Custom Acoustic Liposuction: An Introduction

by Wendy Travis

For patients considering liposuction, there are many treatment options today. Some procedures use lasers or ultrasound to loosen fat cells and make them easier to remove. However these treatments also typically require the use of a general anesthesia, which adds a degree of risk and a longer recovery time to any cosmetic procedure.

Enter Custom Acoustic Liposuction or CAL. This newcomer to the liposuction industry can be done without general anesthesia, allowing the patient to remain awake throughout the procedure. This procedure has been used for a number of years in Europe, under the name Nutational Infrasonic Liposuction or NIL. With the recent approval of Custom Acoustic Liposuction by the FDA, the treatment is now becoming readily available in the United States as well.

How Does Custom Acoustic Liposuction Work?
As with other types of liposuction, Custom Acoustic Liposuction uses a small cannula inserted directly into the area to dislodge fat cells for easy removal. Unlike other procedures, this treatment uses low-frequency acoustic infrasonic vibrations powered by air pressure, rather than heat or ultrasound. The result is less trauma to the skin and surrounding tissue, and less discomfort to the patient. The vibrating cannula also does a better job of distributing the tumescent solution and numbing agent into the area to be treated, adding to the patient's comfort level during the procedure.

The fat is aspirated out of the body at the same time the vibrating cannula is emulsifying it. This means a shorter and more efficient procedure time, benefitting both the doctor and the patient. Typical Custom Acoustic Liposuction sessions require about half the time as other types of liposuction procedures. Because it is done under a local anesthetic rather than a general, recovery time is reduced also. An assortment of cannula sizes allows doctors to customize the tool to the patient's needs, resulting in better precision of even the smallest treatment areas.

What are the Benefits?
While Custom Acoustic Liposuction may not be available at a large number of doctor's offices yet, there is good reason to shop around for this procedure. The benefits of Custom Acoustic Liposuction over other types of liposuction include:

No risk of burning the skin or surrounding tissues during the procedure
Recovery time is faster than with other types of liposuction
No general anesthesia means less risk overall
The procedure can be done in half the time as other liposuction treatments
Different cannula options promise smoother, more precise body contouring
Custom Acoustic Liposuction offers less risk of bruising and swelling
The procedure works on both high volume and smaller areas
Vibrations during the procedure mean better, faster distribution of tumescent solution
Like other liposuction procedures, Custom Acoustic Liposuction is FDA approved

Many doctors also find the Custom Acoustic Liposuction works better on areas that had already been treated because the risk of scarring is much lower. The ability to aspirate more fat with this procedure provides a smoother contour after treatment and a more dramatic result in some cases. The fat removed during Custom Acoustic Liposuction is transplantable, so a patient can use the removed fat for other cosmetic procedures if she chooses.

Who is a Candidate for Custom Acoustic Liposuction?
As with other types of liposuction, this new procedure is not right for everyone. The best candidates for liposuction treatment are patients of average weight, who have stubborn pockets of fat that have not responded well to diet and exercise. In some cases, more than one treatment will need to be performed to achieve desired results.

Custom Acoustic Liposuction is still a very new procedure in the United States, but its popularity is growing exponentially as doctors and patients alike are experiencing the ease and effectiveness of this treatment. If Custom Acoustic Liposuction sounds like the right choice for you, contact us today to learn more or to meet with a liposuction specialist near you.

Custom Acoustic Liposuction: An Introduction

by Wendy Travis

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