As more women and men want to look and feel better about themselves, body contoueing and Lipo-Sculpture continue to grow in popularity, making liposuction the most popular cosmetic surgery performed today.  SmartLipo^TM is the first and only laser-assisted liposuction system available to meet this need - and it is FDA approved.  It provides a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure for the removal of unwanted fat.  Instead of a relatively large cannula and suction, a high-powered laser is used to sculpt body contours and tighten skin, with less downtime and fewer side-effects.

A very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0mm (1/16 inch) in diameter contains the laser fiber and is inserted through the skin.  The cannula is moved back and forth as the lasers energy is delivered directly to the fat cells, making them rupture and allowing the fat to melt away.  In addition, as the laser energy interacts with the dermis it results in skin shrinkage or tightening.   Due to the small size of the cannula, Smartlipo is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia.

The procedure causes less bleeding, swelling and bruising than conventional liposuction methods, resulting in a quicker recovery time.  Because general anesthesia is not used, the procedure is very safe and is associated with minimal side effects.

Who is a good candidate for the Smartlipo procedure?
If you have areas of fat that will not respond to diet and exercise, then youre a candidate for Smartlipo.  Ideal candidates are in good health, of normal body weight and have realistic expectations for the procedure results.

What body regions can be treated with Smartlipo?
It is ideal for treating small areas of the face, neck, arms, breasts (gynecomastia), abdomen and areas of loose and flabby skin.   Smartlipo can also be safely combined with tumescent liposuction for the effective treatment of areas containing large volumes of unwanted fat.

How many treatments will I need?
For most patients, typically only one treatment is required per treatment area.  The session may last from 1 to 2 hours for each area treated.

Are there any conditions that make Smartlipo inadvisable?
Smartlipo is an elective procedure and will only be recommended and performed if the likelihood of developing complications is extremely unlikely.  The following conditions are contraindications to Smartlipo: significant systemic illness, illness of the area of treatment, pregnancy or recent pregnancy within the last 3 months, allergy to lidocaine or epinephrine.  For patients planning to undergo abdominal Smartlipo, abdominal surgery or disorders of the lower abdomen (hernia, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, spastic colon etc.) are contraindication

Do I have to do anything post-treatment?
After the treatment you will need to wear a compression garment for several days to several weeks, depending on the body area being treated and the amount of fat removed.  Rest is recommended after the procedure and activity may be resumed gradually.  Refrain from hot tubs or strenuous exercise for 2 weeks.  (After the treatment you will need to wear a compression garment for up to two weeks, depending on the area being treated.)  Antibiotics will be prescribed beginning one day before treatment and will continue for 10 days post treatment to avoid infection.  Light massage or Triactive treatment can begin 10-12 days post treatment.

Does Smartlipo treat cellulite?
The procedure will improve the bodys shape and may improve cellulite to a certain degree.  At Celine Aesthetics in Medicine & Laser Lipoplasty we offer a special ultrasound/massage therapy for cellulite called Triactive which can be combined with Smartlipo for optimal results.

When can I expect to see results?
Results can be seen as soon as a week after the treatment with continued improvement over several months as your body is producing new collagen which tightens your skin.

What if I have large areas of unwanted fat?
Smartlipo can safely be combined with tumescent liposuction to get rid of large areas of accumulated fat.  You will have the skin tightening effects of Smartlipo along with the larger desired volume reduction that can be achieved with the more traditional liposuction techniques.

Does laser-assisted liposuction produce lasting results?
Yes! Adults do not create new fat cells.  When a person gains weight, the fat cells expand.  The Smartlipo procedure permanently removes the fat cells.  Should you gain weight, most fat will be deposited in areas where the procedure was not performed.

How does the SmartLipo^TM procedure work?

 

Advantage of SmartLipo^TM
Traditional liposuction, which is typically performed under general anesthesia in the hospital can be costly and have a 10% complication rate.  In addition, traditional liposuction has a very long recovery time.  The appeal of Smartlipo^TM is that it's minimally invasive, performed under local anesthesia, and has virtually no pain or bruising.  With Smartlipo^TM, normal activities can be resumed within a few days.

SmartLipo Laser. Laserlipolysis (pulsed, NdYAG laser):
This laser has recently received FDA approval. A small cannula containing a laser fiber is inserted into the skin, the cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser's energy to the fat cells causing them to rupture and easily drain away. The laser energy also interacts with the dermis resulting in collagen shrinkage responsible for a good contraction of the skin. SmartLipo is minimally invasive procedure that can be done easily with local tumescent anesthesia. The SmartLipo is a great adjunct to standard liposuction (suction-assisted, power-assisted, laser-assisted liposuction), though it cannot replace conventional liposuction. They have found the SmartLipo ideal for treating small areas of the face, neck, arms, breasts, high definition liposculpturing such as abdominal etching ("6-pack etching"), and areas of loose and flabby skin (floppy skin).

Redistribution of Fat
The body fat of an adult tends to increase gradually over the years. After the age of 30, an individual tends to add fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. This fat distribution is often resistant to exercise and dieting. An example of genetically predetermined fat distribution that is resistant to dieting and exercise is the fat that appears on the abdomen and hips of a woman after pregnancy.  For many people who have inherited the tendency to accumulate excessive fat, liposuction is the only realistic means of significantly changing the bodys silhouette.

Are the results of liposuction permanent?
Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. As long as the patient does not gain an excessive amount of weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent.

A woman who always tends to put weight on her thighs and knees, will find that after liposuction, these areas are less likely than other areas to accumulate fat when she gains weight. In fact, a number of patients have had liposuction and subsequently gained weight. In these patients, the areas originally treated by liposuction generally maintain their new desirable silhouette, whereas areas not treated by liposuction are the sites of new deposits of fat.

What is the Tumescent Technique?
The Tumescent Technique of liposuction was developed in 1985. The Tumescent technique involves the use of large volumes of a dilute solution of lidocaine (a local anesthetic) in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug, epinephrine, which shrinks capillaries.

Local anesthesia used in the Tumescent technique for liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, nor general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has the Tumescent technique proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia, but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimal post operative recovery time, and  produces optimal cosmetic results.

With the Tumescent technique, infiltrating the local anesthesia is associated with minimal discomfort. Once the area has been completely numbed, surgery in that area is essentially painless. In addition, because the numbness remains in the treated area for more than 12 hours, there is no pain immediately after surgery.

How does the Tumescent technique result in better and smoother results?
Because very small cannulas are used with the Tumescent technique, it permits a more delicate and gentle approach to liposuction as the surgeon can control the direction and position of the cannula with much more accuracy. This results in a greatly reduced risk of inadvertently approaching the undersurface of the skin too closely and unintentionally causing skin irregularities. Further, the use of very small cannulas enables the surgeon to make such small incisions that no stitches are used. The wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear over time.

By not using stitches to close skin incisions, the rate of healing is faster. Another benefit of not stitching the incisions closed is that, after the procedure, the open incisions permit easy drainage of the slightly blood-tinged anesthetic solution. This has a dramatic effect in minimizing bruising. Most patients notice that bruising is almost entirely absent after surgery

How does the Tumescent technique reduce risk of infection?
Infections are extremely rare, regardless of whether or not the anesthetic technique is that of general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Although there have been reports in the medical literature of patients who have had serious infections following liposuction surgery, to the best of our knowledge, there have never been any patients who have had an infection following Tumescent liposuction performed using only  local anesthesia. Lidocaine, the local anesthetic that is used for the tumescent technique, kills bacteria. With the Tumescent technique the areas that are being treated surgically are those same areas that will receive the local anesthetic that kills bacteria.

When can I return to normal activities?
Because of the significant decrease in swelling and decrease in inflammation and pain after surgery, patients are able to return to normal physical activities very soon after the procedure. There is no limitation of physical activity other than what common sense would dictate. Some patients are able to return to jogging, golf, or light aerobic exercise within a day or two after surgery. Some patients do find the soreness after surgery to be more significant than others, but on the average, most patients are surprised at how quickly they are able to return to normal activity.

If you are over thirty, you are more than likely to show signs of premature aging due to sun damage. With facial skin treatment, you can now treat sun spots, pigmented lesions and overall skin texture giving you a more revitalized appearance than you've had in years.

How does it work?
Facial skin treatment works by directing a beam of light to an irregularity in the skin, such as enlarged blood vessels or irregular chromophore. This removes the abnormality without scarring or damage, while stimulating collagen production to tighten the surrounding tissue, resulting in improved skin texture and reduced signs of aging.

How does this treatment differ from chemical peels and dermabrasion?

Unlike other treatments that remove an outer layer of skin and require significant healing time, laser treatment works by gently penetrating the skin to destroy the underlying vessels and pigment that are the cause of the problem. The outer skin itself is not damaged.

Is the treatment painful?
The treatment causes only minimal discomfort and any initial soreness is easily alleviated with a cold air cooling system.

How many treatments are required?
Typically several sessions are required for full-face treatment. The average treatment takes about 15 - 20 minutes. Results may be seen after the first few treatments. The treatment can be performed in a relaxed, comfortable manner without the use of typical anesthetics or gel.

How long does recovery take?
You'll be able to return to normal activities immediately, though sunscreen should be applied as a post-treatment precaution.

Leg and facial veins are bothersome at best, unattractive at worst. Fortunately, with cosmetic laser treatment, you can make yourself look and feel a whole lot better - often times, with as little as only one or two visits.

How does laser treatment work?
A cosmetic laser emits a prescribed dose of energy to the vein. The laser "selectively" targets the problem veins while sparing surrounding areas. After treatment, the vessel will naturally disappear.

What causes unwanted veins?
Red, blue or purple leg and facial veins can be a result of sun exposure, use of oral contraception, hormone therapy, age or genetics.

Does it hurt?
The treatment causes only minimal discomfort. Any redness or swelling should be gone within a day and youll be able to resume normal activities immediately.

How many treatments are required?
Typically only one or two treatments are required and results can be seen in 3-4 weeks. Treatment time usually varies between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the size of the area treated.

Almost everyone has unwanted hair somewhere on their body.  Unfortunately, traditional hair removal routines can be tedious, painful and expensive over time. Shaving may last a day, waxing a couple of weeks, but none of them last forever and therein lies the true beauty of laser hair removal.

How does it work?
To eliminate hair, the laser emits gentle pulses of energy that pass through the skin to the hair follicle. This energy is then absorbed into the hair follicle to destroy it so that hair can never grow there again.

Am I a viable candidate for laserhair removal?
Laser hair removal can be applied to all areas of the body and on all types of skin (even tanned or dark skin).

Does it hurt?
The treatment causes only minimal discomfort. Patients often say it feels similar to the snap of a rubber band. Slight redness or localized swelling can occasionally occur, but this usually subsides within the first 24 hours after treatment.

How many treatments are required?
Typically patients will see results in 4-6 treatments, though this number will vary based upon skin tone, hair color and several other factors. Your doctor or practitioner will talk to you about variables that may affect your individual results.