Traditional liposuction and SmartLipo™ are both body contouring techniques that involve removing fat deposits from underneath the skin. However, the process in which fat is removed varies drastically between the two. Traditional liposuction is a surgical process that requires a hospital stay, general anesthesia and typically a two week painful recovery. With traditional liposuction a 4” - 6” metal tube, or cannula, vacuums up to 10 pounds of solid fat out of the body. The results can include loose or sagging skin, tissue trauma, and scarring where the tube is inserted into the body.
SmartLipo™ is a laser assisted technique that melts and liquefies the fat within the fat cells. Unlike traditional liposuction, a very small cannula (1.0 mm to 2.0 mm) is inserted into the body to remove the liquefied fat. The SmartLipo™ laser allows for very precise movements and a higher degree of body contouring and reshaping. In addition, it smoothes and tightens the skin to decrease the looseness that one sometimes sees with traditional liposuction. SmartLipo™ is typically used for smaller areas of fat deposits, such as arms or below the chin. However it can also be used in combination with VASER® LipoSelection to remove larger areas of fat such as in the abdomen, flanks and thighs.
| SmartLipo™ | Traditional Liposuction | |
| In-patient surgical procedure | √ | |
| General anesthesia required | √ | |
| Large incision, scaring | √ | |
| Loose or sagging skin that requires additional surgery to correct or remove | √ | |
| Out-patient procedure, recover at home | √ | |
| Local anesthesia only - awake and alert during procedure | √ | |
| Small incision, virtually no scarring | √ | |
| Stimulates collagen production to tighten and firm the skin | √ | |
| Precise body contouring | √ | |
| Quick recovery time, minimal bruising and swelling | √ |
