Tried and True Methods Preferred Among Liposuction Surgeons

SCHERERVILLE, IN, April 24, 2011 (Press-News.org) According to a survey published last month by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more established forms of liposuction are still the preferred method of fat removal among plastic surgeons. Despite an array of newer liposuction technologies, as well as nonsurgical fat removal options, over 50% of the member surgeons surveyed indicated that "traditional" suction-assisted lipectomy was their method of choice. Dr. Gus Galante (www.galantemd.com), who specializes in liposuction in Indiana, explains his understanding of the survey results.

"As board-certified plastic surgeons, we tend to favor methods that have a proven record of safety and efficacy," says Dr. Galante. "At my Indiana plastic surgery practice, like the majority of surgeons, I prefer traditional liposuction using the tumescent technique."

Traditional liposuction using a tumescent solution involves injecting the treatment area with a solution of saline, local anesthetic and adrenaline. This improves comfort, reduces bleeding, and helps the surgeon to achieve precise liposculpture results.

"Part of the reason plastic surgeons prefer this method is that we have a high level of training and experience with this approach, and we are able to achieve beautiful results with fewer complications," says Dr. Galante. "Many surgeons surveyed indicated that they were concerned about the efficacy of newer technology, as well as the potential for complications.

"With any procedure, whether it is liposuction or breast augmentation in Indiana, I incorporate newer methods only when there is substantial data to show that they are safe and beneficial for my patients," states Dr. Galante. "Furthermore, I make sure that my staff and I undergo extensive training with any new technology or technique so that we can achieve optimal results for our patients." Many surgeons surveyed indicated that lack of experience and training with newer fat reduction technologies contributed to their preference for more established methods.

Liposuction technologies such as power-assisted liposuction (PAL) and ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) have become more established over the past decade and were somewhat popular. 23% of surveyed surgeons chose PAL as their method of choice, while 20.9% chose UAL. The least favored methods were laser-assisted liposuction (LAL), with only 3.9% of surgeons preferring it, and noninvasive devices, with only .8% choosing any of these as their preferred method.

"These newer approaches and devices just don't have the track record that inspires confidence, at least not at this point," says Dr. Galante. "As more data becomes available and we gain more experience with different technology, we can better evaluate how beneficial these techniques may be."

Dr. Gus Galante (www.galantemd.com) is a board-certified Indiana plastic surgeon providing a full spectrum of cosmetic enhancement procedures ranging from nonsurgical "injectable face lifts" to breast enhancements and complex combination plastic surgery procedures. After receiving his medical doctorate from Indiana University, Dr. Galante trained through general and plastic surgery residencies at the Loyola University Medical Center and completed an additional fellowship in aesthetic surgery and reconstructive breast surgery. Dr. Galante's offices are located in Schererville and Valparaiso, Indiana, and he serves patients from all over Northwest Indiana.