Among the various liposuction techniques available today, power-assisted liposuction (PAL) offers the most benefits. That’s why board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker has used PAL for liposuction at his Marina del Rey practice throughout his career. Dr. Stoker uses power-assisted liposuction to sculpt and contour multiple areas of the body.
Liposuction Before & After Photos
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This 27-year-old woman already had a nice figure, but she was bothered by small fatty bulges that were obvious in certain clothing. Losing weight didn't make sense for this patient because she was comfortable at her current weight and felt that if she lost more weight through diet that her face and neck would look too lean. Instead, she began... Read More
This 23-year-old woman from Europe wanted to refine her figure, but since she is a model, she was worried that her face and neck would appear undesirably too thin if she were to lose more weight through diet and exercise. She came to Dr. Stoker's practice to find a Los Angeles plastic surgeon who could help her achieve the look she wanted wit... Read More
Power-Assisted Liposuction vs. Traditional Liposuction
Dr. Stoker’s preference for using PAL for Los Angeles liposuction patients is based on his studies on multiple generations of devices. He’s found that PAL offers several advantages over traditional liposuction and other liposuction technologies.
Both traditional liposuction and power-assisted liposuction procedures involve saturating the treatment area with a saline solution that includes a local anesthetic and epinephrine (adrenaline). This solution causes the fatty tissue to become swollen and firm (tumescent).
During manual tumescent liposuction, the surgeon inserts a thin tube called a cannula and vigorously moves it back and forth to break up the swollen tissue. This results in extensive bruising and bleeding.
The cannula used during power-assisted liposuction has a vibrating tip that gently breaks up the fatty tissue, suctioning it from the body in one step without damaging the surrounding tissue. The cannula vibrates at just the right frequency to maximize the efficient removal of fat. The vibration also helps the cannula glide through the fatty layers with minimal force. Power-assisted liposuction gives Dr. Stoker more control and precision, allowing him to focus on sculpting a more attractive figure for the patient. It also improves a patient’s recovery because it minimizes trauma to the body.
Advantages of PAL
Power-assisted liposuction offers a variety of benefits, including:
More efficient removal of fat
More control for the surgeon to sculpt precisely
More effective in fibrous or previously treated areas
He has authored two textbook chapters on liposuction.
He is a liposuction course instructor for The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
He was chosen by The New York Times as a top U.S. surgeon for liposuction.
He is a pioneer in liposuction techniques, such as power-assisted liposuction (PAL).
Who Is a Good Candidate for PAL?
Ideal liposuction candidates are men or women with stubborn, localized fat deposits that persist despite exercising regularly and consuming a healthy diet. PAL is not a weight loss procedure; you should be at or near the weight you intend to maintain before scheduling your procedure. Your skin should still have most of its elasticity so it can “shrink to fit” the treatment area’s new contours following liposuction.
How Long Is Recovery After PAL?
Dr. Stoker prefers power-assisted liposuction because it is as gentle as it is effective. The vibrating cannula loosens fat cells without requiring the surgeon to use force, causing minimal disturbance to the surrounding areas. This means less trauma and bruising and faster recovery times. In some cases, patients can return to work or other regular activities about 24 hours after their procedure. This depends on the size and number of areas treated.
Some additional steps Dr. Stoker takes to reduce recovery time include:
Strategic operative planning, with careful consideration given to achieving the best possible result with minimal recovery time
Instructing patients to wear compression garments that help skin and underlying tissues re-adhere
Having patients take arnica montana supplements to minimize bruising
Through his careful planning, Dr. Stoker minimizes a patient’s time under anesthesia.
How Long Will Results Last?
Results following power-assisted liposuction are considered permanent. Once fat cells are removed, they’re gone for good. However, fat cells that remain can increase in size. After liposuction, new weight gain should be more evenly distributed throughout the body and no longer concentrated in the area where the fat was removed. For your best results, maintain a sensible diet and exercise regularly.
Fat Transfer Using PAL
One of the other advantages of PAL compared to ultrasonic or laser liposuction is that the extracted fat is ideal for use in fat grafting procedures. Dr. Stoker uses fat transfer, also called fat grafting, to create fullness in other areas of the body using fat removed via liposuction. A Brazilian butt lift, for example, uses fat grafting.
Why is the power-assisted liposuction technique especially useful for fat grafting? In clinical research conducted by Dr. Stoker and UCLA, more than 90% of fat cells removed using PAL remain viable for days and would be suitable for fat grafts.
Start With a Consultation
Women and men considering power-assisted liposuction from Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and throughout Los Angeles choose Dr. Stoker to perform their procedures. You can request a consultation using the online form or call our practice at
(310) 300-1779 to schedule an appointment.
Educated at some of the most elite institutions in the country, Dr. David Stoker uses his highly advanced knowledge to ensure that each patient achieves beautiful, harmonious results — whether it's through a simple non-surgical procedure or a more advanced surgical transformation. Learn more about his unique credentials and his approach to plastic surgery.