Liposuction has been around for nearly 50 years. Dr. Giorgio Fischer, an Italian gynecologist, invented the original form of liposuction in 1974. Ever since then, it has become the gold standard for fat-loss treatments.
Every year, liposuction helps hundreds of thousands of men and women successfully reduce fat and reshape their silhouettes.
However, despite its popularity, there are still many misconceptions about how it works.
Here, Dr. Amir Raeesy, our board-certified internist at Balboa Medical Center & Spa, answers all of your questions about liposuction and how it can benefit you.
Which areas can I have liposuctioned?
Perhaps one of our favorite things about liposuction is how versatile it is. Are you bothered by “batwings”? Had it with hip fat? This is likely an option for you. Some of the most popular areas our patients want us to do include:
- Buttocks
- Love handles
- Upper arms
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Back
- Face
- Thighs
- Chest
- Lower legs
As you can see, liposuction isn’t a one-trick pony. Tell us which area (or areas) are most frustrating for you, and we’ll help you decide if it is the best option.
How is our liposuction different?
When you think of liposuction, you likely picture traditional liposuction surgery, which involves deep incisions to remove pockets of fat from your body. Beyond that, traditional liposuction requires an extended recovery time and often leaves you with sagging skin that needs surgical removal later on.
We think there’s a better way to get rid of stubborn fat.
At Balboa Medical Center & Spa, we offer the best and most advanced liposuction technology: Cynosure® Smartlipo® Triplex®. This revolutionary system uses lasers rather than scalpels to address your stubborn fat.
During your treatment, the laser energy seeks out and permanently destroys fat cells. But it doesn’t stop there. As it eliminates fat cells, the Smartlipo system stimulates collagen production in the surrounding skin, ensuring that you not only lose fat but have tighter, firmer skin, as well.
Who’s a candidate?
The Smartlipo system can address virtually any area of fat on your body, but there are a few other factors we consider before recommending it. For example, the ideal candidate checks the following boxes:
- Has good muscle tone
- Is a nonsmoker
- Doesn’t have rolls of saggy skin or stretch marks
- Can avoid blood thinners before treatment
- Is near their goal weight
We also want to make sure that all of our Smartlipo patients have realistic expectations and are dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle afterward.
What can you expect?
Because Smartlipo is minimally invasive, discomfort during your procedure is minimal — most describe a slight pressure. We administer a local anesthetic beforehand to keep you completely comfortable.
Then, we create a small incision in the treatment area and insert a small tube. Laser fibers using varying wavelengths deliver powerful energy to effectively dissolve fat deposits, which we suction out of your body.
Because Smartlipo doesn’t cause as much pain and bruising as traditional liposuction, you can enjoy a sleeker silhouette much faster than ever before.
Are you ready to see if this revolutionary fat-loss treatment is right for you? We’d love to talk with you. Call or click to request an appointment at our Encino, California, office today.