Liposuction And The Degrees Of Fat Removal

Cosmetic and plastic surgery patients in Spokane routinely ask me about their options

for body sculpting, a blanket term describing the removal of relatively small deposits of fat from various parts of the body. Perhaps the best-known body-sculpting technique is liposuction, and until recently it was just about the only option. In traditional liposuction in Spokane, incisions were made in the skin and the fat was sucked out through a small tube called a cannula.

In recent years, I'm happy to say, some fascinating advances have taken place in the realm of fat removal. Depending on the candidate's needs and medical condition, one of several alternatives to liposuction may now be appropriate. Two variations I offer are Smartlipo and CoolSculpting.

Smartlipo:

A technique that has been growing in popularity, Smartlipo works similarly to traditional liposuction in that it requires small incisions so that a cannula can be inserted below the skin's surface. However, the major innovation in Smartlipo is that the cannula carries a laser that melts the unwanted fat cells. The use of laser energy to liquefy the fat cells results in less trauma to surrounding tissue, which means less pain and less downtime. In many cases, patients can be back to their normal routines in 24 hours.

The laser I use when performing Smartlipo at my Spokane practice offers several additional advantages. For one, it cauterizes blood vessels surrounding the unwanted fat cells, translating into less bleeding and bruising. At the same time, the heat from the laser promotes the production of collagen, which helps tone and tightens the skin.

Finally, Smartlipo leads to more natural-looking results than traditional liposuction. In the follow-up appointments I've had with patients after this procedure, one encouraging sign I've noticed is the lack of rippling, dimpling and bumps that were often associated with liposuction in the past.

CoolSculpting:

Another innovation that has brought about big changes in body contouring is CoolSculpting. This totally non-invasive technique is another highly effective option for eliminating stubborn deposits of fat in otherwise-healthy patients. I often recommend it for people who are considering liposuction but are wary of surgery.

This non-invasive procedure destroys fat cells by cooling the targeted area to barely above freezing. The damaged cells are then naturally eliminated from the body during the course of a few months. Though patients should keep in mind that the results of CoolSculpting will not be quite as dramatic as those of liposuction, the non-invasive nature of this procedure allows most people to resume their everyday routines immediately following treatment. The session itself, which lasts 1 to 3 hours, requires no anesthetic. Patients can actually watch a movie, surf the Internet or take a nap while the cooling pads do their work.

A Caveat:

These and other innovations in body contouring are nothing short of exciting, especially since we surgeons relish the opportunity to meet our patient's needs with as little anesthesia, pain and recovery time as possible. However, people interested in these procedures should keep in mind that body contouring is not designed to be used as an alternative to bariatric, or weight-loss, surgery. Candidates should be relatively close to their ideal weight and simply want to eliminate isolated pockets of fat that fail to respond to diet and exercise. For the right person, the new wave of body-contouring techniques can make a visible and lasting difference.

by: Dr. Kevin Johnson

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