The Body Jet Revolutionizes Liposuction
By Lawrence Janowski, MD
As we age more and more gracefully and adopt lifestyles that are active and respectful to our bodies, we can’t help but wonder if there are ways modern science can help us take care of the 10% of issues we can’t seem to conquer on our own.
Enter Body Jet, a new form of liposuction that is far gentler and easier to recover from than any other method to date. “Liposuction? I would never consider such a thing!” is a common knee-jerk reaction. This most likely comes from images seen in the media of some seemingly callous plastic surgeon shoving a long rod into an unconscious and unsuspecting patient’s body, back and forth in what seems like some sort of barbaric torture procedure. This is the liposuction of yesteryear, as many evolutions in this technique have made it safer, faster and easier on the patient.
Regardless of perceptions about this procedure it has remained the most popular cosmetic surgery every year for the last 20 years, with over half a million procedures being performed in this country last year. This is because it is much less invasive than many other plastic surgeries, less expensive and can help to solve a problem that many people have: Stubborn pockets of fat resistant to diet and exercise.
As you may recall, once we grow fat cells in our body, we are stuck with them for life. Diet and exercise can shrink your fat cells, but they do not reduce in number. The only way to do that is to remove them. This can now be done in a doctor’s office in about an hour and a half, and you will be awake during the entire procedure.
That’s right, a local anesthesia technique called tumescence was invented in 1984, which involves infusing a dilute anesthetic fluid under the skin prior to the procedure. This keeps the patient awake and comfortable, and avoids any risks of general anesthesia.
So what’s different about Body Jet? Body Jet was invented in Germany and has been available since 2004. It uses a water jet that comes out of the tip of the liposuction cannula, or tube, that is used to perform the procedure. This allows the operator to harness the power of water to do most of the work for him or her. The water jet not only numbs the patient, but also actually “power-washes” the fat from its attachments under the skin. This means very little force is needed by the physician to get the job done. With less force, less trauma is experienced by the body. This means a speedier, less uncomfortable recovery. The cannula is only 3.5 millimeters thick (about the size of a soda straw), which is all that is needed for this gentle extraction. People are usually back to normal activity in 4 days, and exercising in two weeks. Results are appreciated within 3 to 4 weeks.
The ideal candidate for this procedure is someone within 30 pounds of their ideal weight who has local fat deposits that are diet and exercise resistant. Typical areas include the upper and lower abdomen, love handles, and inner and outer thighs. Other areas that can be done are arms, knees, necks and buttocks. Individuals should be in generally good health and should not view this procedure as a weight-loss option or a treatment for loose skin or cellulite, as liposuction does not improve these problems.
It’s best to have a full consultation with a physician specializing in the procedure to determine if it is right for you. You’re doing all the right things for your health and for your family, why not do something for yourself and get into those skinny jeans!
Lawrence Janowski is the medical director for Sonata Laser Aesthetics and Center For Lipoplasty, Broomfield, CO.
www.sonatalaser.com 303-469-0064
