever before. Water-jet-assisted liposuction, a popular approach to the liposuction procedure, is a good option for some patients seeking a sleeker shape.

Selecting a Liposuction Procedure Technique

Whether you’re considering a “Mommy Makeover” after having children or wish to create a more sculpted jawline by reshaping a persistent double chin, your first step toward having the body you want begins with consulting a plastic surgeon. He will help determine the best approach to liposuction for your individual case.

For some patients, water-jet-assisted liposuction is the best option. This procedure harnesses power from water to remove fatty deposits from underneath the skin.

The Facts about Water-Jet-Assisted Liposuction

Water-jet-assisted liposuction procedures can be performed under general or local anesthesia — depending on the area being operated on and the preferences of the cosmetic surgeon involved.

Unlike other means of liposuction, water-jet-assisted liposuction can be performed without a tumescent fluid injection. (This injection begins the process of emulsifying the fat when used in other liposuction approaches.) Instead, water-jet-assisted liposuction procedures are performed with the aid of a stream of saline solution that is highly pressurized.

The pressurized jets will allow the fat cells to be dislodged and removed with the help of a cannula, a small tube.

Generally, this approach is less invasive than traditional liposuction procedures. Additionally, patients can expect less of the swelling and discoloration that is associated with other forms of liposuction. This means that patients will feel better more quickly after the procedure and be able to get back to the activities of daily living in a more timely manner. Patients and surgeons can also see the results of the procedure faster.

Realistic Expectations after Water-Jet-Assisted Liposuction

While liposuction procedures can — and often do — result in patients ending up with the body they desire, it is important for patients and cosmetic surgeons to talk about what expectations are realistic for a cosmetic procedure.

Emily Pollard, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon from Bala Cynwyd, Pa., explains that many patients mistakenly believe that liposuction is a procedure for weight loss. That isn’t the case: It’s designed to help with body shaping.

“Liposuction is a great procedure, and when performed correctly, you can achieve very good results with it,” Dr. Pollard adds. “It really is a procedure that creates body contours.”