What is Smart Lipo, and how does it differ from traditional liposuction?
According to Dr. Frank Felts, a Plano Smart Lipo surgeon, Smart Lipo is a laser-based minimally invasive Lipo procedure. It differs from traditional Lipo in that there is less bleeding and a quicker recovery time for the patient. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes from 30 minutes to two hours depending on what areas are being targeted. Another benefit is that the light used to destroy fat in Smart Lipo tightens the tissue without any scarring.

When can I go back to my normal routine?
Other than taking some precautions after surgery, patients should be back to their normal routines in almost no time.

Are the results permanent?
Smart Lipo can never remove all of the fat. Keeping in mind that patients should already have good dieting and exercise habits before the procedure, the results are permanent. If you revert to a sedentary lifestyle, you can develop fat deposits in untreated areas.

Is everyone a candidate for Plano Smart Lipo?
Dr. Felts is very careful to point out that Smart Lipo is not a weight loss procedure but rather a body contouring one. He would not recommend Smart Lipo for anyone with a Body Mass Index – measurement of body fat based on weight and height – (BMI) of over 27-percent as this might make body contouring more difficult.  Before undertaking the procedure, Dr. Felts reviews the medical history of his patients, and examines underlying health issues and previous surgery done in the targeted areas.

Are there any precautions I should take after the procedure?
Dr. Felts ensures that his patients receive extensive education on what they need to do. He recommends that after the procedure, Plano Smart Lipo patients take it easy for a few days and may have to wear a compression garment in some areas for awhile.

If you want to know more about Smart Lipo or other available services, you can contact Dr. Felts at Dr. Frank Felts Smart Lipo spa for a consultation.

What can I expect from Smart Lipo?
Dr. Frank Felts, of Dr. Frank Felts Smart Lipo Spa, emphasizes that Smart Lipo is not a weight loss procedure, but a body contouring and people should have appropriate expectations. For instance, he says, trying to take off 20 pounds for a wedding is not realistic, but reducing fat under the chin to look better in the wedding photos is. Smart Lipo may also be a good option for women who just gave birth to shed a little extra bulge around the belly. Dr. Felts also warns that Smart Lipo will not fix emotional problems. Patients’ expectations are something he evaluates during the interview process at the initial consultation.

What are some of the areas I can receive Smart Lipo?
Any area that has been resistant to diet and exercise like the buttocks, abdomen, upper arms, thighs, even under the chin. You should consult a Plano Smart Lipo surgeon to discuss your specific needs to ensure they can be realistically met.

What should I look for in a Plano Smart Lipo surgeon?
Dr. Felts says there are a few things people should do. He suggests people do their homework about the surgeon’s qualifications and experience. Then, patients should sit down with the doctor and get a feel for the doctor. Does she or he listen? Do your visions match? In other words, how well do you click with that particular surgeon?

Is Smart Lipo expensive? Is financing available?
The price can vary depending on the areas a person is wishing to target, says Dr. Felts. Many Plano Smart Lipo surgeons like Dr. Felts offer financing. He has someone on staff to assist patients through the process to ensure the procedure fits their budgets.

As with any surgical procedure, people seeking Smart Lipo in Plano will need to have a medical work up to ensure they are healthy enough.

For more information about Smart Lipo or his other services and what your options are, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Felts.

How does Smart Lipo differ from traditional liposuction?

Dr. James Thacker, physician and owner of Reflections Medspa, in Fort Collins, explains that traditional liposuction has been around for years requiring hospital or ambulatory surgery center facilities and general anesthesia. It used to treat larger areas of fat deposits and the procedure involves a greater blood loss, more bruising, and longer recovery time. While Ft. Collins Smart Lipo is a surgical procedure like traditional liposuction, it is an office-based procedure for treating more targeted areas. There is less bleeding and bruising making recovery times quicker. You can return to work the next day depending on the area of treatment.

What are some of advantages of Smart Lipo?

Dr. Thacker says people looking for Ft. Collins Smart Lipo can look forward to certain advantages. The lasers used can target smaller areas, destroying fat cells by melting them while instantly coagulating (clotting) blood vessels. This causes less bleeding and bruising allowing people to recover faster and get back to their lives sooner. Another benefit of Ft. Collins Smart Lipo is the energy emitted from the laser tightens the skin tissue and stimulates collagen production. The best result is that Smart Lipo permanently destroys fat cells in the treated areas.

How many Smart Lipo treatments are needed?

While there are exceptions to every rule, Dr. Thacker admits, most people see the desired results in just one treatment. Some people may have multiple areas they wish to target that may require more than one treatment.

Am I a candidate for Smart Lipo?
That depends. According to Dr. Thacker, the best candidates for Ft. Collins Smart Lipo are men and women who are not significantly overweight and only have small troublesome areas like love handles, upper arms, flabby necks, inner and outer thighs and the abdominal area. Dr. Thacker adds that the Smart Lipo procedure is part of a program promoting healthy eating and regular exercise. The procedure will be less effective if people revert to a sedentary lifestyle. While the Smart Lipo destroys fat cells, fat can still form in untreated areas.

As with any surgical procedure, people seeking Smart Lipo will need to have a medical work up to ensure they are healthy enough for the procedure.

If you want to know more about Smart Lipo, you can contact Dr. Thacker at Reflections Medspa for a free consultation.

As Edward Zimmerman, MD of Las Vegas Laser & Lipo explains, today’s liposuction offers smoother, more precise results with less scarring and a faster recovery. And liposuction at Las Vegas Laser & Lipo is performed in an accredited office using  local  (tumescent) anesthesia and mild sedation.  Patients walk out to their vehicles after the surgery and can recover in their own homes with the help of family members or friends.

Liposuction at Las Vegas Laser & Lipo

Patients choosing liposuction at Las Vegas Laser & Lipo benefit from a combination of state-of-the art technology, a State Accredited facility, and Dr. Zimmerman’s skill and artistry. When performing liposuction, Dr. Zimmerman uses the most up-to-date tools and techniques to permanently remove unwanted fat cells for a leaner, more beautifully sculpted body.

Your liposuction procedure with Dr. Zimmerman can be performed with minimal sedation, using very effective tumescent anesthesia. Utilizing tiny cannulas; power, water and laser-assisted technologies; and fine-tuning techniques, Dr. Zimmerman is able to achieve very precise contouring. Areas that can be sculpted include any areas where there is fat that you can actually grab:

• Jowls
• Neck
• Chest
• Breasts
• Arms
• Legs
• Knees
• Torso
• Abdomen
• Waist
• Flanks (love handles)
• Buttocks
• Pubic area

Are You a Good Candidate?

For the right patients in Las Vegas, liposuction with Dr. Zimmerman offers an opportunity to achieve the lean, beautifully contoured body you’ve always wanted.

“Our first consideration is always safety,” explains Dr. Zimmerman. Good candidates are generally healthy, with reasonable expectations and with relatively good skin elasticity in the areas being treated. Dr. Zimmerman can use laser technology to tighten the skin 20-30 percent as compared to traditional lipo. Accent XL RadioFrequency massage can be used after surgery as well. Sometimes, lower abdominal skin can be removed at the same time to achieve an optimal result.

Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, but it does result in permanent removal of fat cells. For some patients, it can be a good way to jumpstart a weight loss program, or to address stubborn fat pockets left behind after weight loss or childbirth.

Why Dr. Zimmerman?

After over a decade and over 2000 lipo-sculpting cases, Dr. Zimmerman has trained with some of the foremost experts in the field.. Using every technology at his disposal, he crafts a personalized liposuction plan for each patient designed to provide him or her with the best possible results.

The mild sedation used during liposuction at Las Vegas Laser & Lipo allows the patient to turn, sit or stand up during the procedure so that Dr. Zimmerman can evaluate results “under the effect of gravity” periodically and make adjustments as needed. The procedure is performed with the utmost attention to the patient’s comfort, safety and achieving the most precise, beautiful contours.

“This is something I love to do,” says Dr. Zimmerman. “At the end of the day, I’m not looking for an OK result; I’m looking for a standing ovation. So the procedure is performed painstakingly – always thinking a few steps ahead – until everybody is happy with the outcome. It’s a passion, not a just profession!”

According to Michele Finley, MD, a Carmel, Indiana Smart Lipo provider and physician, Smart Lipo offers a number of advantages over traditional liposuction – among them, a shorter recovery time and exceptional versatility. The procedure also offers excellent results, she says, and the ability to contour even the smallest areas of fat that are otherwise resistant to diet and exercise.

General vs. Local Anesthesia

Smart Lipo is performed with the assistance of a specialized laser that liquefies fat cells for easier extraction. One of the biggest advantages of Smart Lipo is that it can be performed in an office setting using only local anesthesia as opposed to in an operating room under general anesthesia. This is possible thanks to a technique known as tumescent liposuction.

Tumescent liposuction involves infusing fat cells with a lidocaine mixture prior to liquefying and extracting the excess fat. This technique reduces bleeding and eliminates the need for intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, or general anesthesia.

Recovery Time

The incisions made during Smart Lipo are so small that no stitches are required and no scars are left behind. This means a shorter recover time and less discomfort than is usually experienced after traditional liposuction. And because general anesthesia is not necessary, patients do not experience the prolonged “groggy” feeling that is common after liposuction performed in the operating room.

“I’ve had patients tell me they felt like they were hit by a truck after their liposuction in the OR,” says Dr. Finley. “For some people, it can take up to a week to get rid of that feeling.”

Versatility and Results

Smart Lipo, Dr. Finley explains, allows physicians to do more “fine tuning” and to target even very small areas that may not be appropriate for treatment with traditional liposuction. Liquefying fat deposits before extraction allows for better, smoother contouring. And in addition to making extraction faster and easier, the laser used in the Smart Lipo procedure provides a skin-tightening effect for even better results.

Smart Lipo can be used on virtually any part of the body and is particularly suited for small areas of the face, neck, arms, abdomen, thighs, and areas of loose and flabby skin including cellulite. “You can use it to target the area under the chin, or bra and back fat, as well as the thighs and love handles,” Dr. Finley says. “It’s very versatile and offers great results.”

Dr. Finley was the first Smart Lipo provider in the state of Indiana, and continues to enjoy the ability to provide very specific, very effective body contouring results using this state-of-the-art technique.

Currently, he says, many NYC residents are interested in liposuction, which helps to contour the shape or their bodies, particularly their mid-regions and thighs. Since these are areas particularly known for being stubborn, sometimes running on the treadmill or hundreds of sit-ups cannot give you the look you are after—but your plastic surgeon can. Similarly, Dr. Rapaport says that many patients are drawn to his office because of the Zeltiq procedure that is offered. This technology essentially allows your surgeon to freeze the area of fat you are dissatisfied with and reshape your body.

In addition, Dr. Rapaport says that he is well-known for his cosmetic facial procedures because he strongly believes in a facelift that looks very natural. His goal is that when you meet with friends, they will notice that you look amazing, but will not be able to point out that you have recently had a facelift. Furthermore, he also offers patients a number of injectable options, such as Botox, Restylane and Dysport, which are designed to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Throughout his years in practice, Dr. Rapaport has noticed some differences between women in Manhattan and others around the country. More than in other areas of the United States, he thinks that New Yorkers are more conscious about their looks and place a strong emphasis on achieving natural results. They want to enhance their natural appearance rather than drastically alter it. For instance, in terms of breasts, Dr. Rapaport says that implants tend to be smaller in the Northeast than in the South. Women in Florida and Texas often choose larger implants than women in New York City, he adds. He attributes this to the fact that Manhattan women are usually professionals who are focused on succeeding in their careers and refers to the common look as elegant, yet subtle.

Regardless of the end result you’re after, Dr. Rapaport says that it’s important to feel comfortable with the surgeon that you choose. Since you are receiving counsel from this professional, you should make sure that you have selected the right doctor who will not only offer his opinions, but also take your input seriously.

Before a contractor builds you a house, Dr. Rapaport explains, he gets to know you well, and the same goes for your doctor. He needs to know your goals because he never does a cookie-cutter surgery. Plastic surgery is very widely available and is very common, but you need to make sure that you are entrusting your care to someone who’s been performing these procedures for years and who truly values his patients.

In reality though, the two are pretty much one in the same. Basically, he explains, liposculpture is just a fancier word. “Whenever I am doing liposuction,” Dr. Rapaport says, “I am doing liposculupture.” You do not want to simply get out as much fat as possible with liposuction; that’s not what it’s about. During the procedure,  the surgeon is always sculpting the patient. The sculpting process is done best by being aggressive where the surgeon needs to be and less so in other areas.

Instead of focusing too much on what the two words mean, Dr. Rapaport suggests making sure that you find the right surgeon to perform the procedure. “Successful results,” he says, “are all about the artistic eye combined with the good hands of an experienced surgeon.” Some people mistakenly assume that liposuction is about advanced technology, but that is not true, he says.  Words such as “state-of-the-art’ and “laser” are mostly for marketing purposes, Dr. Rapaport admits. But the most important thing is who is performing the surgery.

With any cosmetic operation you should look for many of the same factors in the surgeon you ultimately choose. While you should first always make sure to find a board-certified plastic surgeon with the necessary credentials, Dr. Rapaport suggests asking questions targeted towards a particular doctor’s experience. You should make certain that the doctor you choose has done this particular procedure before, and on patients who have similar body types or needs that match yours. If you’re going to have liposuction completed, your doctor should specialize in the procedure, not dabble in it a few times a year.

In addition to a surgeon’s ability to get you the end result that you’re after, Dr. Rapaport says that sometimes people gloss over the important issue of anesthesia during the surgery. In particular, you should discuss the anesthesia technique that will be used for your procedure. This is so important, he explains, because in cases where there is a rare catastrophe, it is often an anesthesia issue. In many of the surgeries he performs, Dr. Rapaport uses conscious sedation anesthesia. Using this technique, the patient is not under general anesthesia, which adds to the safety of the procedure. Instead, the patient is receiving IV drugs that are short-acting. If you undergo this type of anesthesia, Dr. Rapaport explains, you are breathing on your own but will usually remember nothing. Research and experience have shown that conscious sedation is the safest method of anesthesia because your surgeon is not taking over your body’s functions. The risk of blood clots–deep vein thrombosis– is also significantly reduced with this technique.

Even with this overview, you’re bound to have more questions about the cosmetic procedure you’re considering. The best person to direct your inquiries to is the experienced and knowledgeable doctor that you choose—someone like Dr. Rapaport.

Unfortunately, when some women first come in for their consultations with Dr. Feldman, they have already convinced themselves that a little liposuction will take care of their problems. However, he explains, some patients will need more than liposuction to achieve the results that they are hoping for. When liposuction is not enough, there is the option of combining it with a mini tummy tuck, where the belly button is not moved, or a full tummy tuck, which involves repositioning the belly button.

In any of these procedures, Dr. Feldman, who is known as a knowledgeable plastic surgeon in Atlantic City, New Jersey,  encourages patients to get to their ideal weights before they schedule their surgeries. If you plan on losing another 30 pounds then you will want to wait until after you have shed the additional weight before proceeding with your surgery, he explains.

It is always important that you take a hard look at your lifestyle and the changes that you will need to make to maintain your new body post-surgery. You do not have to be 120 pounds, Dr. Feldman says, but you should limit your meal portions and become involved at your local gym.

Generally, when you lose five pounds through dieting, your brain realizes the loss and wants to gain those five pounds back. However, when you remove that same five pounds with liposuction, he explains, your brain does not notice the change even though you can see the difference. Still, Dr. Feldman adds, you cannot overindulge because even though you will not gain the weight back where the liposuction was preformed, that doesn’t mean you won’t gain weight in other areas.

Too often, he says, patients are under the impression that their surgeries will be magic solutions. While this is going to initially transform your body, he says, you will need to do your part as well. If you are going to spend your days in front of the television eating ice cream, that is not enough. Furthermore, Dr. Feldman explains, some people are surprised to find out that liposuction removes less fat than they had originally anticipated.

While liposuction and tummy tucks can be amazing procedures, it’s important to get properly educated before you schedule your final appointment. At Feldman Plastic Surgery, every patient is told in great detail the steps of the procedure, the immediate results, and how to maintain a firmer, thinner shape. With the right frame of mind, achieving and maintaining your new physique is entirely attainable.

One of the benefits that people are relieved to discover, Dr. David explains, is that when you choose a VASER Lipo procedure, you do not need to be put to sleep during treatment. Though anesthesia is successfully administered hundreds of times a day, there is still an uncertainty or risk that some patients are happy to eliminate from the equation—not to mention the added costs of anesthesia. Instead of needing anesthesia during your VASER Lipo procedure, Lidocaine is infused directly into the fat so that it is numbs the area being treated.

Additionally, whereas with traditional liposuction the fat was being ripped out of your body, Dr. David says that this technique uses ultrasound probes that melt and liquefy the fat so that it can be suctioned out of the body very gently. Not only is this a less severe method with less bleeding during the procedure, but the healing process is also more comfortable. Plus, you will generally experience less bruising and swelling during your recovery.

The benefits do not stop there, however. VASER Lipo, explains Dr. David, who is also an experienced liposuction surgeon in the Boston area, has skin tightening effects that traditional liposuction does not offer. Sometimes, if a significant amount of fat is removed with the old liposuction, you have the result of loose skin that may require additional attention.

Because the VASER Lipo procedure is completed with expert planning and precision, Dr. David says that not only is your visit quick, but you can focus on areas that traditionally may have been ruled out. For instance, because the instruments used to melt and drain the excess fat are smaller, you can choose to target body parts such as your neck and chin. You can also have fat removed from the more common areas that plague people, including the abs, flanks, thighs, butt, love handles, arms and chest.

Unlike other procedures that promise results but come with the condition of having to undergo multiple rounds of treatments before you notice a change, Dr. David says that VASER Lipo is a one-time application with permanent results. However, he does caution patients to take a realistic approach to the fat removal process and subsequent weight loss that is achieved. While the fat is permanently removed in the sense that it has been taken from that area, he cautions that it does not mean that new fat cells can’t redeposit if you do not make the necessary lifestyle changes.

If you maintain a healthy lifestyle, including smart eating habits and regular exercise, then you do not have to worry about having fat in the same places again. For patients who are unsure of where to start cutting back or how to make new lifestyle choices for themselves, Dr. David offers a weight loss audio program that can help. Often, when patients are choosing VASER  Lipo or liposuction, they are overweight. This program that Dr. David has recently released (“The REAL Secrets To A Slimmer You”) gets people excited to start making minor changes in their lifestyles that will yield remarkable results.

To get on the path to a new you, speak with a local, experienced professional who can help create a course of treatment that is tailored to meet your needs and your hopes for the future.

As we grow older, explains Jonathan Williams MD of Radiance Anti-Aging and Body Sculpting, our body loses some of its natural abilities to quickly reproduce collagen. As a result, you may start to notice a loss of elasticity in your skin, a less vibrant skin tone, sun spots, and wrinkles. Luckily, if you are interested in combating these signs of aging, there are solutions available at many medical spas across the country. At Radiance Anti-Aging and Body Sculpting, a med spa in Albany, GA, Dr. Williams explains that his patients are very excited about the results that Skin Tyte has been able to deliver.

This increasingly popular procedure, he explains, involves a specialized laser that uses infrared energy to heat the soft tissue on the body while still protecting the surrounding areas. As the soft tissue begins to heal from the laser, the natural healing process actually tightens the skin and stimulates collagen production. While some patients have reported impressive results after just one treatment, Dr. Williams says that for optimal results, you should consider a package of five Skin Tyte treatments that are done at two-week intervals.

Skin Tyte is most often performed on areas of the lower face and neck where skin tends to sag, Dr. Williams explains. For instance, if you are unhappy with any loose skin around your neck or chin area, Skin Tyte may be the perfect solution for tightening the region. Additionally, he says, the treatment can be used on the abs for patients who may have recently lost a lot of weight or had C-sections and want to get rid of any extra skin. Depending on how the skin responds, Dr. Williams explains that after the initial rounds of Skin Tyte, most patients come back for followup treatments roughly every six months.

In addition to Skin Tyte, Dr. Williams says that many patients are also interested in skin resurfacing treatments. While Skin Tyte focuses on elasticity to make your skin firmer, resurfacing does away with lines and age spots. During a skin resurfacing treatment, a laser is used to systematically remove tired and aged skin, which the body then naturally replaces with new, healthier looking skin.

Typically, Dr. Williams explains, there are two methods for skin resurfacing. You may opt for shallow resurfacing, which targets sun spots and age spots, or you may want a deeper treatment that removes wrinkles and improves the tone and texture of your skin.

Many times, patients at Radiance Anti-Aging and Body Sculpting combine the treatments so that not only will their skin be tighter, but it will appear more youthful and radiant as well. To learn more about the ways in which you can improve your appearance, consult with a trusted medical spa doctor.