Smart Lipo Vs. Tickle Lipo Vs. Traditional Lipo

Question

Hello, I am an RN who has extra flank "tissue." I would like to do a treatment using local anesthesia and am very interested in 'Tickle Lipo'. There is a physician near me that performs it and he seems great, but I just haven't heard a lot about that machine specifically. What can you advise between the benefits/downsides of Smart Lipo versus Tickle Lipo? Or should I go traditional? I am 34 and haven't had babies yet, so scar tissue is an issue. Thanks!!!

Reza Rod, MD · Answer

In my opinion, Tickle Lipo is the best procedure for liposuction.  Smart lipo is a fine procedure that can give great results but it's no longer the latest and greatest.  Smart lipo is led by a marketing machine and people are likely to be familiar with the procedure because it's so well known.  Yet the the cutting-edge technology of Tickle Lipo is a superior procedure, it just doesn't get the same press.  Tickle Lipo is unique in that it generates a 3-dimensional vibration that breaks up fat. After the fat has been emulsified, it can then be removed with smaller, safer cannulas. Some patients have commented that they are tickled during the procedure due to the vibratory motion; thus, the name “Tickle Lipo.”.This advanced technology utilizes the effective power of vibration and rotation in such a gentle manner that anyone can now enjoy the benefits of Tickle Liposuction.
Tickle Lipo offers the following benefits:
Latest FDA-approved technology.No general anesthesia.Removes fat more effectively and more evenly.Stay Cool Cannula– no risk of burning tissue.Less bruising, little to no downtime.In office (walk-in/walk-out) procedure.3-Dimensional vibration that gently breaks up and removes fat.The vibration stimulates collagen to help with skin tightening.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I would pick the surgeon over the method.  I think that the difference in results surgeon to surgeon are pretty obvious.  Some are more conservative and some are not.Find a plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year, has great reviews, and has great before and after pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Timothy Zelko, DO · Answer

Since you are only doing your flanks, this is a relatively small area and degree of trauma you experience will be small as compared to say doing your whole abdomen plus flanks and back.
With that said, to compare each, the Smartlipo procedure is the most well known and by that fact alone patients are attracted to that. Smartlipo, like all laser procedures is a 3 step process. If performed awake one must numb your first with a cannula that is pushed under the skin. Somewhat uncomfortable to occasional outright painful. Second laser of the tissue. A laser  is excessively hot, vaporizing the tissue it touches and burning adjacent tissue. Finally, suction is done, typically with a sharp cannala, essentially a traditional liposuction to finish the procedure. Therefore you are literally burned then cut to extract your fat. The tissue damage is significant and the healing is prolonged, up to 3-6 months to see end results.  
Tickle is a much more comfortable numbing process. The rotating and vibrating cannula gently follows a path of least resistance in the tissue. Typically my patients feel only the vibration, some wetness from some of the fluid leaking out and an occasional pinch as the tissue swell with the numbing fluid. Once we numb you, we then change to a suction cannula that is  smooth, non-cutting and runs cool. The rotation and vibration essentially liquify your fat and it is suctioned out. Overall, a very comfortable total process that is thorough and has minimal adjacent tissue damage. So your healing time is minimal with end results being seen in only 3-4 WEEKS, not months as is true with laser. 
Traditional lipo,to me, is just cutting and sucking. Usually performed with general anesthesia. I found it less accurate when it came to sculpting the tissue. More tissue damage, more downtime and longer to end results. 
Your scar tissue concern can be answered by the fact that the procedures that cause the most tissue damage will cause the most scarring, fairly self-explanatory.
I take exception to those surgeons that tell you it doesn't matter the tool, it is only matter the expertise of the surgeon. My response to that is if you have two exceptional artists and you give one a paint roller and the other a fine 1/4 inch tapered paintbrush, who do you think will paint a better Mona Lisa?

Jan Zemplenyi, MD · Answer

With the exception of special circumstances such as revision liposuction, very fibrous areas and excess skin laxity, the type of liposuction device is much less important than finding an experienced surgeon who uses a proper, meticulous technique with his or her device, and who cares about the welfare of his patients. Tickle-lipo is a type of power-assisted liposuction and will provide very nice results as will the other technique you mentioned. I presume that by the term "traditional liposuction" you really mean "tumescent liposuction".

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Find a good surgeon who can perform liposuction it should not matter what technique or machine is used to accomplish your results.

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