Introduction to SmartLipo for Remove stubborn Body Fat
SmartLipo is an innovative improvement on traditional liposuction that removes stubborn body fat while simultaneously sculpting the body. Before you opt for this body contouring procedure, it is important to learn how the technique works, what it’s used for, and how much it costs. If you are wondering if you are an ideal candidate for SmartLipo, you have come to the right place. Doctor Babak Moeinolmolki of Healthy Life Bariatrics includes SmartLipo on his menu of post-bariatric body contouring surgery procedures. Keep reading to determine if this procedure is right for you.
What is SmartLipo?
SmartLipo is otherwise referred to as laser lipolysis, which gives you some idea of how the technique works. The cosmetic procedure harnesses powerful laser energy to sculpt the body. The SmartLipo procedure was approved by the FDA in 2006. Laser lipolysis is only one type of lipolysis procedure. There are also techniques that use ultrasound and radiofrequency energy. Laser lipolysis tends to be the most effective for body contouring.
How Does SmartLipo Work?
Laser lipolysis heats targeted fat cells with laser light energy. When the fat cells reach the intended temperature, they become liquified. This makes the fat cells easier to remove. The technique is also more comfortable than traditional liposuction.
How Does SmartLipo Compare to Traditional Liposuction?
During traditional liposuction, a saline solution is injected into the treatment area to liquefy the fat. A thin rod called a cannula is then inserted through a small incision to break up and suction the fat. The cannula is typically moved back and forth, which is necessary for further breaking up fat cells.
With SmartLipo, the fat cells become liquified, which means no back-and-forth motions are necessary. The cosmetic surgeon may have to massage the area to remove substantial portions of fat, however.
How Should You Prepare for SmartLipo?
There isn’t much you need to do to prepare for a SmartLipo procedure. The cosmetic surgeon may advise you to stop taking blood thinners for up to two weeks prior to your procedure. The same goes for NSAIDs and Vitamin E supplements. You should also avoid shaving, tanning, or engaging in any other activity that could potentially irritate the treatment area for at least a week prior to your appointment. Your cosmetic surgeon will provide you with a detailed list of all the information you need to prepare for your procedure before your appointment.
How Long Do the Results of SmartLipo Last?
Laser lipolysis offers permanent results. Once the fat cells are removed, they will never grow back. If you gain weight in the future, the fat cells that remain can grow larger. This can produce lopsided results because of the missing fat cells. For that reason, and to adequately maintain your results, make sure you are able to keep your weight stable in the future.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for SmartLipo?
SmartLipo is an excellent technique for post-bariatric body contouring. When the excess weight comes off with procedures like gastric sleeve surgery or gastric bypass surgery, some fat may remain in some areas. This fat can stubbornly stick to areas such as your abdomen, back, upper thighs, upper arms, under the chin, and elsewhere. There are ten signs you would be a viable candidate for this advanced body contouring technique.
Read our article: Benefits of Post-Bariatric Body Contouring – Health and Beauty Improvement
Your Clothes Feel Tight
SmartLipo can fix instances where your clothes feel tight in some areas and loose in others. After SmartLipo, your body parts can become more proportional to the rest of you. Knowing that you feel and look great in your clothes can make you more self-assured. Confidence plays a significant role in nearly every aspect of your life. From getting a new job to winning over a romantic love interest, or even making new friends, knowing your clothes fit just right all over can do wonders for your quality of life.
You Are Close to Your Ideal Weight
You should consider SmartLipo when you are within thirty pounds of your ideal weight. With bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve surgery, you can lose up to 60% or more of your excess weight. This can put you close to your ideal weight. SmartLipo can then remove stubborn fat along the abdomen, back, buttocks and other areas to improve your silhouette and self-esteem.
You Should Have Realistic Expectations
SmartLipo cannot work miracles. You can lose between ten to twelve pounds of fat and surrounding liquid, but the technique should not be thought of as a weight loss method. Rather, the main point is to thin out areas where fat cannot be displaced with diet and exercise alone. As long as you have realistic expectations for what SmartLipo can do, this body contouring method may be right for you.
You Are Aware of the Recovery Time
SmartLipo is considered a minimally invasive treatment. Small incisions are used which function as entry points for the cannula. As a result, there may be some downtime after the procedure. In most cases, this amounts to a day or two of rest and recovery. As long as you understand you may have to take a couple of days off work to allow your body to heal, you may be an ideal candidate for the procedure.
You Understand How the Technique is Performed
Before scheduling you for a SmartLipo procedure, the cosmetic surgeon will fully explain how the technique is performed. SmartLipo takes around two hours to perform, depending on how many areas are being treated and how much fat needs to be removed. Some sessions may take longer.
Because the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, you will be awake during the SmartLipo session. There won’t be any pain, but you may feel pressure as the fat is liquified and suctioned out.
You Have Significant Fat That Needs to Be Removed
A cosmetic surgeon will ensure you have enough fat to remove before scheduling you for SmartLipo. The fat can be removed from both large and incredibly small regions, such as from your back or under your chin. As a general rule, you should be able to pinch at least an inch of fat to be considered for SmartLipo.
You Have Multiple Regions to Treat
SmartLipo may be right for you if you have multiple trouble areas. Traditional liposuction is also ideal for multiple areas, but SmartLipo can be used on one or more areas with significantly less downtime.
You Want Fast Results
Some cosmetic procedures take months before you can see the true results of the procedure. SmartLipo is not like that at all. With this procedure, you can see immediate results the moment you leave the cosmetic surgeon’s office. The area will continue to improve from three to six months post-operation, but you won’t have the swelling and bruising like you would with traditional lipo.
You Don’t Want to Feel Pain
With traditional liposuction, it is common to feel discomfort for several days following the surgical session. With SmartLipo, there is no pain or discomfort because of the local anesthetic that is used.
Loose Skin Exists Around the Treatment Area
Some bariatric surgery patients find that they have loose skin left over after the excess weight has come off. Not only can SmartLipo remove pockets of stubborn fat from around the body, but the collagen produced by the effects of the technique can tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of skin laxity.
Read our article: How to Tighten Skin After Weight Loss Surgery
Who Isn’t a Candidate for SmartLipo?
You Suffer from Obesity
If your body mass index (BMI) is elevated to the point of obesity, you should consider a technique such as bariatric surgery before opting for a body contouring procedure like SmartLipo. Bariatric procedures such as gastric sleeve surgery make weight loss easier. Plus, you have an entire support team helping you along the way when you opt for a professional like Doctor Babak Moeinolmolki of Healthy Life Bariatrics as your bariatric surgeon.
Read our article: Post-Bariatric Body Contouring Surgery in Los Angeles – When is it Safe?
You May Not Be Able to Control Your Weight
If you are still in the weight loss stage and have only recently achieved your goal weight, you may want to hold off on SmartLipo. The technique is best considered when you have actively managed your weight within ten pounds of your goal weight for at least six to twelve months.
If you opt for SmartLipo and gain weight, the results can be skewed because of the fat cells that are removed in some areas and not in others.
Are There Any Risks to SmartLipo?
All surgical procedures have risks, even minimally invasive ones like SmartLipo. Potential risks of the procedure include infection, bruising, scarring, and hematoma. Incredibly rare risks include excessive bleeding, underlying tissue burns, skin burns, and shock. You can mitigate and lower the chances of these risks by being careful to choose an experienced cosmetic surgeon with a solid history of favorable results.
Can SmartLipo Get Rid of Cellulite?
SmartLipo is considered a treatment for fat removal. The technique also boosts collagen production in the skin. This helps to generate healthy skin cells, making the tissue around the treatment area tighter, smoother, and more youthful. The technique is not meant to treat cellulite, however. If cellulite is a concern, ask Doctor Moeinolmolki for effective cellulite treatments.
How Many SmartLipo Treatments are Required?
Most patients require only one SmartLipo treatment to achieve their body contouring goals. During the initial consultation, Doctor Moeinolmolki will evaluate your body concerns and help you determine how many treatments you may need.
How Much Does SmartLipo Cost?
The cost of SmartLipo depends on the body part being treated. The outer thighs can cost $3,500 while the abdomen can cost $5,250. You will receive a detailed quote during your initial consultation with the cosmetic surgeon.
Is SmartLipo Right for You?
If you are considering a technique like SmartLipo, and you’re wondering if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure, the first step is to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Unlike traditional liposuction, the requirements for being a candidate for the procedure are not at all extensive. If there are regions of stubborn fat around your body and diet and exercise do little good, you may be an excellent candidate for the procedure.
Keep in mind that SmartLipo is not for everyone. You should not consider the advanced liposuction technique if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or heavily menstruating. You should also reconsider undergoing the procedure if you have an underlying illness such as cancer, heart disease, blood clots, diabetes, or liver disease. You may also be denied the procedure if you have undergone a surgical procedure in the previous six weeks and if you are taking medications that make you sensitive to light.
Find Out if Body Contouring with SmartLipo is Right for You
If you are close to your ideal weight and there are certain parts of your body you wish were more proportional to the rest, you may be an ideal candidate for SmartLipo body contouring. This treatment can improve your confidence and quality of life. Your clothes may fit better, and you may feel more self-assured in all areas of life, including professionally, romantically, and personally.
Doctor Babak Moeinolmolki invites you to schedule a consultation to discuss this revolutionary fat-removal technique. Doctor Moeinolmolki is the only surgeon in Southern California who is dual-board-certified in minimally invasive techniques such as gastric sleeve surgery and body contouring, which involves methods like SmartLipo. That means Doctor Moeinolmolki can be your doctor for bariatric surgery and post-bariatric body contouring all under one roof.
To learn more, call Healthy Life Bariatrics in Los Angeles, California. You can reach our office by dialing (310)807-2378.