SmartLipo Technology and FAQ

SMARTLIPO uses the latest advancements in cosmetic surgery technology, which provide a safer, quicker and cost-effective method.

Pioneered in Europe, the SmartLipo procedure is the first laser-assisted liposuction procedure. SmartLipo was approved by the FDA in November of 2006 and has quickly been labeled the cutting edge procedure in cosmetic surgery.

According to SmartLipo’s manufacturer, Cynosure, the SmartLipo system has quickly become one of the most successful liposuction procedures in the cosmetic surgery field for its use of cutting-edge technology.

With SmartLipo, a hollow, pen-sized instrument called a cannula is inserted into a minor incision made by the surgeon. The cannula uses a small laser to liquefy the fat cells an area and drain them away. Because the cannula is only about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, SmartLipo is a less invasive procedure, reducing the risk of bruising and promoting a quicker recovery. In addition, the cannula’s laser acts as a visual guide, helping the surgeon make more precise movements than typical Liposuction.

With a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser, the wattage ranges from 6W to 18W, and the higher the wattage allows for a faster procedure. As the laser liquefies fat cells, the laser will simultaneously coagulate small blood vessels, preventing bleeding and swelling. A hollow cannula is also used to suction out the fat cells and speed the recovery process.

SmartLipo FAQs

How long does the SmartLipo procedure take?
The SmartLipo procedure takes an average of 2–3 hours per session.

How many SmartLipo treatments are required?
Most patients typically require only one treatment. Each SmartLipo session may last from 45 minutes to one hour for each area treated. SmartLipo can also be used for “touch-ups” and revisions to previously treated areas.

Does SmartLipo treat cellulite?
The SmartLipo procedure will improve the body’s shape and may reduce cellulite to a certain degree.

What is the long-term outcome for most people?
Most patients can see results immediately following the SmartLipo procedure, and they can expect their skin to return to normal within three months.

However, as with traditional liposuction, you will need to practice patience since the full SmartLipo results may not be visible for up to a year. The more fat that was removed, the longer it will take to achieve maximum results, as your body needs to adapt to a more significant shape change.

Do I have to stay in the hospital?
No. SmartLipo is performed as an out-patient procedure under local anesthesia. You won’t be required to stay in the hospital, since recovery from SmartLipo works best within the comfort of your home.

What if I’ve already had regular liposuction?
SmartLipo may be extremely effective for improving upon body areas that have been previously treated with traditional liposuction. With the SmartLipo procedure your doctor can further sculpt or contour those areas on the body that have “droopy” skin, especially if you are a relatively thin, healthy person who wants additional toning and tightening.

What are the main advantages of SmartLipo?

• It offers the smoothest, best body-contouring results.
• It entails only a short recovery time.
• Minimal discomfort is involved.
• It is safer than traditional liposuction.
• It tightens the skin around the treatment area.
• It is more affordable than traditional liposuction.
• The results are permanent.

Can SmartLipo work on areas that regular liposuction can’t?
Yes. Since the aiming beam at the tip of the SmartLipo laser allows the doctor to know exactly where he or she is at all times, the procedure is very precise. As such, SmartLipo is very effective in body areas that are not suitable for traditional liposuction, such as the face, neck, back and knees.

Does the SmartLipo procedure hurt?
Since the SmartLipo procedure is performed under local anesthesia, there is very little pain or discomfort involved. You may feel a minor stinging sensation and an impression of tugging at your skin during the SmartLipo treatment, but these discomforts are minimal.

SmartLipo…you’ve got questions; we’ve got answers.

Female Hair Thinning

Female Hair Thinning

Are you suffering from hair thinning? Hair thinning in females is different from that of males. Here’s all you wanted to know about Female hair thinning – understand the root causes and follow the simple steps for management, prevention and treatment.

Hair Thinning or Alopecia is generally associated with males but females also suffer from it. Hair thinning in Males (Androgenetic Alopecia) leads to the characteristic male pattern baldness – hair disappears from the hair margin first (bitemporal recession) followed by the crown (central recession) resulting in a horse shoe shaped area of hair – the so called ‘Monk’s tonsure’. Female hair thinning shows a different kind of pattern called female pattern baldness where the hair is lost from all over the head instead of any specific areas as in males.

Psychological problems associated with hair thinning in females

Besides the obvious cosmetic challenge female hair thinning leads to several psychological side effects like loss of self esteem and low self confidence. The psychological consequences of hair thinning are generally more severe in females than in males.

Hair thinning in females

Female hair thinning starts after the age of 30 and progressively becomes more pronounced. Female hair thinning, generally, shows a more diffuse pattern of hair loss but may also show male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness in females may be a cause for concern specially if accompanied with excessive body hair. The two together denote high levels of circulating male hormones. These in turn may result from Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or Arrehnoblastoma, a kind of ovarian tumor. Menopause is also related with female hair thinning as estrogen becomes unavailable. When Estrogen levels fall after pregnancy conditions of female hair thinning may be seen.

Managing Female Hair Thinning

Management of hair thinning is a three step process

A) Look for causes and life style factors leading to female hair thinning.

B) Try alternative medicines like topical lotions and natural supplements to reduce female hair thinning.

C) Try chemical medication to retard female hair thinning.

Cheap chemical hair products are best avoided as they contain ingredients that may improve the appearance of hair in the short run but either make the hair brittle and lifeless or have a toxic effect on the root of the hair follicle, thus leading to increased hair thinning in females.

A female suffering from hair thinning should consider the following

1) Any one of the following may result in sudden hair thinning in females

a) Fever, infection including lupus and ringworm, surgery or trauma.

b) Scalp diseases like psoriasis and dermatitis.

c) Liver or kidney problems.

d) Anorexia nervosa or Crash dieting

e) Exposure to heavy metals like Selenium Arsenic or Thallium.

f) Certain medications like beta blockers, anticoagulants, certain epilepsy medicines and excess vitamin A.

2) Evaluation for high levels of Androgens specially testosterone and DHEA – on the advice of the dermatologist. Cyproterone – an anti androgen may be prescribed by the physician to retard female hair thinning. It is also present in some contraceptives.

3) Hypothyroidism – Low levels of thyroid function (often after pregnancy) lead to fat accumulation and female hair thinning.

4) Female hair thinning due to Traction – tight braiding and certain other hair styles pull the hair and may lead to female hair thinning.

5) Topical solution of Minoxidil 2% may be attempted to reduce female hair thinning though some sources suggest an efficacy rate of only 15%.

6) Relaxation – increases blood flow to the scalp and tends to reduce androgen levels thus promoting hair growth and reducing female hair thinning.

7) Nutrition – Vitamins like vitamin A, C and E help in maintaining the hair in good condition and slow down female hair thinning. Vitamin B6, biotin, folic acid etc are vital for general nutrition and robust hair growth. Proteins especially those containing the essential amino acid – Cysteine are necessary for keratin formation. Vegans may consider soy protein and topical supplements. Minerals like Sulfur, Zinc, Calcium and Silicon help in slowing down female hair thinning.

8) Excessive oil build up in the scalp, anxiety or tension, antimitotics used for chemotherapy, perming, hot air blow drying, and environmental pollution are the other causes that lead to severe female hair thinning.

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SmartLipo Downtime

It used to take weeks, or even months, of painful healing and limited mobility to recover from traditional liposuction. But with SmartLipo, recovery time is now fast and relatively painless. Patients often return to work within 1–2 days of undergoing the SmartLipo procedure.
Recovery starts the moment the surgeon turns off the SmartLipo laser. The patient is then escorted to a recovery room, where the local anesthesia can begin to wear off. SmartLipo recovery does not involve the nauseating, disorienting recovery general anesthesia typically brings about—which many people consider the most difficult element of recovering from traditional liposuction. In fact, patients are generally sent home within one hour of the SmartLipo procedure’s completion.
The doctor will give you specific instructions on how to take care of yourself during recovery after the SmarLipo procedure, and he may give you a prescription for pain medication. You will also receive compression bandages, which are key to recovery. In addition to encouraging healing by preventing the shifting of bodily tissues, they can help prevent blood clots.
The goal of SmartLipo recovery is to achieve the best results while reducing the risk of infection. Infection can be the biggest risk during recovery. It can lead to unattractive scars, and possibly serious illness and even death. These rare contingencies, however, are dramatically reduced thanks to SmartLipo’s cutting-edge technology.
The staff always takes a personal interest in your recovery. They will schedule recovery checkups where one of our doctors will examine your wounds to make sure they are healing properly. It is very important that you keep your appointments as you recover, since professional monitoring improves your chances of smooth, healthy, scar-free results.
SmartLipo recovery is made up of several stages. Minor bruising and numbness occur directly after the SmartLipo procedure, but they should disappear within days, if not hours, of leaving the recovery room. The swelling will drop within a week. Once the swelling disappears, your recovery is finished and you will be able view the SmartLipo surgery’s final results.
SmartLipo…you’re in; you’re out; you’re a brand new you.

SmartLipo Cost

Smartlipo: Benefits vs Costs

Along with the many improvements in liposuction, laser lipo takes it one step further and offers increased skin tightening, less damage to the surrounding tissue during the procedure and in turn less downtime post procedure.  Costs for smartlipo tend to be a little higher than those of other modern liposuction techniques but after factoring in the substantially reduced downtime associated with laser liposuction the cost is well worth it.

Although costs for Smartlipo vary depending on the size of the area to be treated; you can usually expect to pay approximately $1,700 to $4,500 per area treated.  Costs of Smarlipo will also vary according to the doctor or clinic performing the procedure.  Hips and inner outer thigh usually cost around $7,000 for Smartlipo. The smaller the area usually the lower the cost, so a chin you might only expect to pay around $2,000 with the laser assisted liposuction technique.  Of the many benefits with Smartlipo, one must consider the reduced downtime associated with this procedure when factoring in costs.  By first melting the fat before removing it thru a vacuum, trauma to the surrounding tissue is minimized and patient’s recovery time is reduced. In addition, costs for may vary slightly per physician and per body area. Asking the right questions about overlapping procedures on 2 or more treatment areas within a single visit, and how much downtime is typically required with each of your treatment areas, will help you to accurately determine your total costs for the Smartlipo technique.

Get Smart about Smartlipo Costs

As with any surgical procedure it is important to do your homework researching a qualified, and board certified surgeon to perform your procedure. Results from an inexperienced surgeon can be unsightly lumps in areas under the skin where the fat was removed unevenly.  In addition, caving in of the skin into pockets where excessive amounts of fat were taken out is another post operative complication showing inexperience or carelessness from the physician.  Fixing the damage caused by an inexperienced surgeon can make the cost of Smartlipo and any liposuction procedure very expensive with costs to repair damage reaching $20,000 in some cases.  Getting your desired results and the ability to resume your normal routine as quick as possible, are most important. With Smartlipo, your life and health are restored almost immediately because of the minimal pain and short recovery period associated with the procedure.

Financing the Costs of Smartlipo

Because most insurance companies consider it an elective procedure, Laser Assisted Liposuction costs are usually not covered under any health plan. Some of our doctors, however, believe that everyone should have access to this cutting-edge procedure. As such, zero-percent financing is available to qualified applicants.