With a reputation that spans decades as a quick weight loss solution, by now you should have heard of liposuction. A technique commonly used to remove fat and create a slimmer appearance. If you’re someone who wants immediate weight-loss results, it’s probably a procedure you’ve looked into before.
You’ve also likely heard of liposculpture, but liposuction and liposculpture are often used interchangeably, with many people assuming they are the same procedure.
The reality is that the two procedures are completely different, both offering their own benefits and procedural techniques.
At New Birkdale Clinic, we offer both types of treatment, and in this guide, we aim to break down their key differences and help you discover which would work best for you.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure which is designed to remove stubborn, localised fat deposits that patients have been unable to reduce through diet and exercise.
This procedure is primarily used in areas such as the tummy, thighs, hips and neck and creates long-lasting results if a healthy lifestyle is maintained following the procedure.
How Does Liposuction Work?
To complete this procedure, a surgeon will make multiple small incisions in the areas that you would like to focus on. If you wanted stomach liposuction, an incision would be made in your abdomen, and if you wanted thigh liposuction, incisions would be made in the thigh, and so on, depending on where you’d like to reduce fat cells.
Once the incisions have been made, the surgeon inserts a cannula, which is used to break up the fat cells in your chosen area, which are then removed using a medical vacuum.
The procedure can take anywhere between 1 and 4 hours, depending on how much fat you’d like to remove and is performed under general anaesthetic.
If you want to learn more about recovery, check out our complete liposuction guide.
What is Liposculpture?
Though the liposculpture technique may share many similarities with liposuction, liposculpture is more precise and does not aim to remove large deposits of fat cells; instead, it is designed to precisely remove fat and create a more defined, sculpted look that tones the body.
Because liposculpture is so precise, the procedure has become increasingly popular, and those who would otherwise undergo the procedure in smaller areas, such as chin liposuction, are now transitioning to liposculpture to achieve a more refined look.
You may have heard of ‘360 liposculpture’, which is designed to refine an entire area in one procedure. So instead of having focused fat removal, you can achieve a fully contoured look in areas that have been difficult to tone.
How Does Liposculpture Work?
Liposculpture is more precise than liposuction, and because it focuses on removing only small, targeted areas of fat, it can be performed under local anaesthesia.
As with liposuction, an incision is made in the area you would like to target, but it is much smaller because a smaller cannula is used to break up the fat. The method used for liposculpture is often described as an ‘artistry’, not only reducing fat, but also reshaping the area to make a more defined look.
As part of liposculpture, it is not uncommon for fat to be removed, filtered and reinjected into areas to add more volume and help build a desired silhouette.
Key Differences Between Liposculpture and Liposuction
Though the two procedures share similarities, there are key differences you must be aware of if you are trying to find the right option for you.
Some key differences include:
Procedure Goal
The main purpose of undergoing liposuction is to remove fat from a larger area to reduce the overall fat volume in the area that you wish to target. Say you wanted back liposuction. The end goal is to reduce the fat cells in your back, whereas if you were to get back liposculpture, the goal would be to carefully remove the fat cells to create a more defined, muscular look.
In short, liposuction is solely focused on fat removal, whereas liposculpting is about reshaping and redefining.
Technique and Tools
While both procedures require the surgeon to make an incision and then use a cannula to break down the fat, liposculpture is much more precise. Surgeons will use micro-cannulas rather than the larger cannulas used for liposuction, as this allows them to target smaller areas that may not be reached with standard cannulas.
Liposculpting also helps to define muscle, which is not the main focus of liposuction, carefully removing fat from areas which can help existing muscles stand out, such as the abdomen or ‘six pack’ area.
Use of Anaesthesia
Liposculpting is nowhere near as invasive as liposuction, so only local anaesthesia is required, whereas if you get liposuction, you will need general anaesthesia for large volume fat removal.
If you don’t want to be put to sleep for your procedure due to health concerns or scheduling, liposculpting may be a solution worth considering.
Recovery
When it comes to liposculpting, you may be glad to hear that recovery is incredibly straightforward. Because the procedure is far less invasive, you don’t have to worry about downtime, and aside from some swelling, mild tenderness and numbing that may last a couple of days, you can resume normal activities immediately.
Recovery from liposuction can vary depending on the extent of your surgery, but you can expect to need 3-7 days off work. You may also experience swelling, bruising, and soreness that can last for weeks. You may also be required to wear compression garments for weeks after the procedure to help reduce your swelling.
After liposuction, it is recommended that you avoid strenuous activities for 2-4 weeks to allow your body to heal and recover from the fat removal.
Every circumstance is different, and your surgeon can advise you on what your recovery will look like following the procedure.
Fat Transfer
As we have already touched on, in some instances, when you undergo liposculpture, they will remove fat and reinject it to try and build shape and ‘sculpt’ your body. For example, say you want a better balance in your hip-to-thigh ratio: a surgeon performing liposculpture may remove fat from your thighs and inject it into your hips to help with balance.
When you get liposuction, it is focused solely on removing fat, and you should not expect any fat to be moved to other parts of your body, as the main goal of the surgery is to reduce volume.
Fat transfer is not always part of liposculpture, but can be requested if you are looking to define areas.
Which is Right For You?
If you are someone who is struggling with weight loss and you have a lot of fat on your body, neither surgery may be right for you, as you may struggle with loose skin, especially if your skin elasticity is reduced due to being overweight for a long time.
However, if you are medically suitable for the procedure, choosing the right one ultimately comes down to your body goals. If you have stubborn, large fat deposits that you would like to remove for weight-loss purposes, liposuction may be the best solution for you.
If you do not only want to remove stubborn fat, but you’d also like to focus on sculpting your body and ensuring that your muscles appear to be more prominent, liposculpting is likely the best option to achieve the results you desire.
Ultimately, you should always consult with the surgeon or clinic where you wish to have the procedure, as you can share what you hope to gain from the procedure, and they can recommend the procedure that will help you achieve your desired results.
Gain Your Confidence With New Birkdale Clinic Today
Through this guide, you should now have better clarity regarding the differences between liposuction and liposculpture.
If you need help targeting stubborn fat and regaining lost confidence caused by weight gain, we are here to help.
At New Birkdale Clinic, we have a number of expert cosmetic surgeons ready to help you achieve your physical goals and feel more confident.
Book your consultation today and find out more about how we can support you.
