Whether you have lost weight or maintained a healthy weight throughout your life, localized areas of fat can form over time and mar your body profile. You may be distressed to find these isolated bulges do not respond to gym workouts or calorie-counting. At Cross Hudson, we offer a number of procedures that allow for targeted, area-specific weight loss; such as liposuction.
What is Laser Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of our most popular procedures at Goals Plastic Surgery. Patients who typically come in for other procedures, add an additional liposuction treatment to their package, just for that extra fat removal and extra body contouring.
However, one issue with liposuction, is that it is actually a fairly invasive procedure that requires incisions being made into the treatment area as well as an extended period of recovery or downtime. Despite the value and effectiveness of traditional liposuction, in certain cases, it can take a few months for bruising and swelling to go down.
We would like to introduce a new liposuction technique, that is considerably less invasive, all thanks to the use of laser energy. Our lasers melt fat cells for easier removal. This method uses laser heat to tighten the skin in the treatment area, as it melts away fat. The result is a smoother, firmer body contour with less trauma to surrounding skin and tissue overall.
Are You a good candidate for Laser Liposuction?
When determining your candidacy for laser lipo, it is important to judge the laxity of your skin in the treatment area. The ideal candidate is someone who has the necessary elasticity – considering that this will allow the skin to “snap back” following the loss in volume beneath. Otherwise, patients may need to have the remaining skin be trimmed or tightened through some form of lift surgery.
The ideal candidates for laser lipo are those who are already at a healthy weight, and don’t have a need for a severe amount of correction. As in this case, traditional liposuction may be a better option. Laser lipo gives patients a far less-invasive procedure, allowing patients to avoid surgery or having to be “put to sleep” beforehand – in addition, it means patients can avoid a long and arduous recovery period.
Laser lipo is most effective in these following areas:
- Upper arms
- Upper back
- Inner and outer thighs
- Neck, and under the chin
- Abdomen
- Buttocks
- Hips, flanks, and love handles
The Procedure
Your surgeon begins by inserting a narrow cannula that contains a laser fiber into the fat deposit. The fiber delivers the heat energy to the fatty layers, liquefying the fat without disrupting your healthy tissue. The laser energy also coagulates your blood during treatment, reducing bleeding and minimizing bruising and pain following your procedure.
Depending on the level of correction, and the number of treatment areas, the procedure takes about 1-2 hours to complete. The incisions used to insert the cannula are too small to require sutures, so a compression dressing will be placed over them when the treatment is completed. You may also be given a compression garment to wear that will reduce swelling after the procedure and promote healing to the treated area.
Recovery & Aftercare
Recovering from laser lipo is relatively quick and easy, when compared to traditional liposuction. Patients can generally resume daily activities within a few days; while bruising and swelling will subside within a week of the procedure. When the swelling is down, you will see the new slimmer shape and contours – regardless of where your treatment took place.
Considering how effective laser lipo can be, most patients will only require 1 treatment to attain their goals. The results are permanent, as long as patients maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable weight.
For more information on laser liposuction, be sure to contact Goals Plastic Surgery today.
