SMART LIPO

To fully understand Smart Lipo one should familiarize themselves with Liposuction and Tumescent Liposculpture.

Early Liposuction

Briefly liposuction, as a cosmetic procedure, was invented in the 1970's. The first liposuction tools were the medical instruments used in abortions! It was determined that unwanted fat could be removed with these instruments leaving the patients leaner and more shapely.

The early liposuction canulas (metal suctioning tubes) were large and sharp. Fat, in its normal state, is too thick to simply suction. The tools would cut, loose small pieces of fat to be removed by a suction device. This led to numerous problems.

First, the procedure was painful and required the use of a general anesthetic. This made the procedure more risky and expensive then if no general anesthesia had been required.

Second, these sharp canulas also cut blood vessels causing bleeding problems. It has been estimated that more than half the suction aspirate (fat removed) was actually blood! This greatly limited the amount of fat that could be removed and often led to blood transfusions in even medium sized liposuction cases. There were a few cases of death from blood loss and, as we now know, even in the best of circumstances, blood transfusions can be risky.

These large sharp canulas also caused scarring leading to skin irregularities and defects. The bruising and soreness were remarkable and recovery was expectedly slow. Many patients wished they had left well enough alone.

Amazingly, many Doctors still use this antiquated form of liposuction despite its obvious increased risk and inferior cosmetic results. Why would they still use this type of liposuction when safer techniques have been available since the mid 1990's?

Doctors are sometimes like "old dogs" and reluctant to try new tricks. This is particularly true in the United States where new techniques are often met with skepticism and ridicule. Liability is a problem as doctors quickly condemn a colleague who tries something new.

Tumescent Liposculpture

The next big advance in liposuction was the development of the Tumescent Liposculpture procedure. With Tumescent Liposculpture a large volume of sterile saline water is first infused into the fatty area to be treated. The fluid also contains medication to anesthetize the area and close down the blood vessels in the fat. In addition, it serves to loosen and liquefy the fat for easier removal.

The result is a much safer procedure. No general anesthesia is required and the fat can be suctioned by small non-sharp suction tubes (canulas). If performed correctly this eliminate blood loss as a problem. Bruising and soreness are minimized and most patients are able to resume normal activities within days.

Additionally, these non-sharp canulas do not cause the scarring associated with "old style" liposuction. Greater amounts of fat can be safely removed and more body areas can be treated.

The Tumescent Liposculpture procedure was developed and popularized by Dermatologists. Not so surprisingly; the procedure was not immediately adopted by all Plastic and Cosmetic surgeons who were skeptical and reluctant to take training courses from Dermatologists!

Tumescent Liposculpture has proved to be extremely safe and effective. It has become the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure performed in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people have their bodies sculpted, thinned and transformed each year.

Most of the improvements in Tumescent Liposculpture in the last 10-15 years have been with the equipment. The canulas have been improved and refined. There are now many different types, shapes and sizes specialized for each body area. For instance, there are tiny canulas for use on the face or ankles, curved canulas for curving around body areas, and special rasping canulas to break loose fibrous tissue in the chest or upper abdomen.

We have power assist machines to make the suction canulas vibrate for easier and more efficient use. Similarly, ultrasonic machines can be used with tumescent anesthesia to make the liposurgeons job an easier one.

Smart Lipo

The most recent advance in Tumescent Liposculpture has been a laser assisted Liposculpture treatment with a total revolutionary concept. Called Smart Lipo, it is an innovative technique designed especially for removing excess fatty tissue by selective interaction of a laser beam with fat cells.

With the Smart Lipo technique small incisions are made in the skin and tumescent anesthesia fluid is infused into the treatment area. A small tube, containing the laser fiber, is then introduced into the incisions. It delivers laser energy to the fat cells under the skin. The cells rupture and release liquid fat, which is either removed immediately with a Tumescent Liposculpture canula or, if there is only a small amount of fat, left for the body to eliminate by reabsorption.

Permanent Results

As with other forms of Liposculpture the fat removal with Smart Lipo is permanent. The amount of fat on our bodies tends to increase as we age but the number of fat cells remains the same. We have the same number of fat cells when we are young and thin as when we are older and heavier. In fact, fat cells (called adipocytes) are capable of expanding up to 150 times there original size! Smart Lipo destroys the fat cells. Few fat cells remain once the fatty fluid is removed and it is difficult to pick up fat in the treated area.

There is a misconception with Liposurgery that people think if fat is removed from one area, such as their abdomen, then it will redeposit into another area such as their hips or thighs. This is not true. Fat will not deposit into any area of the body unless the patient eats too much, and gains fat and weight.

Put another way, if a person put on an extra 5 pounds during the holidays (a common occurrence) the extra 5 pounds of fat will distribute itself into the arms, abdomen, hips and legs, but if we have removed the fat cells from the abdomen, the extra 5 pounds of fat will distribute to the arms, hips, and legs but the abdomen will stay thin. Smart Lipo is an excellent technique to permanently remove fat from any body area.

Skin Tightening

Perhaps the key advantage of Smart Lipo is its ability to stimulate collagen production, causing skin tightening, in the treated areas. This is most noticeable in areas like the jowls and neck, the lower abdomen, the back, and the arms. Not only are the treated body areas slimmer and better contoured but the skin is tighter as well. This skin tightening may not be as dramatic as in a surgical arm lift or tummy tuck but it is less invasive, less expensive and the recovery is much easier and faster than with surgery. In addition, there are no unsightly scars and the surgical risk is much reduced. No wonder many patients opt for Smart Lipo over surgical procedures.

Fast Recovery

Another advantage of Smart Lipo is the rapid recovery time. Smart Lipo is less invasive than the old style of liposuction. The recovery time is greatly reduced. Typically the patient is swollen for a few days in the treatment areas. The swelling rapidly resolves as excess fluid drains from the incision sites. The fat removal and slimming affects are quite evident within the first week.

Bruising is minimal or nonexistent. What little bruising is present resolves within the first couple of weeks. There is some tenderness in the treated area which usually resolves in a few weeks as well. Patients can usually return to work in a couple of days and more rigorous activities within a week. Most patients are surprised at how quickly they recover and return to normal activities.

In summary, Smart Lipo has a faster recovery time than "old style" liposuction because there is less trauma and bleeding with this newer technique. The incision sites are very small but still allow the excess fluid to drain, resolving the swelling within days. The Smart Lipo laser helps to cauterize broken blood vessels further speeding healing. Smart Lipo is a less invasive and traumatic technique compared to traditional methods.

Improved Safety

All this leads to the most important advantage of Smart Lipo which is improved safety of this liposculpting procedure. The tumescent anesthesia used in this procedure eliminates the need for more expensive and dangerous General Anesthesia used in "Old Style" liposuction procedures. Studies of cosmetic surgeries, in general, have shown that most of the serious complications are associated with General Anesthesia.

In addition, the tumescent anesthesia fluid loosens the fat for easier removal. Medications in the fluid cause the blood vessels to shrink and the laser used in Smart Lipo cauterizes blood vessels as it melts fat. All this leads to minimal bleeding with this procedure and reduces all problems related to excessive bleeding making it a safer procedure for the patient.

Many Treatment Areas

Smart Lipo is an effective treatment for many body areas that traditional liposuction procedures are not. For instance, fatty sagging arms can be treated with Smart Lipo. The fat is removed and the sagging skin is tightened making it an alternative to more invasive and expensive arm lift surgery which usually requires an extensive scar down the inside of the arm. Similarly, many patients who previously had no choice but an expensive, invasive abnominoplasty (tummy tuck) are now a candidate for Smart Lipo of the abdomen because the skin can be tightened non-surgically with the laser.

Smart Lipo provides excellent results on loose fatty jowls, neck, and chin fat. It is also effective for inner thighs, saddle bags, hips, waist, back, knees, and "love handles".

And the results from Smart Lipo are permanent. The fat that is removed will not come back. The laser destroys the fat cells as the fat is melted. You do not produce more fat cells as an adult so the fat removal is permanent.

Smart Lipo can be combined with Tumescent Liposculpture when larger amounts of fat are needed to be removed. It can also be used in conjunction with power assisted Liposculpture tools which remove fat more gently and provides for smoother results in experienced hands.

It should be remembered that Smart Lipo is a laser tool to be used by experienced liposurgeons and results will certainly vary depending on the experience and skills of the particular liposurgeon. The Smart Lipo equipment has only been available to U.S. liposurgeons for only a couple of years. The company which produces the laser equipment requires a 1 day training course for those physicians who wish to purchase it. Many doctors who purchase Smart Lipo equipment have little or no training and experience in Liposculpture or any surgery. To be proficient at Smart Lipo the doctor must be proficient at Tumescent Liposculpture as well because, in most cases, moderate to large amounts of fat will have to be removed and this is where the body shaping really takes place.

The doctors with the best Smart Lipo results are usually those with the most previous experience with Tumescent Liposculpture. The goal is to achieve the most aesthetically pleasing silhouette rather than maximize fat destruction and removal. Some of the worst results are when an inexperienced liposurgeon removes too much fat from the wrong area! This is difficult to repair. An experienced liposurgeon knows how much fat to remove, and in what areas, to create the best looking body.

The lipo surgeons with the best results are usually those who have specialized in Liposculpture for a number of years making them more experienced in this procedure. Some Cosmetic Surgeons offer so many different procedures (i.e. tummy tuck, breast lift, breast augmentation, facelift, eyelid lifts, thigh and arm lifts, and Liposculpture) it is a wonder they can keep up with all the advances in those individual fields and remain proficient in all of them. Beware the "Jack of all Trades!". He may be a master of none! For any medical procedure or surgery you will usually be better served with a specialist in that area and the more specialized and more experience the better.