North Carolina Plastic Surgeons Share Their Opinions About SmartLipo, VASER Liposelection
A North Carolina plastic surgeon has warned consumers that the existence of new lipo treatment options doesn't guarantee their effectiveness. Dr. Steven Zoellner, a Pinehurst plastic surgeon, told the Fayetteville Observer that it's important to do your research and critically interview prospective surgeons.
Recent technological improvements are changing the way doctors and patients see liposuction. New treatments offer the ability to dissolve, emulsify or zap fat cells before being suctioned, giving patients more choices and giving doctors a more precise way of sculpting the body to meet the patients needs. Still, there are associated risks and complications involved, so patients need to educate themselves.
VASER Liposelection is another minimally invasive liposuction alternative which surgeons use to sculpt the body by using ultrasound energy, which breaks up stubborn pockets of fat for selective removal. Dr. Zoellner says it is more selective with its preservation of tissues we do not want to manipulate and that he is "pretty conservative" about attempting new techniques that haven't been fully established but that VASER's results "are verifiable." The procedure is best suited for people who have healthy exercise and eating habits, but cannot eradicate problem areas of stubborn fat by conventional methods.
SmartLipo is another option marketed toward those same healthy patients. Local anesthesia is typically used and patients can expect to recover for at least 2 days afterward. The cost can be higher than other lipo procedures but SmartLipo claims to offer smoother results, less downtime, fewer side effects and can actually tighten the skin - something traditional liposuction does not.
Robert Clinton, another North Carolina surgeon with offices in Fayetteville and Pinehurst, often combines SmartLipo with a the skin tightening procedure Thermage, which heats deep collagen within the skin to achieve tightness and better aesthetic appearance.
With these new options, and all surgical procedures, the Observer article also recommends that patients should go have several consultations and find an accredited surgeon with experience in the particular procedure of interest.
Kristin Meyer for Real Beauty News
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