Power-assisted lipoplasty versus traditional suction-assisted lipoplasty: comparative evaluation and analysis of output

Power-Assisted lipoplasty (PAL) is a new method introduced to simplify and standardize surgical results of traditional suction-assisted lipoplasty (SAL). Comparative studies already have demonstrated PAL to be a handy, atraumatic, time- and fatigue-sparing technique. The authors performed a pilot study to compare the output capacity of PAL and SAL in 15 healthy female patients. The general and the specific per area outputs over 1 min from symmetrical areas were assessed. The results confirmed the efficiency of PAL (17.41% increase in average specific area output, as compared to SAL) and the distribution of fat in major "fat storage" areas such as the abdomen and the anterior thigh. Specific per area output indicated a higher suction capacity for PAL in all areas except the inner thigh. The efficiency of PAL seemed to be less influenced than that SAL by fat distribution.