Liposuction and SmartLipo FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction & Related Procedures

What is liposuction and body sculpturing?

Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat from fatty deposits located between the skin and muscle. Body sculpturing by liposuction is literally a dream come true. Localized accumulations of fat, which are often hereditary and frequently impossible to eliminate by exercise or dieting, can now be removed by liposuction surgery, never to plague you again.
Liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube called a cannula. Connected at one end to a specialized suction pump, the cannula is inserted through tiny skin incisions. The removal of fat is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After surgery, these tiny tunnels collapse, resulting in an improved body contour.

About Fat

The body fat of an adult tends to increase gradually over the years. After the age of 30, an individual tends to add fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. This fat distribution is often resistant to exercise and dieting. An example of genetically predetermined fat distribution that is resistant to dieting and exercise is the fat that appears on the abdomen and hips of a woman after pregnancy. For many people who have inherited the tendency to accumulate excessive fat, liposuction is the only realistic means of significantly changing the body’s silhouette.

What areas can be treated by liposuction?

The most frequently treated areas in women are the abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles, and beneath the chin. In men, who comprise about 25% to 30% of patients who undergo liposuction, the most commonly treated areas include the love handles, abdomen, breasts, and the neck and chin area.

Are the results of liposuction permanent?

Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. While patient experience may vary, results can last as long as the patient does not gain an excessive amount of weight.

What is the Tumescent technique?

The Tumescent Technique of liposuction was developed in 1985. The Tumescent technique involves the use of large volumes of a dilute solution of lidocaine (a local anesthetic) in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug, epinephrine, which shrinks capillaries.

Local anesthesia used in the Tumescent technique for liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, nor general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has the Tumescent technique proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia, but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimal post operative recovery time, and produces optimal cosmetic results.
With the Tumescent technique, infiltrating the local anesthesia is associated with minimal discomfort. Once the area has been completely numbed, surgery in that area is essentially painless. In addition, because the numbness remains in the treated area for more than 12 hours, there is no pain immediately after surgery.

What are the risks?

As with any surgical procedure, liposuction is associated with certain common side effects such as bruising, swelling, and temporary numbness. Although irregularities of the skin are possible following liposuction, this side effect is minimized by the Tumescent technique. When larger cannulas are used, occasionally there are patients with an irregularity of the skin. Since smaller, microcannulas became available, noticeable irregularities are very rare. Because of the slow resolution of post liposuction swelling, the ultimate results following liposuction usually require 12 to 16 weeks to become fully apparent. Nevertheless, patients can usually see dramatic improvements within two to four weeks after surgery.

Although the results of liposuction are often quite spectacular, it is not realistic to expect perfection. Liposuction of the thighs, while improving the silhouette, does not necessarily eliminate the subtle “puckering” of the skin that is often referred to as “cellulite.” Liposuction with the Tumescent technique does reduce the degree of cellulite but it is unlikely to eliminate it. Rare problems that can potentially occur with any surgical procedure include infections, bleeding and nerve injury, The Tumescent technique, however, minimizes these risks.

How does the Tumescent technique reduce risk of infection?

Infections are extremely rare, regardless of whether or not the anesthetic technique is that of general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Although there have been reports in the medical literature of patients who have had serious infections following liposuction surgery, to the best of our knowledge, there have never been any patients who have had an infection following Tumescent liposuction performed using only local anesthesia. Lidocaine, the local anesthetic that is used for the tumescent technique, kills bacteria. With the Tumescent technique the areas that are being treated surgically are those same areas that will receive the local anesthetic that kills bacteria.

When can I return to normal activities?

Because of the significant decrease in swelling and decrease in inflammation and pain after surgery, patients are able to return to normal physical activities very soon after the procedure. There is no limitation of physical activity other than what common sense would dictate. Some patients are able to return to jogging, golf, or light aerobic exercise within a day or two after surgery. Some patients do find the soreness after surgery to be more significant than others, but on the average, most patients are surprised at how quickly they are able to return to normal activity.

How does the SmartLipo procedure work?

A very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter containing a laser fiber is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser’s energy to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. The laser energy also interacts with the dermis resulting in collagen shrinkage.

Due to the cannula’s small size, Smartlipo is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling, and bruising, and a quicker recovery time than conventional liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the procedure is very safe with only minimal side effects.

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 are 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 can be a great adjunct to traditional liposuction procedures and it 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. We recommend 1-2 days rest but most patients are able to return to work immediately (Lunch-Hour Lipo).

Does SmartLipo treat cellulite?

The procedure will improve the body’s shape and may improve cellulite to 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 removes the fat cells. Should you gain weight, most fat will be deposited in areas where the procedure was not performed.

Can SmartLipo be combined with a ``tummy tuck``/abdominoplasty?

Yes. The Florida state laws only allow liposuction of 1000 cc with the abdominoplasty procedure. If this amount of liposuction is not adequate then a second liposuction procedure may be indicated at a later date.

What are the advantages of SmartLipo?

•  Minimal Downtime – A few of our patients can return to work immediately, almost like a “lunchtime Liposuction.” 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. The bruises too are much less with SmartLipo than with standard liposuction techniques.
•  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.
•  Almost “Normal” Skin after 3 Months – It would be very hard to find the insertion points or tell by looking at the skin that any liposuction has ever been done. Skin contracts with the heeling tissues that replace the melted fats.
•  Safety – SmartLipo is less invasive 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.

smartlipo-body-contouring
vaginal-rejuvenation