AT THE GRACE CLINIC
You’ve tried dieting. You’ve tried exercise. But parts of your body have simply refused to tone up. Now you can change all that with SmartLipo and SlimLipo laser-assisted body sculpting, a revolutionary, minimally invasive treatment that does something no fitness routine in the world can: permanently destroy fat cells. As a leading Burlington plastic surgeon, Dr. Douglas Grace is proud to be among the first surgeons to introduce SlimLipo and SmartLipo in Burlington.
Known technically as Smartlipo laser lipolysis, and Slimlipo ,laser assisted liposuction, the most current advancement in liposuction. Instead of using suction to remove fat cells from the body, laser assisted liposuction use laser technology and energy to melt fat which then drains out of the surgical opening or is eliminated in the body’s lymphatic system. The incisions required to start the procedure are so small they require no stitches after the procedure.
How is SmartLipo performed?
Laser-assisted liposuction uses a surgical wand, or cannula, which is inserted through the skin into the fatty area. The wand is about the size of an uncooked strand of angel hair pasta. Due to the sophisticated laser technology used, blood vessels are sealed as they are cut. That means less bruising and swelling for our Burlington SmartLipo patients, as well as faster healing. In addition, post-procedure pain is also dramatically reduced.
It has been found that Laser Assisted Liposuction promotes the growth of collagen under the skin. Collagen, one of the most abundant substances found in the human body, is a major factor in human aging. Collagen breaks down due to aging, sun damage or injury, leaving the outer layer of skin slack, causing wrinkling, thick creases, folds of skin and facial sagging. But when more collagen is added – or induced to grow on its own – skin becomes tighter, creating a more youthful, vigorous and rested appearance.
SmartLipo in Burlington: am I a candidate?
The best SmartLipo Burlington candidates are men and women who are not significantly overweight. The prospective patients should have only small areas of troublesome, localized fat deposits – such as love handles, flabby upper arms, excess neck or facial fat or unwanted fat on the lower torso. Patients who also wish to remove excess skin tissue and repair the stomach muscles should not choose SmartLipo but instead undergo tummy tuck in Burlington.
What can I expect during the procedure?
A very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0mm to 2.0mm in diameter containing a laser fiber is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser’s energy to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away.
The laser energy also interacts with the dermis, resulting in collagen shrinkage. Due to the cannula’s small size, laser assisted liposuction is minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising and a quicker recovery time than conventional liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the procedure is very safe with only minimal side effects.
Does it hurt?
There is minimal discomfort associated with the laser assisted liposuction because patients are treated with a localized anesthetic to temporarily numb in and around the area to be treated. You may feel a slight pressure while undergoing the procedure, but it is a mild sensation. Patients are able to converse with Dr. Grace during the procedure because while undergoing a laser assisted liposuction procedure, patients are awake, not sedated as in traditional liposuction.
How many treatments are required?
The destruction of fat cells is permanent, and therefore only one procedure of laser-assisted liposuction is necessary to achieve the desired results in any given area. There are exceptions to every rule. However, unless the Burlington / Hamilton SmartLipo patient wishes to eliminate unwanted fat from many areas of the body, a single procedure will provide excellent results.
How long will the results last?
The results of liposuction will be permanent, as long as you maintain your postoperative weight. Even if you gain a few extra pounds, you may find that the weight is distributed more evenly instead of accumulated in the areas that were problematic in the past.
After Care
You will return to The Grace Clinic at prescribed intervals, for a follow up with the Nurse, at which time your progress will be evaluated.
As a highly experienced Burlington liposuction provider, Dr. Douglas Grace understands that one liposuction technique does not work for all patients. This is why he offers traditional liposuction and Body Jet liposuction in addition to SmartLipo.
SmartLipo and Body Jet liposuction: an advanced combination
SmartLipo and SlimLipo laser-assisted liposuction are the best techniques for melting fat and tightening the skin. However, many of our patients wish to remove a larger amount of fatty tissue than is possible with these methods. For these patients, the solution is to undergo Body Jet lipo in Burlington. Body Jet is a device that was just approved in the U.S. by the FDA for the removal of a larger amount of fat cells.
By using a controlled spray of dilute anesthetic solution in a saline base the Body Jet gently teases the fat cells away from their attachments and allows for gentle liposuction of large volumes of fat. The simultaneous application of the anesthetic spray and the suction decreases the possibility of lidocaine over-dosage.
In cases where there is a need for large volume liposuction and a need for skin tightening, Dr. Grace uses the Body Jet first to remove the fatty tissue and then follows with SlimLipo for skin tightening. This is the best of both worlds and results in the best results that I have seen since I have been doing liposuction.
