Smart Lipo

Traditional liposuction can reshape and smooth the contours of your body to give you the figure you’ve wanted but have been unable to achieve with diet and exercise alone. These procedures can sculpt your body to remove unwanted fat from specific areas, including the neck, abdomen, hips, buttock, thighs, knee, upper-arms, back (to remove the “back bra roll”), and calves.

Laser liposuction with SmartLipo takes the traditional liposuction technique one step further, using a laser to emulsify the excess fat and tighten the skin before the fat is removed. It delivers laser-powered energy to the fat cells through a very small fiber inserted through tiny incisions. The laser ruptures the fat cell membranes and liquefies the fat throughout the treatment area. The laser also cauterizes blood vessels, which reduces bleeding and bruising that may occur during the process. Collagen production is also stimulated at the same time to tighten loose skin.

After the fat is liquefied through laser lipolysis, a cannula is inserted to gently remove the liquid fat. This type of procedure generally causes less bruising and swelling, faster recovery times, and improved skin tightening than traditional liposuction.

WHAT IS SMARTLIPO?

SmartLipo is a specialized form of liposuction that uses a laser to emulsify fat for easier removal while also tightening skin. It delivers laser energy to the fat cells with a very small fiber inserted through tiny incisions. This laser-assisted liposuction procedure ruptures the fat cell membranes and liquefies their contents. It also cauterizes blood vessels, which reduces bleeding and bruising that are a common part of traditional liposuction.

This whole process also generates gentle heat to stimulate collagen in the deep layers of the skin, causing it to contract and tighten. After the fat is liquefied, a cannula is inserted to gently remove the liquid fat. This type of procedure generally causes less bruising and swelling, comes with faster recovery times, and improves skin laxity over traditional liposuction.

CANDIDATES FOR SMARTLIPO

If you’ve hit your weight loss goals yet find you still have pockets of fat or loose skin that won’t go away, you’re not alone. Some fat doesn’t respond to even the most stable diet and exercise. In this case, liposuction and other specialized alternatives are some of the best options available to achieve your ideal contours with minimal downtime.

Patients who benefit most from SmartLipo are those who are looking for effective fat reduction and also have areas of loose skin. These are usually people who underwent significant weight loss but didn’t require a surgical procedure like a tummy tuck to achieve their ideal body contour.

SmartLipo can be used on many different areas of the body like the neck, abdomen, hips, buttock, thighs, knee, upper arms, back (to remove the “back bra roll”), and calves. As with any plastic surgery procedure, you should be in good overall health and have maintained a stable weight with healthy lifestyle habits.

SMARTLIPO PROCEDURE

SmartLipo can be performed under either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with light sedation. Once your treatment areas have been appropriately marked, a tiny incision is made through which the laser fiber can be inserted. With gentle motions, this fiber liquefies fat and begins tightening the surrounding skin. Once the fat is ready to be removed, a surgical cannula is inserted to suction away the liquefied fat. Then, the incisions are closed and made ready for recovery.

SMARTLIPO RECOVERY

You can usually resume normal activities the next day and return to full activity in two weeks. We recommend that our patients wear a compression garment for six weeks after surgery. This helps with blood flow to the area and helps the skin adhere to the new contours. You may experience some discomfort, but we can prescribe medications to help manage it and any swelling. Most patients will begin to see results around one week after surgery with results emerging at about six months. In order to maintain your results, it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid gaining weight since this can mean you’ll require another procedure in the future.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

SmartLipo can be an excellent option for putting the finishing touches on your new body after weight loss. It can also be a great way to refine your favorite areas and achieve the definition you’ve been working for. To get started, contact our Atlanta office by calling or filling out our online form. Dr. DiFrancesco is a board-certified plastic surgeon who can recommend your best options during a private consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes SmartLipo different from traditional liposuction? SmartLipo uses traditional liposuction but adds an additional step—a laser that breaks up fat cells so excess fat can be permanently removed using smaller cannulas (hollow tubes) and small incisions. What are the advantages to this newer type of liposuction? With SmartLipo, there is less tissue trauma, swelling, and bruising. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, too. These advantages add up to a significantly faster recovery with about half the downtime of traditional liposuction. In fact, patients can usually return to work in one to three days after their SmartLipo and return to exercising in about two weeks. Who is a good candidate for SmartLipo? Any man or woman who is healthy but who has one or more areas of persistent fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Can Smart Lipo be used on any area of the body? In addition to areas like the waist and thighs, it also can be used on arms and even the jaw line. The laser stimulates collagen production which helps with skin retraction, creating smoother results. If a person has indentations or other problems from traditional liposuction, can SmartLipo help? Complications such as dimples and lumps from prior procedures can be difficult to correct. They may require a combination of laser-assisted liposuction and fat injection. Patients should have a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to tailor a specific plan for their problem. Who should not get SmartLipo? Individuals who have a BMI of 30 or higher, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have any condition that may hinder the healing process are not ideal SmartLipo candidates. The best way to determine if this treatment is right for you is to schedule a consultation at our office. How long does SmartLipo last? Results from SmartLipo are permanent because once fat cells are removed, they will not return. However, it is important to maintain a stable weight to maintain ideal results. What are the risks of SmartLipo? As with any cosmetic procedure, there are some risks associated with SmartLipo. Possible risks may include bruising, scarring, infection, and hematoma. However, when performed by a skilled surgeon like Dr. DiFrancesco, these risks are rare. How many SmartLipo treatments will I need? Many patients only require a single SmartLipo treatment to achieve their goals. However, you may need a series of treatments depending on the amount of change desired. What is SmartLipo recovery like? After SmartLipo, patients will need to rest for a couple of days and can usually return to work within two to four days. Exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for up to 12 days. See All