Liposuction has been redefined. Today many cosmetic surgeons are using laser technology for body sculpting, and in 2010 I expect that trend to continue. Traditional liposuction is quickly becoming a thing of the past, as the benefits of laser technology have made the results so much better. At Southern Surgical Arts, I have been using Cynosure’s Smartlipo laser for the last 18 months. My experience has shown significant improvements over traditional liposuction, including less pain, less bruising, less swelling, better skin tightening and overall happier patients. The best candidate for Smartlipo laser body sculpting is someone who is generally healthy, near their ideal body weight, and has a small stubborn area of unwanted fat that just won’t go away with a good diet and exercise.
Common areas of treatment are the neck, arms, bra line, abdomen, love handles and thighs. The procedure is done with tumescent local anesthesia and IV sedation. Recovery is typically just a few days.
Another new treatment available at Southern Surgical Arts is the Triactive cellulite laser. This low level laser is combined with a mechanical massage for smoothing the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite. It is not a surgical procedure but is often combined with Smartlipo for really great results, particularly on the backs of the thighs, the flanks and abdomen. Triactive laser treatments are typically done both before and after the Smartlipo laser body sculpting, and there is no pain and no anesthesia required. Based on my extensive experience, I truly believe that laser liposuction is here to stay. And we bring the latest liposuction technology to the Chattanooga and North Georgia area at Southern Surgical Arts.