Seems like Smart Lipo is not being used for belly as much, have there been a lot of issues?

Question

I've called a couple Drs who had before and after photos of Smart Lipo on their site for upper and lower abs but now say they only use it for the jowls I found a place that is still doing the belly, but now I'm a little concerned. I'm 53, BMI of 28. Want to get Smart Lipo for upper and lower abs and back/bra area because it's less invasive then lipo/tummy tuck. Is there any issue with Smart Lipo on the belly?

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

Many people get confused about smart lipo versus standard lipo. They think that one is less invasive than the other. In reality, they are equally minimally invasive. Both can be done under local anesthesia or sedation. Both have minimal bruising. Both have a fast recovery. However, they both will produce suboptimal results if you need a tummy tuck whether you want one or not. It has nothing to do with BMI. It has everything to due with skin quality and skin laxity and that requires a consultation to see if it will work for you - virtual or live.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Ifeelpretty10,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Chaitali Nangrani, MD · Answer

We see a great deal of patients for SmartLipo. This treatment is effective and results immediate. Definitely go for a consultation to a Doctor that does the treatment regularly, I think that it is an art and the more you do it, the more precise the results.

Gregory Chambon, MD · Answer

Smart Lipo is still a good option for reduction of abdominal fat. However, some patients need a tummy tuck to address a separated or lax abdominal wall, or has mainly visceral fat which no form of liposuction can address. I still do Smart Lipo of the abdomen with good results with the proper candidate.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction is Liposuction. there is inherently minimal difference between various modalities of liposuction and all of them still do pretty much the same thing. This means that the level of invasive Ness, results and recovery are not at all influenced 20 significant amount based on what equipment is used. Providers use theoretical conceptual differences and blow these out of proportion for selfish purposes creating self promotion and by doing so creating confusion in the marketplace.
And the end all forms of liposuction always have been and still are a tiny stainless steel tube connected to a source of vacuum.
The recovery were invasive in as of the procedure is dependent only on how much fat is removed.
Smart liposuction simply means pre-treating the fat with a laser cannula. The Liposuction is still traditional Liposuction. Ultrasound assisted Liposuction a.k.a. VASER is also traditional liposuction with a pre-treatment using an ultrasound probe.
Power assisted as powerful as it may sounds is traditional liposuction with the tube vibrating. 
In the end there are only two variables that determine the quality of liposuction results.
The first is the patient’s candidacy for the procedure and the second is the skill and experience of the surgeon.
Not everybody is a good candidate for quality liposuction results and this must be understood and differentiated through in person consultations. someone who’s not a good candidate is never going to have good results no matter who does the procedure or what equipment is used.
Likewise a plastic surgeon or doctor of any type doing Liposuction who lacks skill and experience is simply not capable of delivering quality results consistently regardless of the candidacy of the patient or equipment used.
I suggest anybody interested in Liposuction focus all their efforts on the two variables that influence the outcome of the procedure.
I suppose there is a third variable and that is the type of anesthesia but that is in many ways unrelated to the treatment itself or the recovery.
Defined the most talented and experienced surgeon I suggest having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons who seem to be doing quality liposuction work.
During the consultation ask each provider to show their entire collection of before and after pictures for the body area you’re interested in having treated.
Simply seeing a handful of pre-selected pictures which most likely represent the best results of that provider‘s career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of that provider. an experience provider should have no difficulty showing you 50 sets of before and after pictures at a minimum. if someone claims to have done a lot of liposuction then they should be able to display a lot of before and after pictures. any excuses for showing you anything but the handful of pre-selected pictures should immediately prompt a major? And letting the surgeon know that this is a dealbreaker and you will be seeking consultations from other providers. ask especially to have them show you as many before and after pictures as they can find of patients with similar body characteristics to your own.
Until you have a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of this provider you do not know their level of competence nor what their true experience is.
Forget the equipment they use other than be careful with anybody who recently purchased new equipment.
All new devices have a learning curve and being part of the learning curve should not be your goal.
Instead the goal of every patient should be to have the procedure done by a provider who has reached the top of their learning curve already and is now delivering consistent quality results. 
The second variable I found the differentiates the best providers is their reputation. I suggest reading all reviews on various physician review websites specifically avoiding providers for any significant number of justified negative reviews. The absence of justified negative reviews is why important and more telling than having an abundance of positive reviews.
Continue having consultations until you feel quite certain you found the most talented and experience provider in your community. this may take time and effort. I think a minimum number of consultations would be five. 
Delivering consistent quality liposuction results is far more difficult than people including plastic surgeons believe.
All of them will tell you they have experience and are good at the procedure.
 In my opinion the results for average work speaks volumes to the contrary.
Liposuction results are permanent an irreversible.
The number of providers who can consistently deliver quality results is actually quite a few. Most of them tend to be passionate about Liposuction and in one form or another specialize in that treatment.
Top-notch plastic surgeons will tell you that they can deliver the same results with any equipment that they may have preferences for the equipment that they use, are used to or other minor variables. personally I like power assisted Liposuction because it makes my arm less tired.
I’ve done thousands of laser assisted Liposuction cases i.e. smart Lipo and I found that it has nothing to the outcome. most plastic surgeons have come to this conclusion and very few plastic surgeons are investing in laser assisted liposuction equipment. you can now buy smart Lipo laser machines on eBay for pennies on the dollar because nobody thinks that they do much.
There are still does advocate but in my opinion they are for the most part simply trying to recoup the cost of buying expensive equipment.
Personally I do all liposuction with patients awake using local anesthesia with mild sedation. The primary reason for avoiding general anesthesia is the ability for my patients to hold different positions throughout the procedure which greatly enhances my ability to contour the body.
It also improved safety profiles, saves cost, classes less bleeding, less bruising and someone faster recovery though these last points are not that significant.
It also improved safety profiles, saves cost, classes less bleeding, less bruising and someone faster recovery though these last points are not that significant. A tummy tuck is a drastically different procedure than Liposuction.
There is very little difference between different liposuction of modalities.
For the consumer there is almost no neutral source of information to get educated on cosmetic surgery. all sources of information are biased towards someone trying to sell you something.
For that reason it’s a mistake to try to learn about what technique is the best.
Find the right plastic surgeon and everything falls into place. It’s always been that way and it always will be.
Don’t go chasing after the newest and greatest or technological breakthroughs
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Randy Dean, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum! 
SMART LIPO was introduced in 2006 and had the advantage of partially liquifying the fat with laser energy prior to its removal, resulting in less trauma and thus less pain and bruising for the patient in the postoperative period. Since that time, other laser and ultrasound assisted liposuction instruments have been developed. In addition to removing fat, the Vaser liposuction may have a subtle skin tightening effect to the treated areas. 
Although many instruments are now on the market, many surgeons still use the SMART lipo equipment with excellent results.
In general, the expertise of the surgeon by far outweighs the importance of the brand of instrument utilized in liposuction procedures. 
Best wishes...

Seems like Smart Lipo is not being used for belly as much, have there been a lot of issues?

Answers (6)

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