Smart Liposuction
When Smart liposuction is done, the cannula is smaller than it is for a traditional liposuction and easier to manipulate in small areas such as the face, chin and neck. SmartLipo can be performed in the same areas as traditional liposuction; however it’s typically used in the smaller areas, such as the chin, where more precise sculpting is desired. Your plastic surgeon may choose to use traditional liposuction in larger areas; this will be a topic for the two of you.
Although traditional liposuction has been around for years and developed into a safe, effective procedure, there are many benefits in using SmartLipo instead. With SmartLipo, there is no general anesthesia; just local anesthesia, usually in the form of a shot, in the area where the work is to be performed. The incisions are considerably smaller since the cannula is smaller, making the procedure much less evasive then the traditional liposuction. Bleeding, bruising and swelling are typically kept to a minimum with SmartLipo because with the laser, the blood vessels are also cauterized as the procedure is being done. Compared to traditional liposuction, there is less pain as the anesthetic wears off. This is because with SmartLipo, the laser melts the fat cells and with traditional lipo, the surgeon is using the cannula to break up the fat cells. This less invasive procedure cuts the recovery time down to as little as 1 – 2 days before the patient can return to work and/or resume their normal activities.
In general, SmartLipo can be used on anyone that is in overall generally good health and has one or more problem area in their body that hasn’t responded favorably to diet or exercise. If you’re considering a SmartLipo procedure, you should also discuss the possible outcome with your doctor to ensure that you have a realistic expectation of the procedure and in what way it will be beneficial to you. Some of the side effects that you may want to discuss with your doctor will include possible swelling or bleeding at the site and the risk of infection.