Liposuction with the WAL method is a gentle surgical intervention in which fat cells at specific locations under the skin are loosened with a fine water jet and suctioned through special cannulas.
At Park-Klinik Birkenwerder near Berlin, we rely on water-jet-assisted liposuction (WAL) for our liposuction procedures. We have many years of experience with this technique and were among the first clinics to use it in Germany and across Europe.
The water jet helps the surgeon loosen the fatty tissue in a controlled way and precisely shape the desired body contour, while surrounding structures such as blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue are largely spared. The skin covering the treated areas remains untouched and will shrink because of its own elasticity, so that no lasting skin folds remain.
The removal of distressing fat accumulations and the modelling of the respective body parts make the body look more slender and the proportions more harmonious. However, liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss, nor is it a treatment for obesity.
In water-jet-assisted liposuction (WAL), the fatty tissue is gently loosened from the surrounding tissue using a fine, pressurised water jet and simultaneously suctioned through a thin cannula. In most cases, the fat is irrigated beforehand with a styptic and analgesic solution. This combination of gentle fat loosening and controlled suctioning – also known as WAL-body-jet® – makes the method particularly well suited to aesthetic body contouring.
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Water-jet-assisted liposuction has a special history at Park-Klinik Birkenwerder: our team of doctors has been working with the technique for more than 20 years and was among the first users of the WAL method across Germany and Europe. Numerous scientific studies on further developing the procedure were carried out in cooperation with the company Human Med and accompanied by the University of Rostock. Key development steps of the technique originated in our own operating theatres.
The gentle harvesting of fat cells using WAL is also an important basis for our BEAULI™ method of fat transfer. For a breast augmentation or breast reconstruction with autologous fat, the body's own fat is first harvested using water-jet-assisted liposuction and then used to build up the breast. Park-Klinik Birkenwerder played a key role in developing the BEAULI™ method and has been using it for many years.
→ More about breast augmentation with autologous fat using the BEAULI™ method
Liposuction is particularly suitable for localised fat deposits that are difficult to reduce through sport or a change in diet. Depending on the individual findings, the following areas can be treated, among others:
The goal is not to remove as much fat as possible, but rather to achieve a harmonious body contour and balanced proportions.
On the abdomen, liposuction is useful if mainly fat deposits are bothersome and the skin is still elastic. If there is marked excess skin, for example after pregnancies, a tummy tuck may be the more suitable treatment. We also use the gentle WAL method for the surgical treatment of lipedema.
Liposuction is not a method for general weight loss and not a treatment for obesity. It is suitable primarily for patients with localised fat deposits and sufficiently elastic skin. If the skin is already significantly sagging or overstretched, liposuction alone may not achieve the desired result – in such cases, an additional skin tightening procedure may be advisable. This is assessed individually during the personal consultation.
It is not advisable to remove large amounts of fat through suction. Usually, the limit is between 3-4 litres.
Each patient should have realistic expectations regarding the results that can be achieved through liposuction. Localized fat deposits can be removed optimally in skin that is still elastic. Once the skin has been strongly overstretched or once there are no longer sufficient elastic fibres, an aesthetically satisfying result can only be achieved by surgically removing excess fat and skin, and then one will have to accept ensuing scars (thigh lift, abdominoplasty, body lift).
Before the procedure, the body regions to be treated are carefully examined and the desired contour is discussed together. Fine cannulas are inserted into the subcutaneous fat through incisions just a few millimetres wide. With the WAL technique, a water jet assists in gently loosening the fatty tissue, which is then suctioned out.
For larger amounts, additional twilight anaesthesia is recommended during liposuction. Here, sleep and pain killer medication are introduced into a vein, the patient is relaxed, anxiety-free and in a state of twilight sleep and does not feel any or only very little pain. The advantage of this approach is that all the body’s defensive reflexes are still active and that a muscle injury during liposuction can be safely prevented. General anaesthesia is only used in very comprehensive interventions, which usually require short-term hospitalisation. All other forms of liposuction are performed as in-office procedure.
Temporary swelling and bruising can occur after the procedure. To support the treated body regions during healing, a special compression garment is worn for four weeks. Plasters remain in place for around a week, and bruising and swelling subside after a few days; a follow-up appointment takes place if needed.
The liposuction performed by an experienced surgeon at Park-Klinik Birkenwerder/Berlin is a very low-risk procedure, still, skin retractions and irregular contours (dimples) cannot be excluded. Haematomas that are sometimes caused by liposuction disappear within a few weeks.
At Park-Klinik Birkenwerder, liposuction costs from 2.800 € – including 19 % VAT, plus anaesthesia. The exact price depends on the treated regions and the scope of the procedure and is determined in a personal consultation. You will find an overview of all treatments in our price list.
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Dr. med. Ursula Tanzella and her team will be happy to advise you personally.
