Survey Shows Surgeons’ Liposuction Preferences

A new survey examined surgeons’ preferences for liposuction techniques and found that suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL), which is considered traditional liposuction, was the preferred method of fat removal for over half of respondents.

“In a field that is so rapidly advancing, it is essential to continually evaluate new technologies and methods to ensure that we maintain the safety of our patients,” said Jamil Ahmad, MD, lead author of the survey, which was published in the February issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

The preferred method of fat removal for the 492 survey respondents from most to least popular was:

• Suction-assisted lipo (SAL) (51.4 percent)
• Power-assisted lipo (PAL) (23.0 percent)
• Ultrasound-assisted lipo (UAL) (20.9 percent)
• Laser-assisted lipo (LAL) (3.9 percent)

Most of the surgeons who responded perform between 51 and 100 liposuctions per year, and those surveyed have the most experience with SAL, UAL and PAL.

The surgeons had less experience with laser-assisted liposuction (12.8 percent), mesotherapy (5.7 percent), and noninvasive devices (12.8 percent).

“Our survey found that ASAPS members tend to more frequently employ the fat removal methods that have the longest track records and the most data to support their efficacy and safety,” said Ahmad. “In the future, we may notice preferences shift as we see additional prospective data comparing techniques, and as we gain more experience with newer methods. These factors will also help us continue to improve safety-related standards of care.”

Dr. Will offers traditional liposuction and SlimLipo, a laser liposuction device, used in the Lifesculpt procedure to liquefy fat for easier removal.