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How Much Skin Tightening from Smart Lipo?

I'm 48 years old, 5' 2" tall, and weigh about 127. I currently have a small amount of loose skin and not a lot of fat. I have a lot of muscle, am very active, and I lift weights 4 times a week. I am wondering, how much skin tightening can I expect after Smart Lipo? I don't want to end up with sagging skin.

Asked 39 months ago by vikie in US

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skin tightening

Tightening

From what you say, smart lipo may not be the best procedure for you. On the othr hand, it may be perfect, I would really need to see you to advise. Skin tightening does occur but to a limited degree

Doctor's Website

David A. Bray, Sr., MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Be careful what you wish for

Many doctors are claiming that laser liposuction causes skin contraction, tightening the skin from below, literally shrinking the skin safely. Somehow a burning hot laser below the skin reduces pain and therefore the need for unsafe general anesthesia. The boiling of tissues from below with the laser beam somehow makes recovery quicker. Old liposuction, dumb liposuction, does not use the laser and is therefore primitive and backward. Should we be worried about tightening the skin... more

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Quest for Proof of Skin Tightening

I have read the several comments on the request for evidence of the tightening process. As the research center fot the SmartLipo MPX, we have conducted several blinded IRB studies to definitively document and determine skin tightening or NOT.We used 2 instruments to measure numerically the results:1) the change in skin laxity by measuring tattoo marks in the skin with the 3D camera to measure "skin shrinkage " over 1 and 3 months and;2) a highly sensitive device to measure... more

Barry E. DiBernardo, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Lets look at the anatomy

Skin gets saggy because: 1) We loose elasticity over time. Aging, genetics, skin color, pollution, smoking, the sun and anything else that promotes free radical production will cause skin to lose elasticity. We have nothing to reverse this progress. 2) We lose skin thickness over time for the same reasons described above. Peels, Retin-A, Dermabrasion and the original CO2 laser all added collagen production to increase the thickness of skin. 3) Skin will also sag because of the stretching... more

Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

It varies a ton.

Hello, Having done over 100 Smart Lipo cases in the last year, I can say it varies quite a bit. It will not tighten your skin like a tummy tuck would, but of course you will not have the same extent of surgery either. It is a trade off, plain and simple.

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

Results vary

Smartlipo and traditional liposuction are both effective by reducing fat AND tightening the overlying skin. This two part process is what provides patients with the beautiful results. Exactly how much your skin will tighten is difficult to predict. As a general rule, the younger the skin the more elastic it is. Elastic skin tends to tighten better than loose, thin skin. You describe not having much fat and being very fit. Smartlipo could likely provide you with skin tightening and... more

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Smart liposuction skin tightening effects

All types of liposcuction tighten the skin. In my professional opinion and from the results at that I have seen from smart liposuction, I don't believe that smart liposuction tightens abdominal skin any more than other types of liposuction. In my experience liposculpture tightens the skin the best.

S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No sure answer

Smart lipo or laser lipolysis is promoted as offering skin contraction from the ehat generated by the laser that is placed underneath the skin. However, there are no scientific studies to supprt or refute this concept. Therefore, I can not give you a definitive answer. Let's just say that the patients I have seen that debated over thaving a tummy tuck versus just liposuction and were better candidates for a tummy tuck, still needed a tummy tuck after have the Smartlipo....

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Smartlipo skin tightening is variable

I have found that the amount of skin tightening with Smartlipo is variable, and depends somewhat on the health and quality of your skin. It's difficult to know what your chances are at a significant improvement without examining you, but my recommendation would be to have a consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who performs the procedure regularly. It's important to get an honest evaluation of your particular situation as in some cases the only good answer for tightening or... more

Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Smart Lipo and skin tightening

Smart Lipo uses a laser to melt fat and "Tighten the Skin". I think the jury is still out on how much tightening you get from this expensive add on to normal Liposuction. The big problem is inconsistancy

Michael Tomcik, MD

San Francisco Dermatologist

Smart Lipo skin tightening most effective for smaller areas

We see really good tightening in smaller areas. The chin, neck, and male breast areas all respond quite well to the laser tightening. Also, the abdomen will benefit if there is not too much fat. One option to get additional tightening is to use the smart lipo laser initially for melting the fat; and then employ it again once the fat cells have been suctioned. This allows for more skin tightening - without the fat acting like an insulating blanket and diminishing the laser effect.... more

Doctor's Website

Christopher J. Peers, MD

South Bend Facial Plastic Surgeon

Smartlipo and skin contraction

From what you describe, a small amount of fat and minimal loose skin, you should be able to get some skin tightening with smart lipo in the right hands. A lot of loose skin is a recipe for disaster with any technology. A well trained and experienced plastic surgeon should easily be ble to tell you what you can realistically expect!

M. Dean Vistnes, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Smart Lipo

While Smart Lipo does do some skin tightening, it is not enough to avoid a mini-tuck or a full tuck. When we are able to remove 3-6 inches of skin to make you tight with a mini or full tuck, there is just no way a laser is going to accomplish that.

Doctor's Website

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD

San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

Smart Lipo Skin Tightening

The skin tightening benefits vary considerably; however even in the best case scenario the skin tightening benefits is not as beneficial as tummy tuck.