SmartLipo™: for many, the smartest option

Posted Jun 1, 2009 | 18 Comment(s) | Filed in:

As more women and men want to look and feel better about themselves, body contouring and lipo-sculpture continue to grow in popularity, making liposuction the most popular cosmetic surgery performed today. SmartLipo™ is the first and only laser-assisted liposuction system available to meet this need—and it is FDA-approved. It provides a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure for the removal of unwanted fat. Instead of a relatively large cannula and suction, a highpowered laser is used to sculpt body contours and tighten skin, with less downtime and fewer side-effects.

In SmartLipo™, a very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0mm (1/16 inch) in diameter contains the laser fiber and is inserted through the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth as the laser’s energy is delivered directly to the fat cells, making them rupture and allowing the fat to drain away. In addition, as the laser energy interacts with the dermis it results in skin shrinkage or tightening. Due to the small size of the cannula, SmartLipo™ is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The procedure causes less bleeding, swelling and bruising than conventional liposuction methods, resulting in a quicker recovery time. Because general anesthesia is not used, the procedure is very safe and is associated with minimal side effects.

If you have areas of fat that will not respond to diet and exercise, then you’re a candidate for SmartLipo™. Ideal candidates are in good health, of normal body weight and have realistic expectations for the procedure’s results. It is ideal for treating small areas of the face, neck, arms, breasts (gynecomastia), abdomen and areas of loose and flabby skin. SmartLipo™ can also be safely combined with tumescent liposuction for the effective treatment of areas containing large volumes of unwanted fat.

For most patients, typically only one treatment is required per treatment area. The session may last from 1 to 2 hours for each area treated. SmartLipo™ is an elective procedure and will only be recommended and performed if the likelihood of developing complications is extremely unlikely. If you have significant systemic illness, illness of the area of treatment, pregnancy or recent pregnancy within the last 3 months, allergy to lidocaine or epinephrine, you would not be a good candidate. For patients planning to undergo abdominal SmartLipo™, abdominal surgery or disorders of the lower abdomen (hernia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, spastic colon etc.) are also contraindications.

After the treatment you'll need to wear a compression garment for several days to several weeks, depending on the body area being treated and the amount of fat removed. Rest is recommended after the procedure and activity may be resumed gradually. Refrain from hot tubs or strenuous exercise for 2 weeks. Antibiotics will be prescribed beginning one day before treatment and will continue for 10 days post treatment to avoid infection. Light massage or MedSculpt treatment can begin 10-12 days post treatment.

Many wonder if SmartLipo™ can treat cellulite. The procedure will improve the body’s shape and may improve cellulite to a certain degree. At Rejuvenate! Med Spa we offer a special ultrasound/massage therapy for cellulite called MedSculpt which can be combined with SmartLipo™ for optimal results.

Results can be seen as soon as a week after the treatment with continued improvement over several months as your body is producing new collagen which tightens your skin. If you have large areas of unwanted fat, SmartLipo™ can safely be combined with tumescent liposuction to get rid of large areas of accumulated fat. You will have the skin tightening effects of SmartLipo™ along with the larger desired volume reduction that can be achieved with the more traditional liposuction techniques.

Laser-assisted liposuction produces long-lasting results. Adults do not create new fat cells. When a person gains weight, the fat cells expand. The SmartLipo™ procedure permanently removes the fat cells. Should you gain weight, most fat will be deposited in areas where the procedure was not performed.