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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

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 Lipo and Laser Skin Tightening

Laser lipo offers many advantageous side effects including producing the effects of a skin tightening procedure. This is due to the effect the heat generated by the laser has on the collagen of the skin. The heat causes the skin to contract and tighten over the treated area which results in the patient appearing more youthful and well rested. The optimal results are seen with laser lipo patients with more elasticity in their skin. Aged, sun damaged, or otherwise weathered skin lacking in their natural elasticity does not contract well. In such cases an additional procedure might be recommended to improve the results.

Facial Liposuction and Skin Tightening

Facial liposuction patients are among those who stand to benefit the most from this skin tightening effect. Laser removal of fat makes facial liposuction possible because of the increased accuracy and precision in targeting fat cells that laser technique offers. The common procedures are used to treat facial areas that have loose or excessive accumulated fat deposits. Sagging jowls and the removal of double chins are commonly requested treatments. In some cases, additional procedures might be required to remove excess skin that doesn’t tighten and remains loose after the surgery. In the case of aged skin without much elasticity a face lift might be recommended to improve the results.

Superficial Liposuction for Skin Tightening

Superficial liposuction was invented as a solution for patients who have loose skin after liposuction surgery. However, it can be used improperly and cause a myriad of permanent, undesirable side effects. The purpose superficial liposuction is to cause the skin to tighten over the treated area by removing fat closer to the surface of the skin. This is a common technique used in facial liposuction and face lift procedures but can cause problems in other areas of the body. With the benefits of laser lipo today, superficial liposuction is becoming a largely abandoned technique.

Laser Skin Tightening Procedure

Other regions of the body treated with laser lipo can also expect the same skin tightening effects. But it does not have to be a liposuction procedure if the patient simply wants a laser skin tightening procedure. Similar to the side effect of laser liposuction causing the skin to tighten, laser skin tightening treatment uses the heat generated by the laser to cause the skin to contract. It is a very popular treatment and is minimally invasion. The effects are immediately noticeable but for optimal results, the patient will want to receive a series of two or three monthly treatments.

Laser Skin Tightening Cost

The cost of laser skin tightening depends on a number of factors just like any other cosmetic enhancement procedure.  The cost of laser skin tightening depends on some of the common factors that affect cosmetic surgery procedures. The geographical location of the clinic and the skill and experience of the medical professional are major influences of cost. The average laser skin tightening cost ranges from $450 to as much as $2,000.

The best thing about laser skin tightening is that it is a very safe and painless procedure. The procedure does not use require burning or breaking the skin in anyway and whatever side effects that the patient might experience are mild and temporary. The common side effects are redness with possibility of swelling during the recovery period.

Laser Lipo, Laser Lipolysis – What’s the Difference?

The understanding is that laser lipo offers the same benefits as traditional liposuction but with additional advantages of being relatively safer and more precise. So when we hear the term laser lipolysis, also known as Smart Lipo, what differentiates it from the procedure we have been referring to ask laser liposuction? Turns out there are some distinction in technique. Each surgeon will perform the same treatment using slightly different tactics so it is a good idea to get as much detail about the procedure during the initial consultation session and discuss what may be the best option for your particular needs.

Traditional liposuction is known to be rather traumatic to the tissue surrounding the area being treated because mechanical force is used to literally break up fat cells. The resulting loose fat is removed from the body with a suction tube. Laser liposuction, in contrast, uses an optic fiber heated with a laser to literally melt the fat away and the resulting liquid fat is sucked up with a much smaller tube. Smart Lipo, or laser lipolysis, uses the same laser technique but instead of a suction to remove the fat, the excess that is released from destroyed fat cells are drained through a tiny incision. The trace amounts that are not removed will be picked up by the body’s lymphatic system and removed from the body the most natural way, through the bowels.

Laser Lipolysis Candidacy

The Smart Lipo procedure is available to anyone who meets the qualification criteria. It is similar to other liposuction treatments and that is any patient who is in good general health and less than thirty pounds over their ideal weight. In many cases the patient also has to be able to maintain a stable weight and the common measure is someone who has been at a consistent weight for over a year. Younger, more elastic skin will help with recovery and improve the results as we will discuss further below.

Laser Lipo Surgery

Anesthesia

Since both of these laser assisted liposuction procedures are smaller scale surgeries than traditional liposuction, most treatments only require local anesthesia. This means that the area to be treated will be numbed but the patient will be awake during the procedure. Traditional liposuction usually requires general anesthesia which sedates the patient throughout the surgery. Being awake allows the patient to communicate any unusual discomfort during the procedure which is an added factor that could help minimize surgical risks.

The smaller dosage offers patients many additional benefits. For starters, it will cost less since the patient will be billed for the amount of the drug used as well as the service of a certified anesthesiologist to administer the drug. Small dosages can be administered safely without an anesthesiologist so there is a two-fold money saver in anesthesia fees.

Risks

Any surgery, cosmetic or otherwise, carries a certain level of risks. Laser lipolysis patients are subject to the same risks as any plastic surgery patient. General liposuction risks include anesthesia related risks, surgical risks like damage to nearby tissue and the risk of infection. The smaller incision means less risk of scarring or infection. Common side effects of any liposuction are often mild and include hematoma which is blood pooling under the skin causing visible color spots and scarring. Rare complications with laser assisted liposuction procedures include burning the skin and nearby tissue if the laser is running too hot and remains in one area for too long.

Recovery

One of the greatest benefits of laser assisted liposuction is the quick and nearly pain free recovery time.  Patients are often released to return home the same day and if all goes well the recommended recovery time is about 24 hours. That means the patient is free to return to work and normal daily activities in a matter of days. This is a huge improvement from traditional liposuction which could require weeks for recovery. Less impediment on daily life means the procedure is accessible to more people.

Laser Lipolysis Costs

A number of factors affect the price of liposuction but the average national bill for laser lipolysis is between $2,000 and $4,000 per treated area. It depends on the area of the body to be treated and the size of the treatment. Obviously large areas will require more time and effort from the surgeon so higher fees are expected. The geographical location of the clinic also matters because the rates will be relative to the cosmetic surgery market in that area. With that in mind, the surgeon fee will also depend on the perceived quality of the surgeon. This is one area where a prospective patient should not compromise to save a little bit of money. A board certified plastic surgeon will greatly lower the risks of complications and is well worth the higher costs. Bargain or discount surgeons carry an added risk of being under qualified or lacking in skill and experience required to produce desirable results.

Popular Areas for Treatment

Laser lipo and laser lipolysis, or Smart Lipo, allows small pockets of fat to be removed from areas that traditional liposuction cannot reach. This is especially useful since most small deposits of fat in particular areas are almost impossible to lose with traditional exercise and dieting methods.

Laser assisted liposuction offers the same benefits of traditional liposuction to more delicate areas that require the laser precision that the new technology offers. It is becoming an increasingly popular treatment for facial areas such as the cheeks, chin, neck, and jowls. Many patients enjoy their new face without a double chin, sagging jowls, or neck rolls. Some simply want a slimmer, more youthful looking face.

An added benefit of the laser technique is that the heat from the laser causes the skin to contract. This contraction tightens the skin further enhancing youthfulness of the face and other treated areas of the body. This is why the ideal candidate has skin with its original elasticity otherwise a facelift might be recommended to complement facial liposuction procedures.

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