Whether you’ve undergone liposuction or are considering it, you likely have areas of unwanted fat that are interfering with the sleek vision you have for yourself. As a body contouring specialist and board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Richard D’Amico offers his patients a range of advanced treatment options. Consider visiting him & Dr. Ferrauiola for Smartlipo™ laser liposuction in Englewood, NJ to put the finishing touches on your contours.
To find out how liposuction in New Jersey can improve your body contours, request a consultation with Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola using their online form or call (201) 567-9595 to schedule an appointment.
Benefits of Smartlipo
The benefits of Smartlipo go beyond those of traditional liposuction and include*:
- Sculpting away areas of unwanted fat
- Refining the results of previous liposuction procedures
- Tightening treated areas through collagen stimulation
- Reducing recovery time over traditional liposuction
Who is a Good Candidate Liposuction?
As with traditional liposuction, a good candidate for Smartlipo is someone who is healthy, fit, and at or near their ideal body weight. This liposuction technology is ideal for those who have localized deposits of fat on areas like the thighs, waist, back, tummy, as well as delicate areas like the chin, neck and ankles.
How Smartlipo Works
What makes Smartlipo different than our other types of liposuction is the laser. Smartlipo uses a thin, laser-tipped cannula that liquefies unwanted fat without harming surrounding tissues. The fat can be left for the body to eliminate naturally or easily suctioned away with a cannula. The laser energy also seals blood vessels for reduced bruising and causes collagen in the surrounding tissues to contract for improved tightening of treated areas.
When performing Smart lipo for his New Jersey patients, Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola can use a local anesthetic in many cases. The procedure typically takes an hour to complete depending on the number of areas being treated. Smartlipo provides excellent results as an individual treatment and when used to enhance other liposuction methods.
Recovery & Results of Smartlipo
With Smartlipo, recovery time is usually quicker than with traditional liposuction alone. Most patients take approximately 1 to 7 days off work. You will need to avoid strenuous activities for about a week, but walking and light activity can help you heal more quickly. To limit swelling and encourage healing, you will need to wear a compression wrap or garment for about 2 weeks.*
Within about a week your slimmer look will begin to appear as areas firm and swelling subsides. Areas will continue to improve over the following weeks.
How Long Do Smartlipo Results Last?
Like traditional liposuction, the results of Smartlipo can last indefinitely. This requires ongoing attention to diet and lifestyle. After a fat-reduction procedure, many people report that their motivation to eat healthy and exercise increases due to their appreciation for their new shape.
Will Smartlipo Tighten Skin?
The degree of skin tightening that is possible with Smartlipo is determined by the natural elasticity a patient has at the time of treatment. Laser liposuction using the Smartlipo technique is designed to reduce stubborn fat more easily by liquefying cells before extraction through a tiny cannula. The laser probe does emit a small amount of heat that could cause collagen to contract slightly. Patients with a significant lack of elasticity will need a complementary procedure like abdominoplasty to other lift technique to tighten skin.
Smartlipo vs BodyTite
Both Smartlipo and BodyTite are approved for fat reduction. Both are designed to melt targeted fat cells while safety heating dermal tissue for subtle skin tightening. Smartlipo is laser-assisted liposuction. The procedure manually extracts fat cells that have been liquefied. The heat generated from the Smartlipo device is mild and unlikely to achieve much in the way of skin tightening. However, fat-reduction results are significant. BodyTite is not a liposuction technique. It is best described as a nonsurgical fat-reduction and skin-tightening treatment. This procedure does require a small incision to heat superficial fatty tissue. The result of this heating is that the body flushes the “damaged” fat cells over time, thus reducing the circumference of the treatment area. Because radiofrequency energy is emitted from two parallel probes during BodyTite, one internal and one external, the skin tightening effects may be more substantial with this technique than with Smartlipo. This is a trade-off a patient needs to consider: more fat-reduction or more skin-tightening.
Does Fat Come Back After Smartlipo?
Fat does not come back after liposuction of any kind. The removed fat cells are gone forever. However, it is possible for fat cells in the treatment area to expand just as any other fat cells in the body can. Therefore, weight management is necessary for long-term benefits after Smartlipo.
How Many Smartlipo Treatments Are Needed?
Most patients need only one Smartlipo treatment to achieve their desired results. This is because Smartlipo removes fat just like traditional liposuction, only using a laser-assisted technique.
Where There Be Scarring After My Smartlipo Treatment?
Depending on the treatment area, there may be no visible scarring after Smartlipo. In some instances, the small incision is made just inside the belly-button. Lower abdominal treatment may be conducted through incisions that can be hidden beneath the bikini line.
Is Anesthesia Used For Smartlipo?
The Smartlipo procedure is usually completed in about an hour. Unless the fat-reducing technique is joined by another body-contouring method, such as abdominoplasty, only a local anesthetic is needed to maintain comfort. Combination procedures are typically performed using general anesthesia.
Is Smartlipo Safe?
Numerous studies were conducted on the use of laser-assisted liposuction prior to FDA-approval, with Smartlipo demonstrating a high success rate in terms of both safety and efficacy. Patients lost up to 17% of the fat in the target area and needed very little time to recover from their procedure. No serious injuries have been reported.
Is Smartlipo Painful?
The anesthesia that is used during Smartlipo procedures is sufficient for maintaining comfort. However, it is also important that treatment is conducted by a board-certified plastic surgeon with specific experience with the Smartlipo technique. Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola prioritize patient comfort in addition to outstanding results.
Getting Started
The first step to achieving your cosmetic goals is to request a consultation with Dr. D’Amico & Dr. Ferrauiola, who serve patients from the New York metro area. They enjoy spending time with you one-on-one to understand your objectives and give their professional opinion about the procedures that will work best for you. The consultation fee is applied toward your Smartlipo treatment or any surgical procedure you choose. We are also happy to schedule appointments by phone at (201) 567-9595
* = Results may vary
