Sometimes gym workouts and diets just aren't enough. If you have stubborn pockets of fat that you can't seem to shed, like love handles or upper arm flab, it may be time to consider Smart Lipo. Liposuction was developed in the 1970s and is still one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the United States. The laser-assisted version of this treatment, called Smart Lipo, is equally effective, less invasive, and boasts a shorter recovery period. It's one of the many cosmetic services offered by Omaha Face in Nebraska.

What Is Smart Lipo?

Smart Lipo, also referred to as laser lipo, is a kinder and gentler version of traditional liposuction. It effectively eliminates unwanted fat, reduces the appearance of cellulite, and leaves skin smoother and tighter in the treatment area.

During treatment, a tiny tube known as a cannula is inserted through a small incision and used to direct high-powered laser energy to the targeted area. As the cannula is gently moved back and forth, the laser heat softens the fat, making it easier to remove. The laser heat also tightens the skin through coagulation, leaving the patient with firm and contoured skin.

What Areas of the Body Can It Be Performed On?

This type of liposuction can be performed on just about any part of the body, including the arms, legs, face, neck, abdomen, and buttocks. This treatment is often recommended for smaller areas where traditional liposuction may be difficult to use, such as on the ankles and knees. In fact, it is sometimes used on the face to get rid of a second chin or redefine the jawline.

How Many Treatments Are Necessary?

For most patients, one treatment is all that's needed. You'll start to see the results of the treatment within a week with continued improvement over the following three to six months. Because laser lipo permanently kills the fat cells in the treatment area, the results you get are long-lasting. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and attention to your diet is a good way to preserve your results.

How Long Does It Take?

The amount of time it takes will depend in part on the size and scope of the treatment area. On average, most treatments take between 90 minutes and two hours.

Can It Be Combined With Other Treatments?

Laser lipo can be combined with other services and treatments to achieve your aesthetic goals. Our staff can work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan to meet your needs.

How Does It Differ From Traditional Liposuction?

Both treatments effectively remove fat, but they work in different ways. During traditional liposuction, physical manipulation and a cannula are used to suction away the fat. With laser lipo, the laser heat softens the fat, making it easier to remove. Laser lipo offers skin tightening benefits, something that may be particularly appealing to older patients whose skin has lost elasticity, while traditional liposuction does not. The recovery time associated with laser lipo — generally just a few days — is also much shorter because the treatment is less invasive than with traditional liposuction.

Which Form of Lipo Is Best for Me?

Because it's less invasive, offers a quicker recovery, and can be performed on just about any part of the body, laser lipo is emerging as the treatment of choice. However, this is a decision that's best made in consultation with your health care provider, who will take into account factors like the amount of fat that will be removed and whether or the skin-tightening benefits of laser lipo could be beneficial.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Laser lipo can be used on a wide range of candidates, including those who are looking for a moderate amount of fat removal and a safe, convenient treatment option. Generally, you're a good candidate if the following are true of you:

You Want a Moderate Amount of Body Sculpting

The best candidates for this treatment are men or women who are no more than 30 pounds overweight but have love handles, flabby arms, or other fatty areas that aren't responding to diet and exercise. Ideally, patients have maintained a stable weight for at least a year.

You Want a More Slim, Youthful Appearance

This treatment won't make you look 18 again, but it will turn back the clock by getting rid of those stubborn patches of fat and giving you a slimmer, smoother silhouette. Most patients who have undergone this treatment say it gives their self-confidence a boost and helps them feel more attractive and youthful.

You Have Good Skin Elasticity

Although this treatment has skin-tightening benefits, it's still helpful if patients have a healthy amount of skin elasticity so that the skin bounces back into place as fat is removed.

You're Not Looking for a Weight Loss Solution

Laser lipo is great for whipping into shape stubborn flabby areas and adding contour to the treatment area. While the treatment does involve the removal of fat, it should not be viewed as a weight-loss strategy. Patients who have a body mass index of over 40 and who want to drop pounds are better suited by traditional weight loss efforts, including diet and exercise, or by pursuing bariatric surgery.

You're in Good Health

Laser lipo candidates should be in good health overall. This treatment is safe for all skin types and tones, but it should not be used on patients who are pregnant, and it may not be as effective on patients with thyroid disorders or diabetes. Patients with pacemakers may be discouraged from undergoing laser lipo treatments.

You Want a Convenient Treatment Option

Compared to traditional liposuction, laser lipo is much more convenient. Laser lipo is much less invasive and involves a shorter recovery time. A couple of days of post-treatment rest are recommended for laser lipo patients, but many patients opt to return to work almost immediately.

You're Realistic About the Outcome

As with any cosmetic or body contouring treatment, the ideal laser lipo patient is emotionally stable enough to handle subtle changes and improvements in the body.

You Want a Safe, Effective Treatment

There's a reason why liposuction is so popular. The treatment works, and most patients are highly satisfied with their results. Laser lipo was approved by the FDA in 2006. Widely used and studied, it is considered a safe treatment.

You Have Hyperhidrosis

Laser lipo can also be used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating, or sweating that goes beyond what is normally associated with exercise or hot environments. Hyperhidrosis patients who have undergone this treatment report a marked reduction in sweating.

Why Are Body Contouring Treatments Like Smart Lipo So Popular?

Smart Lipo is part of a new class of body contouring treatments that reliably get rid of fat using non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques. These treatments are popular because they work on the stubborn patches of flab that diet and exercise don't always have an impact on. They're also popular because their minimally invasive nature means there's less downtime, so busy patients can get back to their regular schedules in less time.

What Other Body Contouring Treatments Are Out There?

Looked at as a group, body contouring treatments rely on everything from suction and lasers to ultrasounds to get rid of fat. Another popular body contouring treatment offered by our practice is Contoura / Body FX, which uses radiofrequency energy to melt fat cells and stimulate collagen production, increasing the skin's elasticity and firmness. Countoura / Body FX is a non-invasive treatment that diminishes fat and smoothes away the appearance of cellulite.

How Does Laser Lipo Differ From Other Body Contouring Treatments?

This form of liposuction removes a specific and measurable amount of fat from the body. That's why the results quickly become visible as the body moves through the healing process. Many other body contouring treatments work in different ways to melt fat and reshape the contours of the body, but they don't actually extract fat.

Does Smart Lipo Help With Cellulite?

Smart lipo may be able to help minimize the appearance of cellulite by removing fat and breaking up some of the fibrous bands under the skin that contribute to cellulite. In fact, laser lipo may be more effective than traditional liposuction when it comes to reducing the appearance of cellulite.

What Is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a condition in which the skin becomes dimpled or bumpy, sometimes to the point that it resembles the surface of an orange peel or cottage cheese. Cellulite is caused by the fibrous bands that run between the skin and the muscles that lie beneath. As fat starts to collect under the skin, pressure builds on the fibrous bands, creating a dimpling or puckered look on the skin's surface. Cellulite has no long-term health ramifications, but many patients are bothered and embarrassed by it for cosmetic reasons.

What Causes Cellulite?

Scientists have not pinpointed exactly what causes cellulite, although a number of factors, like age, genetics, and excess weight, may play a role. Almost every adult woman has some cellulite. In fact, women are much more likely than men to have cellulite because men tend to have less extra weight in the cellulite-prone hips and thighs. Male bodies also store fat differently than female bodies.

What Can I Expect During Treatment?

If you're interested in Smart Lipo, we'll start by scheduling a consultation where we'll review your medical history, your medications, and your goals for treatment. We'll work with you to determine whether or not laser lipo is the best treatment option. After that, it's just a matter of scheduling your treatment date.

Your treatment will be overseen by Dr. Lani Warren and will be performed on an outpatient basis in the comfort of our Virginia Beach practice. The treatment area will be numbed, so you'll feel no discomfort. After the treatment, you may be given a compression garment to wear to promote healing in the treated area.

What Should I Do Post-Treatment?

After treatment, we'll give you specific instructions about how long to wear the compression garment. You'll be free to head home and will be encouraged to take it easy for a day or two. Many patients, however, return to work the next day. We know you'll be eager to see your results, which should start to appear within a week.

Why Choose Our Practice

Are you tired of struggling with flabby spots and problem areas even though you exercise and diet religiously? Are you ready for a toned up and improved version of your former self? Call Omaha Face in Nebraska, today and ask about Smart Lipo. We also offer a complete line of aesthetic treatments and services, including dermaplaning, chemical peels, microneedling, and laser hair removal.