For nearly a decade, liposuction was the only treatment available for people who wanted to remove pockets of fat from their bodies and reshape their natural curves. Today, there are liposuction alternatives, such as the laser technique called Smartlipo.
There are several differences between Smartlipo and liposuction. It helps to have all of the information before you decide whether Smartlipo or liposuction is right for you. Even though Smartlipo is a less invasive procedure than liposuction, both Smartlipo and liposuction carry some risks to your health. You don’t want to make such a decision without all of the facts about liposuction and Smartlipo.
Smartlipo & Liposuction: Technique
As mentioned above, the major difference between Smartlipo and liposuction is the laser technique used in the Smartlipo procedure. With traditional liposuction, fat cells are suctioned from the body through a larger incision in the skin, without benefit of the laser.
When you have Smartlipo, however, a smaller incision is used to insert the cannula. The Smartlipo laser helps to break up the fatty deposits that would otherwise have to be obliterated by hand, causing the trademark bruising and swelling that afflicts liposuction patients.
Smartlipo & Liposuction: After-Shock
Most people are aware of the long recovery times associated with liposuction. Some liposuction patients remain bedridden for weeks, unable to move without extensive pain. Smartlipo patients rarely take longer than two or three days to recover. Smartlipo patients are generally back to work after a long weekend. This gives Smartlipo a significant advantage over liposuction when you have a job, a family and a life to live.
Liposuction is an extensive, invasive procedure conducted under anesthesia. Liposuction is no different from any other major surgery except that it is elective, and therefore not necessary to your survival. The body is affected by any procedure of this magnitude, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of liposuction.
Smartlipo & Liposuction: Trauma
Obviously, since Smartlipo is less invasive and far less painful than liposuction, it will be less traumatic for your body to handle. Liposuction often results in bleeding, swelling, bruising and scars, which can outweigh the benefits of lost inches and pounds. Your recovery from liposuction depends on your body type and the ability for your body to heal quickly. People with medical problems or thin blood should not have liposuction surgery.
You also have to remember that Smartlipo is an umbrella term for three (or more) different procedures. With some Smartlipo techniques, suction isn’t used at all, which means that your body disposes of the obliterated fat cells on its own. When suction is used, such as in traditional liposuction, the results are more dramatic, but it can take longer to heal.
Smartlipo & Liposuction: Results
Since Smartlipo is conducted with a laser and typically used on smaller areas of the body, the Smartlipo results are not as dramatic as with traditional liposuction. The Smartlipo technique is used for trimming, toning and firming problem areas of the body. Smartlipo is not intended as a quick weight-loss formula for the obese. Liposuction, on the other hand, can remove significant quantities of fat, producing a more dramatic result.
That said, liposuction is not meant to turn an obese individual into a super model. Removing more than eight pounds of fat at a time can be dangerous. Although one individual can have several consecutive liposuction treatments over a long period of time, it is still possible for the liposuction patient to regain weight in other areas of the body.
