Body fat on an adult tends to increase gradually over the years. After the age of 30, an individual often gains fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. For example, the abdomen, hips and the area under the chin are places where fat begins to accumulate in adults. Fat in these areas is often resistant to diet or exercise. After pregnancy, the fat on the abdomen and hips may persist despite concerted efforts at dieting and exercising. Liposuction can help. For many people who have an inherited tendency to accumulate localized deposits of fat, liposuction seems the best means of significantly changing the body's silhouette. In effect, liposuction surgery is equivalent to being able to focus the effects of dieting to specific areas of the body.  Since the introduction of the tumescent technique for liposuction with local anesthesia, removal of fat deposits has become one of the most common aesthetic surgery procedures in the world. 

Eclipsemed Ltd, a leading national distributer of advanced medical and aesthetic equipment, and Human Med AG, of Germany, a leading manufacturer of medical and aesthetic devices have joined forces to introduce a revolutionary new liposuction technology, Body-Jet®.  Body-Jet provides a novel approach to removing fat by utilizing a gentle and controlled sequence of pulsed sprayed saline to dislodge mainly intact fat cells.   While traditional liposuction basically destroys fat cells, the Body-Jet loosens fat with little impact on the fat cell itself. It uses a gentle jet of water to navigate through the internal tissue, a process which until now, required manual force from the surgeon.  Additionally, the science behind Body-Jet's method of water-jet assisted liposuction allows for better assessment of new contours during surgery which greatly reduces the number of corrective procedures that need to be performed. 

Water jet-assisted liposuction uses a thin, targeted fan-shaped jet to apply fluid during the procedure.  The purpose of the fluid is not to cut sharply through tissue, but to loosen fat cells with as little damage to fat cells and surrounding tissue as possible.  The jet is channeled into adipose tissue to loosen the tissue structure and release fat cells.

Tumescent solutions provide long-lasting, maximum anesthetization with minimal side effects.  In almost all cases the solution creates analgesia that is suitable for the performance of painless or near painless liposuction.  Therefore, general anesthesia or sedation that suppresses consciousness is no longer necessary. 

Using Body-Jet, a pressure system directs the infiltration solution through a closed tubing system into a very thin application cannula.  The flow of infiltrate may be customized for each case and can be selected from several different levels through a software guidance system.  A pulsating jet is produced instead of a continuous jet of fluid to deliver a gentle flow of infiltrate and avoiding any possibility of causing trauma to surrounding tissue and structures. 

After infiltration, it is not necessary to wait before starting aspiration as Body-Jet Liposuction does not require high-volume tumescent pre-infiltration.  Anesthetization and vasoconstriction take place over a shorter period.  Reduction in waiting time is beneficial as this reduces the risks of systemic side effects and procedure time is shortened.  Treated areas are not "bloated" as the infiltrated solution is being simultaneously re-aspirated.

The infiltration cannula is swapped for the suction cannula and the aspiration process begins immediately.  As a general rule, the fluid leads the way; the cannula simply follows and penetrates soft areas.  The functional structures are displaced by the jet and thereby protected from mechanical trauma.  A gentle, force-free method of working is always a sure sign of a safe and atraumatic procedure. 

One of the most unique aspects of the Body-Jet is its AquaShapeFT^TM LipoCollector which is suitable for the collection of fat intended for re-injection or laboratory purpose.

Body-Jet offers a superior harvesting opportunity for fat transfer. Until now, the recovery of fat from liposuction patients has been a laborious process, involving centrifuges and prolonged time to ‘process' the fat before use for injection. When immediately filtered with appropriate accessories, Body-Jet does not require the lengthy centrifuge process usually necessary to reduce water volume before a fat transfer.

After fat deposits have been aspirated, contours may be shaped and fine-tuned.  Considerably less intraoperative swelling allows us to contour the body and achieve the target result with great precision. 

Worries about the formation of ripples and divots are unfounded when using the Body-Jet.  The amount of tissue removed with each passage is so small that unintentional, over-aspiration is virtually impossible when proceeding in a controlled manner.

In comparison to the standard tumescent liposuction technique, Body-Jet WAL only requires an average of 20% to 30% of tumescent solution in pre-infiltration.  The length of time the tumescent solution remains in the tissue is also considerably lower.  Additionally, there is significantly less pain-related impairment during and after the procedure.  Patients recover quickly and return to normal daily activities rapidly.

About the Author: Daniel Man, M.D.
Dr. Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Boca Raton, Florida. An accomplished author, artist, inventor and educator, Dr. Man has devoted his life's work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery.