SMARTLIPO™ IN BEVERLY HILLS

A BRIEF HISTORY ON LIPOSUCTION

In 1977, a French plastic surgeon first introduced a blunt –suction technique for fat removal. He described his first case being performed as “a procedure of love” on a close friend who desired resection of a lipoma (a benign fat tumor) on her back. In this case his friend, who was an actress, expressed concerns regarding scarring for the removal of the lipoma, so he considered his options for shorter scar techniques. He came up with a unique technique that would allow for the suctioning of fat through a small incision. With the success of this procedure, blunt suction-assisted lipectomy or “liposuction” has become the primary means of body contouring as we know it today.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LIPOSUCTION TECHNIQUES ARE OUT THERE?

Liposuction has evolved over the past three decades into a major important technique in body sculpturing. There are many liposuction techniques that are in use today. The most common technique is the so-called “traditional liposuction” technique, which mechanically avulses fat cells using a suction device. This technique can be traumatic and often results in significant bruising, postoperative pain, local tissue necrosis, and a lengthy healing process.



Ultrasound-assisted liposuction removes fat cells through a fat emulsification process termed “cavitation.” The advantage of ultrasound-assisted liposuction is the ease of fat removal from fibrous areas such as gynecomastia (breast tissue in men). However, there are many disadvantages in the ultrasound-assisted liposuction. They include burns, skin necrosis, abnormal pigmentation, and nerve damage. High energy in ultrasound-assisted liposuction disadvantages include burns ranging from small entry-site burns to more extensive burns. Widespread necrosis of the skin due to injury to the blood supplying the skin has been reported by experienced surgeons who specialized in the use of ultrasound.

WHAT IS THE LATEST LIPOSUCTION TECHNIQUE OF THE 21 ST CENTURY?

A new technique of liposuction called laser-assisted liposuction, also known as SmartLipo, utilizes a meticulously calibrated laser at two wavelengths in removing fat. The first laser (wavelength at 1440 to 1030nm) targets fat cells and the second laser (wavelength at 1320 to 1060nm) has affinity to blood cells. With these two lasers, SmartLipo melts fat cells and coagulates the blood vessels. This allows for non-traumatic fat removal which results in diminished bruising as well as bleeding, while at the same time tightening the skin. SmartLipo allows Dr. Goldberg to remove fat and its oily substance through small incisions. The patients experience immediate results with less bruising, swelling, and bleeding. More importantly, the skin tightening will continue to improve over the next few months.

THE ADVANTAGES FOR SMARTLIPO:



1. Safe, minimally invasive procedure
2. Treats areas of undesired fat
3. Promotes tissue coagulation resulting in tissue tightening
4. Less bleeding compared to liposuction alone
5. Faster healing times
6. Less trauma
7. Treat highly fibrotic areas easily
8. Consistent reproducible results
   

RECOVERY

SmartLipo is often called “Lunch Hour Lipo” because it requires minimal recovery time. Dr. Goldberg recommends that patients take one to two days to recover. However, most of her patients return to their daily activities one day after the procedure. Patients are asked to wear post-surgical compression garments and bandages to aid in the healing process for one to two weeks.