The Basics of Laser Liposuction No comments yet

The Basics of Laser Liposuction

If you’re thinking about liposuction, forget the vacuum and say hello to the laser!

The Food and Drug Administration has just approved a new, less-invasive technique for liposuction using lasers. Some doctors say that this laser liposuction is better and safer than the traditional surgery. It can help patients lose a size or two with little down time, and without the usual effects of loose, bumpy skin associated with traditional liposuction.

SmartLipo, Smart Lipo, Laser Liposuction or laser lipolysis, is a procedure for fat removal like liposuction that utilizes the energy generated from a laser fiber to “melt” fat away. Laser liposuction is performed in a doctor’s office under a light, local anesthetic.

Using a very small cannula (tube) a laser fiber is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser’s energy directly to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. Unlike traditional liposuction, which commonly leaves skin loose and lax, the Smartlipo laser energy also interacts with the dermis, resulting in collagen shrinkage and excellent skin retraction offering wonderful results.

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 thicken immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising – and a quicker recovery time than conventional liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the laser procedure is very safe, with only minimal side effects.

Traditional liposuction uses a vacuum with a metal tube attached, which the doctor moves back and forth as it tears out and removes fat. You get more loose skin as a result, bleeding, swelling, scaring and destruction of tissue. Sagging skin sometimes necessitates additional surgical procedures such as face or neck lifts. Alternatively, Smartlipo uses a laser which melts away fat and results in less destruction and bruising, less scaring and no stitches. Recovery times are also faster with Smartlipo.

“If you do traditional liposuction, you can actually make the skin look worse. It is pretty much like a deflated balloon,” said Dr. Bruce Katz in a recent interview with ABC News. Dr. Katz is director of the Juva Skin & Laser Center in New York City. “This type of laser technology allows us to melt the fat and tighten the skin at the same time.”

Laser lipo treatments are not cheap. Treatments cost between ,000 – ,000 depending on the treatment area or doctor.

The new procedure isn’t for everybody.

Doctors say the laser system is best suited for targeting small fat deposits in otherwise healthy people, and it is not a cure for obesity.

“In the age of technology and cosmetic surgery, there are such dramatic improvements in technology that sometimes the hype goes beyond what can actually be accomplished,” said Paul Jarrod Frank in a recent ABCNews.com interview. Dr. Frank is a dermatologic surgeon in New York City.

“There will never be a magic wand of cosmetic surgery,” Frank said.

The Basics Of Ultrasonic Liposuction No comments yet

The Basics Of Ultrasonic Liposuction

The popularity of liposuction in the U.S. can not be denied but is it safe? Many prospective patients are opting for more advanced forms of liposuction which include ultrasonic liposuction and tumescent liposuction. If you are considering having this procedure you should be sure to ask the doctor what specific methods he will be using so that you can understand the risks.

Ultrasonic liposuction, otherwise known as ultrasonic-assisted liposuction or UAL, is an advanced procedure used by liposuction doctors to assist them in removing body fats more efficiently and effectively. Body shaping procedures like liposuction are as much an art as a science. By using this tool to assist in breaking up the fat cells the surgeon can remove more fat, more easily. Ultrasonic liposuction works by using “ultrasonic energy” to break up fat cells in certain areas and converting these unwanted fats into oil. The areas involved are usually the flanks, back, hips, upper abdomen and areas where you have had liposuction before. These areas have been found to be more complicated than others.

The Procedure Itself

Ultrasonic liposuction uses a generator. As with traditional liposuction a vacuum is involved but this one is specifically designed for this. Fatty areas are better identified by injecting them with tumescent fluids. Then, a canula with an ultrasonic probe is attached to the generator and suction vacuum. As the canula passes through the fat, the energy breaks down fat cells and converts them to oil. This oil will then blend with the tumescent fluids to form a mixture that can be easily sucked out through the canula.

Currently ultrasonic liposuction is not considered a replacement for traditional liposuction because in most cases the same outcome can be expected. It can be used in conjunction with traditional procedures because it can easily reduce or treat fats that have been difficult to remove using traditional liposuction.

What are the risks associated with Ultrasonic Liposuction?

There are more complications and risks associated with this procedure than with traditional liposuction. These include:

*Burning of the patient’s skin
*Possible scarring from the burns
*Blood Clots
*Injury to the sensory nerves

The use of ultrasonic energy for this purpose is new so many of the long term risks are not yet known. There have been some studies that have shown a relationship between exposure to ultrasound and damage to the peripheral nerves. More so in sensitive areas like the face and neck. The heat of given off by the procedure can burn as well as cause blood clots to form.

All the above said the use of ultrasonic liposuction is growing because it can help the surgeon remove more fat than traditional methods. The equipment costs more so the cost of ultrasonic liposuction is higher than traditional liposuction. It may be worth it particularly if you find you need a lot of fat removed in areas like the back and upper abdomen. The trouble areas that benefit from the use of ultrasonic liposuction are usually the ones men need done. Whether you are male or female the results may be worth the added risks.