TEEN KUTZ

Almost anyone can be a good candidate for advanced
laser treatment. In general, candidates
should be in good health, exercise regularly, and be
within 25 pounds of their ideal weight. They should
also have one or more areas of local body fat deposits
that have responded poorly to diet and exercise.
Consider SmartLipo if:
• You have worked hard to eat right and exercise,
but you still cannot lose unsightly fat deposits.
• You are concerned with the appearance of loose
skin. (Skin treated with traditional liposuction does
not adjust to the reduction of fat deposits, resulting
in unattractive “droops.” But by pulling the surrounding
skin inward, SmartLipo laser technology
can reconstruct the layers immediately under the
patient’s skin, eliminating skin drooping.)
• You are seeking permanent results. Once the fat is
removed from a particular area of the body, it will
never return to that area.
• You are seeking an FDA-approved treatment. Approved
in November 2006, SmartLipo is one of the
fastest-growing and safest procedures in the cosmetic
surgery field today.
• You do not want to undergo the risks of general
anesthesia. SmartLipo patients need only a local
anesthetic.
How does it work?
Precise and safe, today’s medical-grade lasers work
by creating a powerful light beam that is adjusted
to a specific frequency range. SmartLipo uses a
carefully calibrated laser to liquefy fat deposits just
below the patient’s skin. The laser actually ruptures
fat cells, and the resulting oily liquid is then removed
through a tiny puncture in the skin by the
physician. The small laser will also seal blood vessels
as it zaps fat; this produces less swelling, bleeding,
and bruising than traditional liposuction. The
minimal invasiveness of the procedure allows patients
to see faster results and experience fewer
complications.
SmartLipo is an extremely safe procedure. It
was approved by the Food and Drug Administration
in November of 2006, and no serious life-threatening
complications have resulted from treatment as
yet. This is because there is minimal bleeding and
invasiveness, and because SmartLipo is performed
under a local anesthetic, not the more risky general
anesthesia.
In addition, there are no extensive stitches or
incisions that have the possibility of becoming infected.
This is one of the safest and fastest-growing
cosmetic surgery options available today. Because
the SmartLipo cannula is so small, the procedure
can be performed on virtually any area of the body
that patients feel is bothersome or unsightly. Body
regions that can benefit the most include: face,
back, bra strap area, pubic area, male “breasts,”
thighs (inner and outer), love handles, buttocks,
knees, upper arms, chin, neck/jowls, and any areas
of loose, flabby skin.
It used to take weeks and even months of
painful healing and limited mobility to recover from
traditional liposuction. But with SmartLipo, recovery
time is fast and relatively painless. Patients
often return to work within a day or two after undergoing
the procedure. Recovery starts the moment
the physician turns off the laser and does not
involve the nauseating and disorienting recovery
general anesthesia can involve. In fact, patients are
generally sent home immediately after the procedure’s
completion, feeling quite fine.
SmartLipo recovery is comprised of several
stages. Minor bruising and numbness occur directly
after the procedure, but they should disappear
ONCE THE FAT IS REMOVED FROM A
PARTICULAR AREA OF THE BODY, IT WILL
NEVER RETURN TO THAT AREA
within a short time after the patient’s leaving the
office. Swelling present after the procedure will
greatly diminish within a week. Once all swelling disappears,
the recovery process is finished, and you
will be able to fully appreciate the final results.
And then there’s this advantage: SmartLipo is
considerably more affordable than traditional liposuction
surgery. Even though the price for
SmartLipo varies depending on the size of the
treated area, the average traditional liposuction
procedure on an abdomen costs around $6,500.
The same procedure performed via SmartLipo
costs around $4,500. This difference in pricing represents
a 30% cost savings. (Since SmartLipo is
considered an elective cosmetic procedure, insurance
usually will not cover the cost.)
results are “for keeps”
Are the results of this procedure long lasting? Yes!
Adults do not create new fat cells. When a person
gains weight, the existing fat cells expand. The
SmartLipo procedure permanently removes the
fat cells themselves, so should you gain weight later
on, most fat will be deposited in areas where the
procedure was not performed. But the area you had
treated will remain pretty much as it was after the
treatment. IMAGE
Fall 2008 IMAGE 45