Dr. Smith will often use a laser liposuction machine called SmartLipo to achieve your desired result from liposuction.
Unlike traditional liposuction, which uses the very slim rod known as cannula and an aspirator to suck the fat cells from your body, SmartLipo uses a laser to destroy the fat cells while they’re still in the body and then Dr. Smith uses the cannula to suction them out.
Dr. Smith makes one or more small incisions of no more than ¼-inch
in length and then inserts a thin laser fiber through them. Once the laser
is turned on it produces a very hot beam of light, which destroys fat
cells. Once the cells have died, Dr. Smith inserts a regular liposuction
cannula through the same incision and suctions out the dead/damaged fat
cells. (Please note that the most fat removed from any one patient at
any one time is no more than about eight pounds of fat.)
Recovery from Smart Lipo is similar to recovery from any liposuction procedure. Dr. Smith’s surgery team will instruct you to wear a compression garment for two to four weeks or so afterwards. The garment looks like a pair of bicycle shorts – for thigh and abdomen liposuction – or long, tight sleeves for your arms or calves. You will need to wear the garment almost all the time, removing if only for short periods or to wash it.
Smart Lipo isn’t as “intense” as traditional liposuction (the laser doesn’t “scrape” the fat away as the cannula), so your pain and swelling/bruising may be less and any pain you have should be gone in just a few days.*
You should be able to walk about – gently – just a few hours after the procedure, although Dr. Smith will recommend that you take it easy physically for a few days.*
Dr. Smith and his surgical team will work diligently to ensure you stay safe during surgery and that we provide optimal results based on your goals.
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of SmartLipo, or to schedule an appointment in our office, contact us at (702) 838-2455. Patients who live far from Las Vegas may arrange a consultation via phone or e-mail.