CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Americans spend billions on cosmetic surgery each year, with a significant portion going towards fat removal procedures. Anyone who has seen a liposuction procedure on television knows that the process puts a lot of stress on the body and that the recovery time limits work and social activities.

When considering a surgical fat removal procedure, it is important to know all the options. An excellent alternative to traditional liposuction is a new process called AquaShape.

This precisely controlled, FDA-cleared, patented process makes it possible to remove stubborn fat permanently.  The fat cells removed DO NOT COME BACK.  This new technology harnesses the flow of water to gently dislodge and remove fat. Using the pulsating action of a controlled water spray, the fat cells are first separated from the surrounding normal tissues and then removed from the body permanently. 

The water jet wand is placed under the surface though a small slit in the skin.  The movement of the wand is gentle and delicate.  Because the water has already freed the stubborn fat, no energy is needed to remove the fat from the body. 

Less trauma to the body means minimal swelling, minimal bruising and quicker, predictable recovery.   In fact, the technique is so gentle that the harvested fat can be reused in reshaping the face (facial fat grafting), breasts (breast augmentation) or buttocks (Brazilian Butt lift, buttock augmentation).

There are other procedures that promise little downtime, but do not deliver the ideal results, which are permanent fat removal with minimal recovery time.

There are non-invasive technologies like CoolSculpting®, which freezes fat and reduces the absolute number of fat cells, but often offers minimal change.  More aggressive procedures that use laser to melt fat (Zerona®, SmartLipo®) can actually destroy other tissues in the process by burning, shattering or extracting non-fat cells. 

The heat from the laser does melt fat, but also requires more healing from the surrounding tissues.  Other technologies that use high energy, like ultrasound (Vaser®) or radio-frequency energy (Tickle-lipo®) or even vibratory energy (traditional Power-Assisted Liposuction®) all remove fat cells, but are traumatic to the surrounding tissues and consequently require more healing time. 

Compared with traditional liposuction, AquaShape has the following advantages:
1.    Less discomfort, less bruising:  less traumatic to tissues
2.    Less bloating, less swelling: efficient fluid management, no large fluid left behind
3.    Smoother shaping results:  Unlike techniques that are designed to remove fat (Coolsculpting), AquaShape is a shaping technique, designed to refine better curves.
4.    Safer:  By minimizing unnecessary trauma to normal tissues, the recovery is less, patients return to normal activities faster
5.    Less Anesthesia:  General anesthesia is not required, because AquaShape is a more gentle procedure, less anesthesia is required.  Local anesthesia is an option, though, and most patients will have some sedation, particularly for larger procedures.
6.    Quick recovery:  With less inflammation, most patients can return to work and daily activities within 1-3 days, and can return to the gym within 1-2weeks. 

For more information, visit http://www.empowermd.com