Waterlipo™

Water-jet assisted liposuction or Waterlipo is the newest technology in minimally invasive, permanent fat removal. Waterlipo presents many advantages when compared to other types of liposuction.

Waterlipo is designed to address bulges of fat that do not respond well to exercise or other weight-loss techniques. Any area of the body from the neck to the knees may be addressed with the technology. Where there is an out of place fat bulge on the body, Waterlipo is likely able to permanently solve the problem in the safest, most gentle way possible.

Waterlipo is also referred as "water lipo" or "H2O lipo" and offers a new gentle technique for body contouring and body sculpting. It was developed to avoid the problems associated with tumescent infiltration used in standard liposuction procedures. Tumescent infiltration causes tissue swelling, which lowers operative accuracy and can result in serious side effects. Waterlipo gently washes away the fat without traumatizing other structures such as blood vessels and nerves.

Waterlipo Procedure

Waterlipo has been performed for many years in Europe-especially in Germany where it was invented.

Very few tiny incisions are made around the targeted area to inject the local anesthetic and numbing medication (tumescence). After the area is numbed, the surgeon gently inserts a cannula through those tiny incisions. The tip of the cannula sprays a stream of water 360 degrees, which dislodges fat while simultaneously leaving more useful structures such as blood vessels and other connective tissue completely intact. A small vacuum at the end of the cannula collects the fat that has been dislodged by the water. Because the surgeon is not scraping at the fat, results end up very smooth. After the fat is removed, a laser fiber is used to tighten the skin where the previous fat was removed. This procedure is the most gentle in the history of liposuction with less bleeding, swelling and bruising (unlike traditional liposuction), hastening the recovery time. The minimal invasiveness of the procedure allows patients to see remarkable results fast. In addition, because local anesthetic is used for this procedure, Waterlipo carries much fewer risks than traditional liposuction. The incisions require no stitches, heal within days, and leave no noticeable scars.

Waterlipo Treatment

Typically, only one treatment is required per designated area of the body. Once fat is removed from a region, the cells do not grow back, so it is permanent. Each session (per body region) lasts less than two hours, depending on the designated region, the extent of the procedure and the desired outcome.

Sometimes, Waterlipomight be used in conjunction with laser liposuction. Waterlipo in most cases is a double-pronged approach to permanent fat removal. It washes away fat efficiently and gently, and then the laser tightens the skin.

Waterlipo Recovery

For most patients, there is little to no downtime with Waterlipo. Even so, plan on taking one-two days off of work to be sure. Some patients go back to work the same afternoon after a morning Waterlipo. Others spend a weekend at home resting before returning to work (looking sharp!) on Monday morning.

Waterlipo Advantages

The patient does not require general anesthesia, minimizing risks and avoiding the side effects such as nausea and prolonged recovery. Waterlipo requires tiny incisions that don't need stitches and heal within days, leaving no noticeable scars.

Waterlipo relies on a stream of water to wash out fat uniformly instead of scraping with a cannula; therefore results are more precise and smooth. In addition, the procedure is so gentle, less tumescent fluid is needed, which allows the specialist to see your results in real time rather than guessing what you will look like in six weeks.

Because Waterlipo liposuction is performed with the patient being awake, the patient has muscle tone and can flex and tighten certain muscles, which allows the Waterlipo™ surgeon to get more complete and targeted fat removal.

Some level of soreness is to be expected for a few days, and patients usually require only over-the-counter pain relievers and have little trouble returning normal activities very quickly.

It is usually less costly than other methods of liposuction. Because the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia without IVs, the surgeon does not need to hire an anesthesiologist. In addition, the procedure is often performed in the surgeon's office, which is more cost-effective than booking a hospital operating room.

For people who are contemplating a tummy tuck but do not want large scars and long recovery time, Waterlipo with laser is an effective, less expensive and safer alternative.

After Waterlipo

After the surgery, there will only be minimal pain and swelling. Twenty-four to 48 hours of rest are recommended, but most patients are able to return to work the next day.

Patients will be required to wear a discrete compression garment under their clothes for about one week.

Patients might have mild discomfort and bruising, but they are able to walk and return home the same day of the procedure. They can resume normal activities and return to work almost immediately.

Waterlipo Cost

Every case is different. The cost depends on several factors, including the number of areas treated, the facility where the procedure will take place, and your surgeon's experience.

Because Waterlipo liposuction is performed in the surgeon's practice instead of a hospital or surgical center, the cost is significantly reduced compared to traditional liposuction.

During your initial consultation, your surgeon can answer questions that you have regarding the procedure and will determine if you are a good candidate for it.

Waterlipo™ VS Traditional Liposuction

Water-jet liposuction has shown to be superior to traditional liposuction because of the dramatically reduced session length and less pain. Less manual pressure is needed to remove the fat and thus a simple local anesthetic can be used.

Waterlipo is done in the office without general anesthesia or IVs, which means the patient can return home right after their procedure.

Traditional liposuction is traumatic because it requires the doctor to crush fat and then suck it out. Because of the force and strain that goes into traditional liposuction there is often significant bleeding, bruising and long recovery times. General anesthesia or deep sedation in a hospital operating room is required for traditional liposuction. Waterlipo, on the other hand, uses a gentle stream of water to dislodge fat that is gently washed out of the body.

The local anesthesia used in the Waterlipo procedure eliminates the overall medical risk and post-operative discomfort associated with general anesthesia.

To find out if Waterlipo is right for you, use our Surgeon Locator to find a Waterlipo™ expert near you!