Simply calling the procedure liposuction for lipedema misses the complexity of the procedure, the additional time, and the expertise required to perform it safely. The one thing it should never be called is “cosmetic” or “aesthetic” liposuction.
The procedure has many names, including:
- Tumescent Liposuction
- Tumescent Local Anesthesia (TLA)
- Lymph-Sparing Liposuction
- Lymph-Sparing, Tumescent Liposuction
- Water-Assisted Liposuction (WAL).
- Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL).
- Laser-Assisted Liposuction
- Ultrasound Liposuction (UAL)
Some are techniques; both WAL and PAL depend on the the device used, others are different technology (Ultrasound/Laser). The one-page graphic, created June 17, 2020 is the latest review of the issues concerning the different names.
It’s a dense graphic, but very useful for group discussions, whether high-level or deep in the details. Currently, I prefer lymph-sparing or tumescent liposuction. One option, if you cannot decide is to use the term reconstructive liposuction or “medically necessary” liposuction often–both in your notes and on your website.
For more on the definition of reconstructive surgery click here.
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