Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK. Over the years, a number of techniques have been developed to improve the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. Power-assisted lipo has been developed as a gentler method of removing fat cells.
PAL lipo can produce life-changing results in many people with a significant increase in self-confidence. Unlike non-invasive types of liposuction, such as CoolSculpting, power-assisted liposuction produces instantly visible results. With a better body contour and the freedom to wear any type of clothing, patients no longer feel anxious or stressed at having to avoid certain situations like going to the beach. We recommend reading on to learn more about what MicroAire PAL involves.
What is power-assisted lipo?
Lipo is our most commonly performed procedure at Centre for Surgery, where we are often viewed as the best clinic for liposuction in London. We adopt a results-driven approach using the most effective types of liposuction to deliver the best results. Our liposuction surgeons are skilled in all types of liposuction, but all agree that power-assisted lipo is the very best form of liposuction. Lipo surgery is ideal to get rid of stubborn fat that has been difficult to shift with diet and exercise alone. Even the most strong-willed person may lose motivation to get rid of resistant pockets of fat despite intensive physical exercise. This is where lipo can be the ideal treatment.
Power lipo is also known as PAL lipo and is a significant improvement on traditional forms of liposuction with its ability to remove even the most resistant pockets of fat to create outstanding results. PAL lipo uses the MicroAire technology developed in the USA.
What are the benefits of PAL lipo?
PAL lipo is an advancement over traditional forms of liposuction. Traditional liposuction methods can often be physically exhausting for the surgeon, which may increase the risk of bruising and swelling and cause a longer liposuction recovery period. PAL lipo makes the process easier by adding a gentle vibrating effect to the cannula. This vibration effect makes a significant difference in the procedure. The surgeon can now use much less physical force when moving the cannula, which means less bruising, less swelling and a faster recovery. The lipo surgeon has increased precision when sculpting fibrous areas of the body, such as the back or chest.
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The procedure is also more tolerable for the patient with less post-operative discomfort and increased levels of safety compared to laser-assisted liposuction or ultrasound-assisted liposuction. SmartLipo and Vaser lipo both generate significant amounts of heat in the fat, which may increase the risk of developing patient burns. PAL lipo does not involve the generation of heat, and therefore, there is never any risk of skin burns with power-assisted liposuction.
Fat removed with PAL lipo remains intact, which means it can be used for fat transfer procedures if the patient desires. Common areas for fat transfer include breast fat transfer and fat transfer to the buttocks, also known as a Brazilian butt lift or BBL.
How does power-assisted lipo work?
Traditional liposuction involves the surgeon passing a large-diameter cannula through the subcutaneous fat. The surgeon has to use a lot of physical force to push the cannula through the tissues, which can result in the complete destruction of the delicate fat cells. The fat is removed by vacuum suction. Fat removed with traditional liposuction cannot be used for fat grafting, as the fat cells have often been destroyed. The fat must be discarded.
Power-assisted lipo involves the passage of smaller diameter cannulas which vibrate at high frequencies. The vibrating cannula glides effortlessly through the tissues and gently detaches fat cells from their surrounding attachments before being removed with gentle vacuum suction. MicroAire PAL removes large amounts of fat much more quickly than other liposuction forms. Many surgeons use PAL lipo for liposuction breast reduction, which is often a difficult type of fat to remove due to its fibrous nature.
What areas of the body can PAL lipo target?
PAL lipo is a highly effective liposuction method for permanently removing stubborn areas of fat from most areas of the body. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly should always be viewed as the foundation of a healthy lifestyle; however, in some cases, persistent areas of fat may remain. Although bulging areas of fat may reduce in size, they may not disappear completely with lifestyle measures alone. Fat found in certain areas of the body is known to be particularly resistant, including chest fat, arms, hips, knees, calves and the chin. These areas can be effectively eliminated with MicroAire PAL lipo. PAL lipo is highly effective for 360 liposuction of the midsection to achieve the ultimate sculpted and contoured figure.
Who is the ideal patient for power-assisted lipo?
Power-assisted lipo is the ideal procedure for patients keen on getting rid of stubborn areas of fat that have not gone down with diet and exercise alone. Both women and men can have the procedure. Women most commonly have lipo on the stomach, hips or thighs. Men tend to prefer having male liposuction on the midsection and the chest, which may be combined with male breast reduction to get rid of gynecomastia. Liposuction is most effective when used with a good diet and exercise and needs help slimming down certain areas to achieve a sculpted and contoured look. Patients with lower body fat levels and who exercise regularly may be ideal candidates for high-definition body sculpting with HD lipo.
Power-assisted Liposuction is the most effective form of liposuction but is not the ideal treatment in all cases present to us at Centre for Surgery. Many patients may often have loose and saggy skin due to significant weight loss. In these cases, liposuction alone is ineffective for getting rid of loose and saggy skin. The best option would be a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty procedure to tighten loose skin and get rid of fat with lipo. Patients who have undergone massive weight loss and present with severe skin laxity may be better suited to having a body lift or belt lipectomy procedure.
What is the recovery like after power-assisted liposuction?
Power-assisted liposuction is a quick and easy procedure to carry out with a fast recovery time compared to manual liposuction. Centre for Surgery is a specialist day surgery facility with expertise in total intravenous anaesthesia, also known as TIVA. TIVA is associated with a much quicker recovery than a traditional general anaesthetic with minimal risk of sickness, dizziness or drowsiness.
We recommend taking one week off work after having lipo and avoiding strenuous activities for the first four weeks. However, we recommend keeping mobile around the home for the first week after lipo. Liposuction is not considered to be a painful procedure, and any discomfort can be easily controlled with over-the-counter painkillers. Bruising and swelling will take 3 to 4 weeks to settle down, and traditional lipo is much quicker.
How much does liposuction cost?
Liposuction starts from £3500, and if you choose to have treatment on multiple body areas, then the cost of the procedure will increase. Patients who have had liposuction at the Centre for Surgery tell us how the procedure has changed their lives with a significant increase in self-confidence and an improvement in emotional well-being. Liposuction should be viewed as an investment in yourself. Although liposuction cost should be budgeted for, we would not recommend basing your decision to proceed with liposuction on cost alone. Centre for Surgery is a centre of excellence for liposuction with many years of experience. Our preoperative and post-operative nursing teams provide the highest standards of medical care both before and after your procedure. All liposuction prices include facility fees, anaesthetic fees and procedure costs. You will also have your dedicated patient coordinator to act as a point of contact throughout your patient journey with us at Centre for Surgery in London. Our state-of-the-art day surgery facility is in the heart of Marylebone on Baker Street.
