Among the many improved versions of liposuction laser liposuction is often termed “lunchtime lipo” because the procedure is so simple and takes a minimum amount of time to recover. The laser liposuction is a variation of traditional liposuction, but one with outstanding results for improving and contouring your body with minimal invasive damage.
What is Laser Liposuction?
Traditional liposuction has been around for quite some time. In the original version of liposuction, the patient was put to sleep under general anesthesia. A doctor then used a long metal tube called a cannula to loosen fat and then to suck it out of the body with the help of a medical vacuum. The doctor collected fat along with some bodily fluids and the patient was then kept for a time under observation thanks to the use of general anesthesia.
Once the patient was released to recover, the incisions for the cannula needed some extra care and time to ensure they didn’t become infected. In some cases, the liposuction left a result that was a bit lumpy with an uneven amount of fat removed in particular areas of the body. Overall, however, the liposuction removed excess fat cells. Once the fat cells were gone, they would not grow back meaning the body was permanently slimmer and more contoured. The recovery time for the surgery took a few weeks for swelling and other symptoms to disappear, but the end results are worth it.
Laser liposuction improves upon the original version of liposuction. With laser liposuction, your doctor uses a thinner cannula to gather fat cells, but he has the help of a laser while he works. In the laser liposuction, the doctor uses a laser on the area he is treating. The laser actually loosens and dissolves the fat cells. The pure fat cells are easier to remove through the thinner tube and the process is done much more quickly and with greater overall precision.
The laser liposuction process is usually done in your doctor’s office rather than in a full medical surgical center. A local anesthesia will be used during the process, but there is no general anesthesia and the process can be done in just an hour or two. With the tiny incisions by the much smaller cannula, there are no stitches and there is minimal bruising. The laser helps to improve your skin’s condition as the doctor works making the entire procedure less invasive and faster to heal than virtually any other liposuction procedure.
The Benefits of Laser Liposuction
It’s obvious that there are true benefits to laser liposuction that you simply can’t get with the traditional version. The original version of liposuction was highly effective, but with laser liposuction you get results, but with greater speed, less discomfort and a better toning effect overall.
Body Contouring
One of the best benefits of laser liposuction is the improved body image that is created through the process. The laser liposuction does a highly targeted job of removing fat. When you introduce the laser to the liposuction technique, your doctor can easily remove fat in a single area rather than in a more general sweep. With the laser helping to smooth fat and actually improve skin condition to an extent, the end result of the process is smoother skin in a particular area with less fat and tighter skin overall.
Once the fat cells are removed, they aren’t going to grow back. Since the laser lipo does such a good job removing the cells evenly your results will be even as well and you’ll be able to keep that figure for years to come. The laser literally melts away the fat cells that have stood in the way of your perfect figure and you’re able to appreciate a newly toned and sculpted body that is visible to the rest of the world in a matter of days – not weeks.
Faster Healing
The laser helps to target the fat cells before the cannula goes anywhere near them. Since the fat cells are already dissolving before the surgeon actually begins to remove them, the body undergoes less trauma throughout the procedure. The fat cells are removed easily, which hurts your body less overall. The smaller cannula used is another side benefit of the procedure. By using a smaller instrument, your body is affected less. You have smaller incisions, no sutures and faster healing. The gentler removal of the fat cells also reduces bruising and swelling considerably.
In many cases, you can have a laser liposuction procedure and be back at work the next day with minimal swelling. The entire process can fit into a lunch hour, although it’s not advisable to try and undergo a full cosmetic procedure on a day you also plan to work. Doctors recommend taking at least one or two days off to recover from the laser liposuction, but fortunately, after a day of taking an over-the-counter pain medication, the pain from the laser liposuction procedure will be gone and any swelling will be almost entirely gone. Compared to weeks for traditional liposuction, the laser liposuction has almost miraculous healing to get you back into your normal routines more quickly and with fewer hassles.
Safer Procedure
Traditional Liposuction is anything but dangerous. With that being said, there is some risk of side effects with traditional liposuction and with laser liposuction as well. The difference is, the laser liposuction is far safer simply because it does not use the general anesthesia required for the more formal version of liposuction.
With laser liposuction, you make an appointment with your doctor for a visit to his office. When you arrive, all pre surgery measurements and markings are done and then you’re given a local anesthetic and the surgery is performed. Throughout the surgery you’re awake and fully aware of what is happening – you’re not asleep the way you would be with a general anesthesia. There are far greater risks with general anesthesia than there are with local anesthesia and you’re avoiding them all.
After you have the surgery, you’ll be released that same day to go home and rest. One day of rest is really all you’ll need before you can resume your normal schedule. The smaller incisions used for the cannulas with the laser liposuction are much, much smaller than you’d expect. These incisions are able to heal safely within a few days without needing stitches or sutures. This reduces the risk of infection and it also helps you to feel better more quickly following the procedure, which is important for your overall safety and wellbeing.
Having Laser Liposuction
If you’re interested in laser liposuction, your first step is to schedule a visit with your doctor. While there is no perfect patient for any particular procedure, you’ll want to visit with your doctor about your plans, your health, your medical conditions and your plans for the surgery. Only your doctor will be able to guide you through the decisions making process to determine if laser liposuction is the right form of surgery for you and your body.
If you are considering having the laser liposuction, you’ll want to be sure that the surgery is done by a surgeon with a great deal of experience with the procedure and arrange for a bit of extra care following the surgery. You won’t be under the effects of general anesthesia, but even if you’ve had local anesthesia on your midsection, you probably don’t want to drive yourself home if you don’t have to. Have a friend pick you up or wait with you during the procedure to be sure you complete the appointment safely.
The Cost of Laser Liposuction
The cost of laser liposuction varies wildly by medical professional. While laser contouring can be performed by licensed medical professionals at spas, laser liposuction can only be done by a practicing cosmetic surgeon. The price of laser liposuction will vary from one doctor to another, and the costs may be affected the area you’re living as well.
In large cities there is greater competition for patients seeking laser liposuction. This means you may be able to take advantage of specials offered to bring in new customers. This natural competition among doctors helps to hold the prices down and makes it more affordable to have laser liposuction in some areas than others. In the towns where there is only one cosmetic surgeon, you may be forced to pay the asking price without having the option to shop around for a better offer.
As it’s unlikely that the laser liposuction will be covered by insurance, you’ll likely be paying out of pocket for the entire procedure. For laser liposuction performed by a medical doctor, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2500 to $10,000 for the procedure depending on the area you’re treating and the number of locations you’re treating. The first location you choose to treat may be full price, but often surgeons will offer discounted rates to encourage you to consider laser liposuction in additional areas as well.
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