Liposuction has consistently been one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. And if you’re looking where to get liposuction in Philadelphia, the Center for SmartLipo and Plastic Surgery is the place to go. As pioneers of the SmartLipo™ procedure, we bring our patients the latest technology and best care for liposuction.
Traditional Liposuction Vs. SmartLipo™
While doctors still recommend traditional liposuction for certain patients, many are eligible for a less-invasive procedure we call SmartLipo™. This is what we specialize in at our cosmetic surgery office.
Traditional Liposuction
Traditional liposuction is a fairly invasive procedure. First, the doctor will put you to sleep with general anesthesia. Then, he makes large incisions in order to access the fat in your body. These bigger incisions are due to the size of the cannulas that the doctor inserts to remove the fat.
Cannulas scrape fat cells in the body and can leave you with ridges and uneven skin on the surface. Traditional liposuction can also leave you with loose, sagging skin, as this process does not include skin tightening.
Because it’s more invasive, you have more downtime after getting the procedure. For example, significant bruising can have you experience days or weeks of downtime. You will need to wear a compression garment after any lipo procedure, but you will usually wear it for six or more extra weeks with the traditional liposuction method.
SmartLipo™
On the other hand, SmartLipo™ is much less invasive. The doctor makes much smaller incisions and does not put you to sleep during the procedure. The SmartLipo process only uses local anesthetic. Then he inserts a micro-cannula into the skin. It’s much smaller than the cannulas in traditional methods.
Next, he feeds a small laser through the micro-cannula and melts fat cells inside the body. This turns the fat cells into liquid, making it easier to remove them. The doctor then uses a suction tool to fully remove the melted fat, leading to a smooth appearance on your skin. Because of the laser, skin tightening is an additional benefit of this procedure. You’re less likely to experience sagging skin as well!
Lastly, the downtime period is much shorter after this procedure. You should be in less pain and experience less bruising while recovering for a few days, and able to go back to work within a week. You will only need to wear the compression garment for around four weeks.
Can I get SmartLipo™?
SmartLipo isn’t for everyone. There are instances where you may not be eligible for this procedure. An ideal candidate for SmartLipo is someone who’s in pretty good health and doesn’t have severe medical issues. We will require bloodwork and a thorough review of your medical history before we approve your procedure. Certain past and present medical conditions can prevent you from getting the procedure.
SmartLipo targets certain areas of fat that you haven’t been able to get rid of with diet and exercise. Typical areas include abdominal liposuction, and buttocks. You should be within 25 pounds of your goal weight. However, if you have larger areas of fat, you may still be eligible. A consultation with our doctor can help determine if this procedure is right for you.
Experience the benefits of SmartLipo in our Philadelphia office. Our team of liposuction doctors are ready to give you the best care possible. Call us or schedule a cosmetic consultation online.