Birmingham Smart Lipo doctors

Paul S. Howard, MD Paul S. Howard, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
3401 Independence Drive, Suite 211 Suite 211, Birmingham
2 answers
William J. Hedden, MD William J. Hedden, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
140 Village Street Greystone Cosmetic Center, Suite 100, Birmingham
1 answer
James C. Grotting, MD James C. Grotting, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
One Inverness Center Parkway Suite 100 , Birmingham
1 answer
Christopher J. Schaffer, MD Christopher J. Schaffer, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
140 Village Street Suite 100, Birmingham
1 answer
Barry Ginsburg, MD Barry Ginsburg, MD
Birmingham Dermatologist
972 Montclair Road, Birmingham

Recent Answers

Board Certified Smart Lipo Doctors?

When I read through the Smart Lipo reviews on RealSelf, almost none of the providers listed are board certified plastic surgeons. I've seen gynecologists, emergency medicine, ophthalmologists, even facial plastic surgeons recommended in the Smart Lipo reviews - but very few docs certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Why is this?

A: How Smart is Smart lipo?

Your question brings up important issues regarding credentialing, liposuction in general and Smart

lipo. It's true that any practitioner surgically trained or not can basically do anything in the office setting without being monitored or credentialed in any way.  Operating in the hospital environment requires peer review of training and credentials and therefore provides some protection to the public from those practitioners who self proclaim experience and bogus certifications wrapped in slick marketing packages. Many real Plastic surgeons ignore new technologies because they are comfortable with procedures they have used since residency. Also, Plastic surgeons who have experience with both Smart lipo and traditional lipo know that the benefits of Smart lipo are small yet the laser technology used makes the procedure much more difficult to perform leading to a much higher complication rate. Many real Plastic surgeons see these devastating complications due to laser lipo and choose not to do Smart lipo. It could be that Smart lipo is not so smart after all. 

Paul S. Howard, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
Why Are Many Plastic Surgeons Against Smart Lipo?

I have been calling a few board certified plastic surgeons to enquire about laser lipo (smart lipo) here in South Africa and to my surprise, a few replied saying that they do not perform or recommend it. They prefer classic lipo. I'm stunned! Why is that?

A: Smart Lipo- Smart marketing

I perform both Smart Lipo and traditional liposuction and can address the current issues with laser assisted liposuction. Smart Lipo has been a marketing success for Cynosure, the manufacturer of the machine, as the Smart Lipo platform is the most expensive available and therefore it costs the most in overhead for the surgeon. There is no data suggesting that  Smart Lipo is better than any of the other laser assisted lipo platforms. Many Plastic Surgeons are against Smart Lipo because this machine has been aggressively sold to non-Plastic surgeons without providing adequate training. Make no mistake, Smart Lipo is technically more difficult to perform especially in the hands of inexperienced operators causing a wide variety of problems that Plastic Surgeons are asked to reconstruct.  There are few if any reasons to perform Smart Lipo rather than traditional lipo. Besides cost, one cannot harvest fat for fat grafting as the laser "melts" the fat before suctioning and the manufacturer has oversold the skin tightening obtained with the laser and it is not recommended  as an answer to skin laxity.

Paul S. Howard, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
Why Are Many Plastic Surgeons Against Smart Lipo?

I have been calling a few board certified plastic surgeons to enquire about laser lipo (smart lipo) here in South Africa and to my surprise, a few replied saying that they do not perform or recommend it. They prefer classic lipo. I'm stunned! Why is that?

A: Smart Lipo not recommended by some South African Plastic Surgeons??

You would have to ask the individual surgeons why they would not recommend it.  It is an advance in technology and allows liposuction and improved results in many areas where standard liposuction doesn't work.  The laser is costly and requires some training to use.  Perhaps the surgeons that are advising against it do not want to invest the time and money in Smart Lipo yet do not want to lose patients to competitors that are offering it in area practices.

Christopher J. Schaffer, MD
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
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