Thomas E. Young, MD

This is really up to your provider. It truly depends on how much fat was removed and what body areas were treated. I would say an average amount of time is six weeks. It is important to wear your garment because the top layer of skin was separated from the underlying fat layer so that the laser could melt the fat. The garment holds your skin down tightly in the right place so it can reattach smoothly without any folds or unevenness. Garments are a very important part of the whole SmartLipo process and your optimal outcome.

I can understand your frustration. This does happen often and these types of lumps can take months to go away. My recommendation is while lying on your back, perform deep circular massage with a body oil so your hand can glide easily as you make the circles. Start with light pressure then push harder until it is bearable. Do this multiple times a day. Continue to wear your garment. Lymphatic drainage massage and even ultrasound therapy can help to reduce the lumps.

You are correct that SmartLipo will not have an effect on your stretch marks. It will, however, help to reduce areas of fat that are bothering you. With that said, you can only have a few areas treated at a time due to the safety concerns of the local anesthesia that is used during the procedure. Ultimately you would have to consider multiple treatments over time. Most people start with what is bothering them the most. Typically it is the abdomen and waist. Seek out a provider who has performed many of these procedures and get a couple of consultations and opinions. I have performed well over 8,000 SmartLipo procedures to date, many on patients similar to your photos, and frequently have patients work on a few body areas at a time.

SmartLipo is a good option for the problem you are describing. It's best you seek out a physician who has a lot of experience with arms. One of the best benefits of SmartLipo, aside from the action of removing excess fat, is it's skin tightening abilities over the next few months following the procedure. External skin tightening devices can also be used post-SmartLipo to facilitate extra tightening of the skin.

In looking at the area you are describing on your abdomen, you would be a good candidate for either procedure. My recommendation would be for you to go to a practice that has done many procedures and possibly even provides both of these treatments. With CoolSculpting, you would need multiple applicators because there is not just one that covers that large of an area. You may or may not need a second treatment to get to your desired shape. You will have to wait at least three months after your first treatment before you would consider a second. While there is no downtime with CoolSculpting, there will be a period of sensitivity and numbness which dissipates after about a month.

SmartLipo would reduce the are much faster, plus has the ability to tightening skin due to its technology. The downside is there will be puncture holes and draining of the tumescent anesthesia fluid for about 2-3 days. You also will be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks.

After your consultations you will know how many CoolSculpting treatments you would need and compare that to the cost of the SmartLipo procedure. Your area of concern really isn't that large, so it truly is up to you to decide which treatment options fit your schedule, your finances and your downtime options. Good luck!

SmartLipo, or any minimally-invasive laser-assisted liposuction procedure, is designed for pockets of fat that will not go away with proper diet and exercise. There are two different ways to perform laser-assisted lipolysis, under general anesthesia and under local anesthesia.

When this procedure is performed using local anesthesia, there is a certain amount that can be used on each patient that is dependent upon many factors including their body weight. Basically speaking, you can only have so much of the anesthetic inserted under your skin in a given time period. This can limit the amount of fat that can be removed during one procedure, or the number of body areas depending on how thick the layer of fat is. Therefore, you may have to return for multiple procedures. Under general anesthesia more fat can be removed, but it is more expensive due to the cost of the anesthetist and staff required during the procedure.

All of this depends greatly upon the skill of the physician performing the procedure. Do your research and consider your options carefully.

SmartLipo was first released in late 2006 and since then the technology has developed greatly. Basically, SmartLipo is the name of the device. The procedure is laser-assisted lipolysis. Basically speaking, it's the passing of a small laser fiber underneath the skin through a small puncture hole which liquifies fat that can then be removed with suction. Some physicians perform this procedure under general anesthesia, but it is performed quite easily and with minimal discomfort using local anesthesia. How it differs from traditional liposuction is that that procedure is performed by raking a rasp underneath the skin to loosen fat which can then be suctioned out. This type of procedure has a greater chance of leaving uneven areas, or dents and lumps. With laser-assisted liposuction, the physician can smooth the fat evenly, plus the heat of the laser triggers collagen formation which can help provide a skin tightening effect over the next few months.

While there can be a noticeable difference in the reduction of fat immediately after the procedure, especially if the melted fat was removed by suction, the best results are seen in three to six months following the procedure.

Most awake tumescent liposuction procedures are performed with a saline solution that contains lidocaine for pain and epinephrine to control bleeding. The liquid that is put under your skin needs to drain out of the holes where the laser was inserted to melt your fat. It's actually good for this liquid to drain because it helps keep the wounds cleansed as they begin to heal. Typically this drainage lasts 2-3 days on average. It is pink in color because it is clear liquid mixed with a little blood. Think about a glass of water and if you place just one tiny drop of food coloring in it, it turns reddish. While some of the saline is absorbed by your body naturally, the majority of it will drain through the puncture holes.

Thank you for your question. This confuses a lot of people. You cannot compare these two devices for fat reduction. SmartLipo is a minimally-invasive procedure where a tiny laser fiber is inserted under your skin through a small puncture hole after a local anesthetic has been applied under your skin. The laser fiber "melts" the fat destroying the fat cells. That liquified fat is then removed either by gentle suction (if there is a significant amount), or by your body's own natural elimination process through the lymphatic system (if it is a small amount). It's up to the physician performing the procedure.

Zerona is a non-invasive, low level light source that is hovered above the area intended to be treated. It can cause the fat cells to leak some of their contents, but does not destroy the fat cell itself. In order to then remove the fat from your body, you must stay well hydrated, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. Because the fat cells are still alive, they can fill up again.