Liposuction in 2023: Why Is It So Popular?

In recent years, breast augmentation has been the top contender of plastic surgery procedures globally. Nonetheless, research has revealed that liposuction has surpassed breast enhancement procedures as the most requested type of plastic surgery. 

In 2021, slightly over 1.9 million liposuction procedures were performed worldwide 2021, constituting a 25 percent increase over the previous year. Liposuction accounted for about 15 percent of all forms of plastic surgery.

Breast augmentation procedures fell to second place, with approximately 1.7 million treatments, and only increased about 4.0 percent since last year.

This information can reveal a rising concern about breast implants going wrong, with risks including rupturing, capsular contracture, or unnatural placement. This has become so prevalent that even breast implant removal procedures have doubled since 2017, even though they constitute 2 percent of all cosmetic surgeries.

While liposuction procedures have become more popular, there's still much to discuss regarding their specificities. After all, there are several variants of the approach marketed. The stigma surrounding plastic surgery has also dwindled. With society always progressing forward, this trend may partially explain why liposuction outpaced breast augmentation as the world's favorite procedure as more people turn to cosmetic fat removal to fine-tune problem areas.

AirSculpt®: An Example of Liposuction's Surging Popularity

AirSculpt® procedures have helped change the overall image of liposuction, given the tools and techniques implemented to remove fat under a less invasive setting compared to traditional surgery.

AirSculpt® procedures are minimally invasive, permanently removing fat in a single sitting without general anesthesia. This advanced technology allows surgeons to remove fat from any area without using scalpels, stitches, or needles, providing dramatic results with a 24 to 48-hour downtime. The minimal downtime is ideal for patients who want to contour their bodies but lead a busy schedule. 

Liposuction's growing popularity has benefited largely from the emergence of procedures such as AirSculpt®, where fat removal is no longer associated with invasive surgery or lengthy recovery.

Further Comparing Liposuction Trends

If you are still weighing the merits between traditional liposuction fat removal vs. AirSculpt®, the beauty is in the details of each procedure.

After undergoing an AirSculpt® procedure, you can immediately leave the operating room without assistance, with an average downtime of two days before returning to work.

Regarding the procedure itself, AirSculpt® for fat removal doesn't use a scalpel to create an entry point for extraction. Instead, it uses a biopsy punch to form the narrow, symmetrical, two-millimeter wide aperture from which the fat is plucked with mechanical precision, like grapes off a bush. 

Traditional liposuction, by contrast, often requires general anesthesia. Even if patients are not put under, risks are still plentiful due to the manual, antiquated tools used. Rather than removing fat with an automatic technique, traditional lipo manually grates away fat with an abrasive scraping motion.

The tiny openings formed with AirSculpt® do not require stitches to close and are naturally left to heal, only leaving a mark that can be easily mistaken for a freckle. With traditional liposuction, however, patients will have to return to have stitches removed due to the size of the incision created.

Thus, despite the surging popularity of liposuction, in reality, not all techniques are created equal.

The Next Generation of Body Sculpting

AirSculpt® prides itself on serving as the next generation of body sculpting.

The procedure has been designed to prioritize the benefits of fat removal while minimizing the downsides associated with traditional liposuction, creating a more holistic approach to body contouring.

That said, the popularity of AirSculpt® in 2023 cannot go understated. With 25 body sculpting locations open worldwide, our patented technology has helped countless patients achieve their body goals.

 For more information on how we can help you, call our body sculpting specialists to schedule your complimentary consultation.