There are different instruments and techniques that are generally used when performing liposuction, and it is wise to be familiar with the most common ones. You can almost guarantee that no matter where your surgery is performed, from New York to California, cannulas, anesthesia, or lasers will be used, and being familiar with these terms and the techniques surrounding them will be useful.

Almost every liposuction procedure will make use of some kind of cannula. A cannule is a sylindiral tube which is attached to a hose or vacuum. The cannula is inserted into the skin through incisions which are referred to as adits. These adits are just large enough to fit the cannulas. The subcutaneous fat, which is the fat that is deposited directly under the skin, is sucked out through the cannulas.

Microcannulas are much smaller than the regular cannula and are associated with the tumescent method of liposuction. Tumescent is an important word to be familiar with. The word itself means “hard or swollen” this refers to the method of injecting a mixture of local anesthesia like lidocaine and a vasoconstrictor like epinephrine into the area to be worked on. The area becomes hard and swollen and the surgery can then be performed. Microcannulas allow for more fines and control in results. Also, the adits needed in order to insert a microcannula are much smaller, and there is a much slighter chance for scarring. The tumescent technique is also known for its safety record.

Regular cannulas are usually used when the patient is under general anesthesia. Regular cannulas can remove more fat faster. There is a greater risk however that too much fat will be removed resulting in unattractive skin irregularities, and a shape which might not have been desired. There is also a greater chance of scaring from the adits, since they usually need to be stitched.

The incisions or adits made throughout the procedure are not very large. With regular cannulas only 4 to 6 incisions need to be made. These incisions are usually about ? of an inch, but they can be longer. When using microcannulas there will usually be more incisions made, and there may be 8 to 12 adits made. These incisions however are generally less than 1/8 of an inch long and do not need stitching after the surgery has been performed.

The surgeons which you speak to about the surgery will probably use these terms, and while they will be happy to explain what each of them mean, it is always helpful to know a little bit about them already so that you can make a decision about what kind of liposuction is right for you.