Liposuction has been used in the US commercially for more than 30 years. It is the most popular plastic surgery procedure in the US and the world. It gives very good results, generally, but it does have some limitations. In particular, surgical discomfort, recovery time, and the problem of loose skin some patients experience after fat is removed are significant areas of concern. These concerns drive constant innovation in liposuction techniques, with two of the more recent innovations being SmartLipo and Vaser lipo.
Vaser lipo is a variation on ultrasonic liposuction. In ultrasonic liposuction, high-frequency sound waves are used to break up fat cells, making them easier to remove. The theory is that because fat cells are relatively weak, they will burst under energy that does not harm connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerve tissue, resulting in less discomfort, less bleeding, and quicker healing.
The original ultrasonic liposuction machines might have been a bit too powerful, they resulted in a number of tissue burns, but Vaser lipo is a toned-down version, and seems to be much safer, although some early adopters of ultrasonic liposuction say they miss the power of the older types.
SmartLipo counts on similar principles for reducing discomfort, bleeding, and recovery time, but uses a laser to specifically target fat cells. The laser probe is smaller, more precise, and, some surgeons say, slower than a traditional liposuction cannula. However, the precise probe allows a lipo surgeon to apply laser energy to the skin in a precise way that stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, resulting in a tightening of the area so that men and women with poor skin tone can see increased tightness in treated areas.
It’s important to understand the procedures, but when you are considering cosmetic surgery, the most important thing is to choose a doctor you can trust, then let that doctor select the right tool to achieve the results you want. Liposuction and other aesthetic surgeries depend heavily on a surgeon’s technique for success.
The physicians at the JUVA Skin & Laser Center are experts in their fields, truly doctors’ doctors, ones that other surgeons look to for guidance in new techniques. We are pioneers of SmartLipo, and our liposuction results speak for themselves.
To learn more about SmartLipo and the JUVA Skin & Laser Center, please contact us today for an appointment at our NYC office.
