A method and apparatus is described for performing a liposuction procedure by means of a power-assisted liposuction device. The apparatus comprises a hand-holdable handle assembly (enclosing a gas driven reciprocating piston rod), a detachable cannula, an aspirator pump attached to the hand-holdable handle assembly and a foot pedal assembly that includes a vibrator element for regulating the supply of gas to the hand-holdable handle assembly. The hand-holdable handle assembly generally consists of a barrel, a hollow piston rod which reciprocates relative to the barrel, a seal body, an end cap (having a internal aspirated chamber), an atmospheric access return gallery, and a return spring chamber. Detachably coupled to the hand-holdable handle assembly by means of a quick disconnect is a hollow cannula, the distal end of which contains an aspiration aperture. The foot pedal assembly generally consists of a pedal bell, a metering chamber and a vibrator element, all of which together allow the operator to regulate the flow of gas to the hand-holdable handle assembly, (and, correspondingly, the reciprocation of the hollow piston rod and the hollow cannula) Finally, the hand-holdable handle assembly and the hollow cannula are constructed such that they, together with the necessary tubing, may be easily sterilized.
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