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 lipolysis system to offer a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure for the removal of fat. Using a high-powered laser, SMARTLIPO is a new Laser Body Sculpting procedure with less down time and side effects than traditional liposuction.
If you’re seeking a cutting-edge, highly effective method to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of many surgical techniques, then laser technology is definitely the technique you’ll want to consider. Routinely used in dental procedures, lasik eye surgery, reconstructive work and cosmetic procedures—including liposuction—laser technology is what sets SMARTLIPO apart from its competition.
SMARTLIPO is different in that it uses a carefully calibrated laser to liquefy fat deposits through the top layers of the patient's skin. The laser actually ruptures fat cells, and the resulting oily, liquid substance is then removed through a tiny incision in the skin by the surgeon. The small laser can also seal blood vessels as it zaps fat, so there is less swelling, bleeding and bruising than with traditional liposuction. Research has shown that little, if any, fat is reabsorbed back into the body. The minimal invasiveness of the procedure allows patients to see faster results and to experience fewer complications.
In addition, SMARTLIPO’s patients need only a local anesthetic for this procedure, whereas liposuction requires general anesthesia. Because the patient is not completely unconscious, SMARTLIPO carries much fewer risks than traditional liposuction, and the recovery time is much shorter.
Is SmartLipo™ Right for You?
Almost anyone can be a good candidate for SmartLipo. In general, the ideal candidate:
- is in good health, exercises regularly, is within 25 lbs. of his or her ideal weight;
- has one or more areas of local body fat deposits that have responded poorly to diet and exercise; and
- is bothered by these fatty areas, and is motivated to get rid of them permanently.
Dr. Andrew Kwak will review the benefits and risks of SmartLipo during your consultation visit. We will assess whether you are a good candidate with respect to your medical health, and clarify what SmartLipo could do for you.
Generally, SmartLipo might be right for you if:
- You don’t have a lot of time to spend in recovery – Patients are typically back to work within 1–2 days following the procedure. Bandages are removed 1–2 weeks after that.
- You’ve worked hard to eat right and exercise, yet you still can’t lose those “love handles” or other fat deposits you consider unsightly – Human fat, or adipose tissue, can be very hard to get rid of through exercise and diet alone. SmartLipo can be a relatively simple solution to remove stubborn fat permanently.
- You want a procedure that is FDA approved – The SmartLipo device was approved in November of 2006, and today is one of the fasting-growing, safest procedures in the cosmetic surgery field.
- You don’t want loose skin as a result of the procedure– Many patients of traditional liposuction find that their skin does not adjust to the reduction of fat deposits. This tendency often results in unattractive “droops.” These patients often require skin lifts that can lead to scars, thus rendering the initial liposuction treatment useless. But by pulling the surrounding skin inward, SmartLipo laser technology can reconstruct the layers immediately under the patient’s skin, completely eliminating skin drooping.
- You want something more affordable than traditional liposuction – The cost of the SmartLipo procedure depends on how many areas are being treated, but the average traditional liposuction procedure on an abdomen costs about $6,500. The average SmartLipo abdomen procedure costs $5,000. This difference in pricing represents a 30% cost savings.
- You want permanent results – Once the fat is removed from a particular area of the body, it will never return. If you gain fat in the future, it will be deposited elsewhere on your body.
To be a good candidate for SmartLipo, you should have realistic expectations about the procedure’s capabilities. And while SmartLipo can improve your appearance and self-confidence, it won’t necessarily match your mental ideal, nor will it cause other people to act differently toward you. Before you decide to have SmartLipo, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Andrew Kwak during your consultation visit.
SmartLipo™ Technology
SmartLipo uses the latest advancements in cosmetic surgery technology, which provide a safer, quicker and cost-effective method. Pioneered in Europe, the SmartLipo procedure is the first laser-assisted liposuction procedure. SmartLipo was approved by the FDA in November of 2006 and has quickly been labeled the cutting edge procedure in cosmetic surgery.
The SmartLipo system has quickly become one of the most successful liposuction procedures in the cosmetic surgery field for its use of cutting-edge technology.
With SmartLipo, a hollow, pen-sized instrument called a cannula is inserted into a minor incision made by the surgeon. The cannula uses a small laser to liquefy the fat cells an area and drain them away. Because the cannula is only about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, SmartLipo is a less invasive procedure, reducing the risk of bruising and promoting a quicker recovery. In addition, the cannula’s laser acts as a visual guide, helping the surgeon make more precise movements than typical Liposuction.
With a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser, the wattage ranges from 6W to 18W, and the higher the wattage allows for a faster procedure. As the laser liquefies fat cells, the laser will simultaneously coagulate small blood vessels, preventing bleeding and swelling. A hollow cannula is also used to suction out the fat cells and speed the recovery process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a good candidate for the SmartLipo® procedure?
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 results.
What body regions can be treated with SmartLipo®?
SmartLipo is ideal for treating small areas of the face, neck, arms, knees, back, bra strap, mons pubis, breasts (gynecomastia), and areas of loose and flabby skin (floppy skin).
How many treatments will I need?
For most patients, typically only one treatment is required. The session may last from 45 minutes to one hour for each area treated.
Do I have to do anything post-treatment?
After the treatment you will have minimal pain or bruising. Depending on the areas treated, we recommend 1-2 days rest, but most patients are able to return to work immediately.
Does SmartLipo™ treat cellulite?
The procedure will improve the body’s shape and may improve cellulite to a certain degree and will tighten sagging skin.
When can I expect to see results?
Results can be seen immediately with continued improvement over several months.
Does laser-assisted liposuction produce lasting results?
Yes! 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.*
*Aest. Plast. Surg. 26:335-339, 2002
Advantages of SmartLipo™
Minimal downtime
A few of our patients return to work immediately, almost like a "lunchtime liposuction". Of course we normally advise a day or two of rest.
Minimal discomfort
During the procedure, there is no pain. After the anesthesia has worn off, it only feels like the aches and pains that follow a vigorous workout. This is unlike in traditional liposuction where a patient feels as if a truck was driven over the body. The bruises too are much less with SmartLipo.
Less traumatic
The fiber-optic cannula is inserted through a small puncture in the skin usually along creases that conceal the scar. As the laser melts the fats, it also coagulates the loose ends of small blood vessels. Compression garments are optional as the area will not bleed very much after the laser is removed. The granulation tissue (healing-tissues) does the rest of the work in contracting the treated area as well as the overlying skin.
Post-Operative Care:
After three months, you can expect it to be very hard to find the insertion points, or tell by looking at the skin that any procedure has ever been done. Skin contracts with the healing-tissues that replace the melted fats.
Safety and Complications:
SmartLipo is safer than traditional liposuction because there is less bleeding and anesthetic drugs used. In fact, in doing the procedure under tumescent technique, we have eliminated a lot of risks normally associated with general anesthesia.
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