Laser Assisted Liposuction

The challenge of liposuction, regardless of whether it is laser assisted liposuction or otherwise, is to remove the right amount of fat in the right area of the body. There also is the challenge of minimizing the effects on surrounding tissue of the treated area. Laser assisted lipo offers the benefit of higher accuracy and more precision in targeting fat cells while minimizing damage to connective tissue and blood vessels. In laser liposuction, smaller tools are used to break down the fat cells and suction the loose fatty substance. This greatly reduces the risks generally associated with traditional liposuction as a result of the surgery as well as during the recovery period.

The Procedure

The first step to any plastic surgery procedure is consultation with a certified plastic surgeon. For someone new to the cosmetic enhancement field, it is a good idea to consult with more than one surgeon to get multiple opinions and have something to compare. Once the surgeon has had a chance to assess the eligibility of the patient and that laser assisted liposuction is the best procedure for the patient’s goals a surgery date and paper work will follow. The patient will receive an antibiotic either before or immediately after to ward of potential infection to the incision. Photographs are often taken for future reference and the area of the body to be treated is marked.

The surgery begins with local anesthesia to numb the area being treated and a small fiber carrying the laser is inserted to melt the fat cells in the area. The patient will experience a slight scraping or rasping sensation as the cannula moves across the area removing fatty tissue. Since laser liposuction patients require only local anesthesia, the patient is awake during the procedure and therefore can communicate any unusual pain or discomfort to the surgeon performing the surgery. This lower anesthesia dosage lowers the many risks associated with the administration of this drug. More often than not the patient will have an IV fluid line to maintain fluid balance.

Recovery

One of the advantages laser liposuction offers its patients is in the shorter recovery period than traditional liposuction methods. Where it may take two weeks before the patient is ready to resume normal activities after traditional liposuction, laser liposuction patients are able to return to work in a matter of days. Pain medication might be prescribed for any minor complication that could cause discomfort during recovery. Swelling is normal in mild cases while serious cases of swelling and other side effects can be avoided with proper drainage of the treated area after surgery.

Fat removed with liposuction is permanently so it is important that both the surgeon and patient proceed carefully. Removing too much fat in one area will cause adverse aesthetic effects and can be avoided by dividing major procedures into smaller sessions so results of each session can be assessed before more fat is removed. Laser assisted liposuction offers many benefits but it is up to the patient to maintain or improve to a healthier lifestyle to maintain the positive results.

Laser Fat Removal

Laser fat removal is a relatively new development in liposuction techniques. This technique is often known as laser assisted liposuction, laser lipolysis, or laser liposuction. There are many advantages that laser fat removal offers over traditional liposuction methods namely the improvement in lower risk and faster recovery after the surgery. Instead of using physical force to breakdown the fat cells, laser liposuction uses heat generated by the laser to literally melt the fat away. This is much gentler than traditional liposuction and therefore puts less stress on the surrounding tissue around the treated area.

Many experts will warn that liposuction surgery is not a solution for obesity and in no way is it a weight loss strategy. It is designed to remove areas of fat that may be difficult to target through traditional means such as exercising and dieting. It is a means of sculpting the body and refining the figure. A plastic surgeon will determine if the person is qualified for the surgery and inform the prospective patient about the benefits as well as the risks of the procedure. For a patient to be eligible, they must be in general good health, not excessively overweight and be able to maintain a stable weight for over a year. Following standards and guidelines are the way to ensure that risks of complications are minimized.

Laser fat removal is generally regarded as a safe procedure and laser liposuction surgery is effective in removing small pockets of fat deposits. Using the laser technique has greatly improved the precision in targeting fat cells so there is less risk of damage to other tissue in the area. The most commonly used lasers today are branded names like SmartLipo, SmoothLipo, and CoolLipo which differ in the laser light wavelength used to produce the heat that causes the fat to melt.

Laser assisted liposuction uses a smaller suction tube than traditional liposuction. Smaller tools means smaller incisions required to perform the surgery. The smaller incision means less risk of infections, scarring, or bruising. The heat generated by the laser will cause any leaked blood from damaged blood vessels to evaporate. The reducing in bleeding as well as drying of most of the leaked blood reduces chances of unwanted side effects such as hematomas and seromas which are conditions in which the skin is discolored by blood pooling under the skin.

Laser fat removal procedures are smaller in scale than traditional liposuction making recovery faster and almost painless. There are many benefits that laser assisted liposuction offers patients. For anyone considering treatment, consult a certified plastic surgeon to determine the best course of action to achieve your desired goals.

Laser Liposuction Procedure

There are many advantages to laser liposuction that ameliorates the common problems associated with traditional liposuction. The procedure itself in general is similar to liposuction with minor adjustments that plays to the difference in technique and improvements that laser lipo offers. Liposuction has long been a procedure that causes a lot of stress to the nearby tissue of the area being treated. A common issue is the loss of blood caused by damaged vessels and in many cases requires a blood transfusion to compensate for the amount of bleeding. The different tools and techniques in laser lipo alleviate a lot of the issues that arise surgically and during recovery.

Consulting a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

The first step toward any plastic surgery procedure is consultation with a certified plastic surgeon. During the initial consultation session, the prospective patient will learn a great deal of details about the particular procedure, in this case liposuction, and allows the doctor a chance to evaluate the prospective patient. They might suggest alternative procedures that could better produce the desired results. It is also a chance for the patient to learn about the qualifications of the surgeon. Any board certified plastic surgeon will be proud of their accomplishments and have no problem showing off their certifications as well as proof of their experience.

Preparing for Liposuction Surgery

Before entering the surgery room the patient will be instructed on ways to better prepare for the surgery. This includes certain drugs to avoid such as caffeine and anything containing epinephrine-like solutions such as cold medication which could cause adverse effects with the anesthesia. The patient should also be mentally prepared for the permanent changes that liposuction will have on the body as well as any risks involved.

One the day of the surgery, the patient will receive a local anesthesia to numb the area of the body that will be treated. Usually, the drug will be administered by a certified anesthesiologist to minimize or prevent potential side effects that the solution in the drug might cause. It also helps to ensure the proper dosage is administered to the patient.

Laser Liposuction Surgery

To begin the surgery, the liposuction surgeon will make a small incision and insert a cannula which will break up the fat. The tool used in laser liposuction is approximately a quarter of the size of a traditional cannula so the incision necessary is smaller. The laser generates heat to target fat cells causing the fat to literally melt away. A small suction tube is then used to remove the liquefied fat from the body. Small trace amounts of fat that cannot be reached by the suction tube will be picked up by the body’s lymphatic system and is discharged through natural means, that is, in the urine.

Once the surgery is done, the patient is usually released the same day with care instruction for the resting and recovery period.

Recovery

The biggest advantage of laser liposuction is the relatively quick recovery time. Most patients will be instructed to stay home and rest the day after the surgery. They are free to return to work and normal daily life the following day. However, strenuous physical activity should be avoided for at least a couple weeks for the body to completely heal. In terms of exercise, typical patients are able to perform brisk walking exercises in a couple weeks but should avoid heavy lifting and work outs for at least a month.