XUAL is a type of UAL where the ultrasonic
energy is applied from outside the body,
through the skin, making the specialized
cannula of the UAL procedure unnecessary.
It was developed because surgeons found that
in some cases, the UAL method caused skin
necrosis (death) and seromas, which are
pockets of a pale yellowish fluid from the
body, analogous to hematomas (pockets of red
blood cells).
XUAL is a possible way to avoid such
complications by having the ultrasound
applied externally. It can also potentially:
-
Cause less discomfort for the patient,
both during the procedure and afterwards
-
Decrease blood loss
-
Allow better access through scar tissue
-
Treat larger areas
At this time however, it is not widely used
and studies are not conclusive as to its
effectiveness