Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) is a method of liposuction that has been practiced in Europe and South America for a number of years, but has only recently begun to attract attention in the United States. It is similar to traditional liposuction techniques in that fatty tissue is removed from the body through small (less than one centimeter) incisions for the purpose of improving body contour. However, with UAL the fat is first fractionated by the application of ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy is delivered to the fat via a long, narrow probe which is inserted through the same small incisions used for traditional liposuction. The ultrasonic energy targets the fat cells, leaving the surrounding structures, such as blood vessels and connective tissues, apparently undamaged. The fractionated fat can then be removed using low-volume suction.
