Sydney cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr Darryl Hodgkinson explains the benefits of Power Assisted Liposculpture to Christine Doggett.

Sydney cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr Darryl Hodgkinson has been using Power Assisted Liposculpture technology since 1996 and not only rates a multitude of advantages for the patient, but also maintains that from the surgeon’s point of view, the apparatus is much easier to use. ‘Therefore over a four to five-hour operation period, which is not uncommon with this procedure, the surgeon will not be fatigued and can optimise results when sculpting the patient’s contours,’ he says.

Older or different techniques require the surgeon to push the cannula forcefully through the fat tissue and may result in significant bruising and swelling, and sometimes damage to blood vessels. With the Power Assisted Liposculpture apparatus, the tip of the suction cannula vibrates back and forth, gently removing the fat.

‘This new technology is less aggressive, as the cannula glides in and out. This allows the surgeon to be much more accurate, in that the operator has more control over the depth at which the fat is removed,’ Dr Hodgkinson says. ‘There is generally less bruising and swelling, and no damage to the skin and blood supply. I can use smaller incisions, and obviously this improved safety means that there is less discomfort for the patient and the recovery time is much faster.’

Liposuction is often a repeat procedure – patients may return for further surgery to improve on that performed in the past when techniques were less advanced. This means that the patient may have scar tissue, and Dr Hodgkinson explains that it is much easier to work in ‘scarred fat’ using the Power Assisted Liposculpture technology.

‘The surgeon’s artistic skill in modelling the patient’s fat is of the utmost importance’

Dr Hodgkinson is currently using his third generation Power Assisted Liposculptor to shape the contours of his patients, and notes that the technology is continually improving. However he clarifies that no matter which tool is used, the surgeon’s artistic skill in modelling the patient’s fat is of the utmost importance.

‘It is necessary to assess the patient’s figure and address it as a whole, rather than considering the ‘spot’ suction of specific areas,’ he explains. ‘There are many subtle details that need to be considered to give the patient’s torso gentle curves, such as shaping the inner thighs so that they do not bulge together, or defining the junction between the buttocks and the thigh. The final figure should appear balanced and natural, one that both the patient and the surgeon can feel proud of.’ acsm