Laser LipoSculpture

Laser LipoSculpture is the latest development in fat reduction procedures and has several benefits over traditional liposuction.

The tumescent technique for local anesthesia has revolutionized liposuction, varicose vein treatments like Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), Micro Phlebectomy and other cosmetic surgery procedures.

Laser Lipo combines tumescent anesthesia with laser technology to create a treatment with the following benefits in comparison to traditional liposuction:

	Traditional Liposuction	Tumescent Laser Lipo
Anesthesia / Risk	General anesthesia. Patient is unconscious, increasing risk.	Local anesthesia. Patient is conscious, talking to the staff and is occasionally asked to change position, decreasing risk for blood clots and other complications. Very high safety rate.
Pain & recovery	None during the procedure. Moderate to severe for 1 to 2 weeks after. May require prescription pain killers.	Minimal discomfort during procedure.  Mild discomfort for a few days after, easily treated with Tylenol or similar.
Scarring & Bruising	Requires larger incisions because of the large cannulas used. Stitches may leave scars. Significant bruising may occur.	Small circular punctures that do not need stitches and leave no scars. Less bruising due to vessel constricting medication in the anesthetic fluid used.
Results	Larger instruments and higher suction power can lead to uneven results and lumpiness.	Smoother and more sculpted results by liquefying the fat before gentle suction.
Cost	Higher cost caused by general anesthesia and facility charges from hospital or surgical center.	Significant less cost because of local tumescent anesthesia

 

The unique benefit of the Laser LipoSculpture procedure is that it breaks up and liquefies fat for removal, while leaving nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue mostly undamaged. 

SlimLipo®, SmartLipo®, CoolLipo® and Vaser® LipoSelection, are all variations of the tumescent lipo procedure. Because of the tumescent local anesthesia used, patients typically report low to minimal pain, swelling and bruising.  Once emulsified, fat is easily removed with minimal disturbance to important structural tissue to yield smooth results.

How does Laser LipoSculpture work?
Laser LipoSculpture is a new and very different way to precisely and efficiently remove unwanted fat.  An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, the Laser LipoSculpture procedure uses tumescent anesthetic fluid to first liquefy and then remove fat from the body, which is why it provides such smooth, predictable results.  Since it is more tissue selective than traditional liposuction, patients report low to minimal pain and low to minimal swelling and bruising.

What body areas can be treated with Laser LipoSculpture?
Doctors have experienced great success in treating all of the following areas: abdomen, thighs, knees, hips, back, arms, male breasts, love handles and chin.

What happens during the Laser LipoSculpture procedure?
First, the area to be sculpted is filled with a special saline solution (tumescent) that helps numb the site and shrink the blood vessels (to minimize blood loss and reduce bruising).  This solution wets and fills the area to be treated, then, a small suction cannula removes the liquefied fat quickly. 

What type of results can I expect?
Because the procedure breaks up fatty tissue while leaving other important tissues relatively intact, the result is a smooth contouring and less swelling and bruising.
If you have had a C-section that left you with an extra fold on your lower abdomen, the Laser LipoSculpture procedure may smooth this out while reducing the amount of abdominal fat in an impressive way.

What’s in the infusion fluid?  Isn’t lidocaine dangerous?
A saline solution is injected to “loosen up” fatty tissue. This solution includes diluted amounts of a blood constrictor [Epinephrine] to reduce bleeding and bruising and an anesthetic numbing agent [Lidocaine].  The percentage of lidocaine and the amount of fluid is carefully calculated and administered to avoid toxicity issues.  If this is a serious concern of yours, you should definitely discuss it with the doctor before you make your decision.

What is my anticipated recovery time?
This varies with the extensiveness of the procedure – the amount of fat removed, the number of sites treated, and so on.  It is important that you establish realistic expectations through discussion with your doctor.

What about future weight gain / fat migrating to other areas?
This is a common misperception.  Following your Laser LipoSculpture procedure, should you experience weight gain or loss, it will tend to be proportionately distributed over your entire body.  Once you have fat removed, it is gone and, assuming a healthy lifestyle of proper diet and exercise, it will not return or migrate. However, because fat is necessary to a healthy body, some essential fat layers in any given site remain untreated.  If you do gain a significant amount of weight, the remaining fatty tissue will expand.  Normal aging changes can also be expected. 

Will Laser LipoSculpture  eliminate my cellulite?
“Cellulite” is a term used to describe a specific look of fat in skin overlying certain areas of the body (often described as “orange peel” or “cottage cheese skin”).  As we age, almost all of us develop some cellulite.  Laser LipoSculpture does not reduce cellulite. Please see "VelaSmooth" under Services, for cellulite treatments.