Should I consider having Smart Lipo or some other type lipo treatment?

Question

I am considering having Smart Lipo due to paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after receiving one cool sculpting treatment. I noticed that the treatment area had enlarged about 4 months after the procedure. It has been a year now and the area under my chin is still somewhat firm. My current concerns are a doctor's lack of experience liposuctioning the fibrous mass, laser burns due to softening mass because of firmness and keloids.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

paradoxical hyperplasia needs ultrasound fat removal (VASER) plus internal heating to improve.
You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear alexistwin,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, liposuction results depend on the surgeon's experience. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD

Shamim Shakibai, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. First I would like to say that SmartLipo is a fine modality. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the procedure. In fact, it represents a significant improvement over traditional or tumescent liposuction. SmartLipo applies heat to the fat tissue prior to aspiration. This process liquifies the fat and makes it easier to remove. In my own personal opinion, VASER Liposculpture is the best. Unlike SmartLipo, VASER uses sound vibration to loosen fat globules prior to aspiration. There is no risk of accidentally burning the patient with sound vibration as there is with SmartLipo.

Jason Pozner, MD · Answer

I have operated upon a bunch of patients with PAH. The fat/scar/mass is very fibrous and does not respond well to regular liposuction. I have many technologies in the office and my preference for PAH is Vaser. I have only seen one PAH of the neck and she did very well with Vaser under local anesthesia.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Its very important to understand that there are two compartments in fat in the neck, above the platysma muscle and below the platysma muscle. Many patients have significant deposits below the platysma muscle. Liposuction can only accomplish removal of fatty deposits above the platysma muscle, while  surgery is required to remove the fatty deposits below the platysma muscle which also requires a platysma-plasty. In some cases we have seen deposits and below the muscle over 1 inch thick in patients  who are at their ideal height and weight/proportionate. The reason for this is genetics.

Should I consider having Smart Lipo or some other type lipo treatment?

Answers (8)

Answer: Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)

Answer: Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)

Answer: Should I consider some type of liposuction for neck fat

Answer: Should I consider some type of liposuction for neck fat

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Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

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Should I consider having Smart Lipo or some other type lipo treatment?

Answers (8)

Answer: Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)

Answer: Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)

Answer: Should I consider some type of liposuction for neck fat

Answer: Should I consider some type of liposuction for neck fat

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Smart Lipo

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.