Would Smart Lipo or Lipo-Ex best suit my needs?

Anyone can waive a wand over you and say it may work.  That is what many of these non-invasive treatments such as radio frequency are.  Simply, they do not work.  If you want the fat removed, then you are going to have to have it physically removed with some type of invasive liposuction such as Smartlipo or Tumescent Liposuction.  Good luck. 

SmartLipo is laser assisted Liposuction. Its probably better to research
who is doing your procedure. Smart doctors have learned how to use
technology to get the desired result. Your doctor should inform you which technology works best for your problem. Non-surgical options has a role in some problem, but make sure to consult a plastic surgeon that offers many options - surgical and non-surgical. If all they have is a hammer, everything will look like a nail.
Liposuction using Smartlipo permanently destroys & removes the
treated fat cells. Adults do not
create new fat cells. One of my patients recently had SmartLipo
but had poor results and was burned! She said "I didn't know that my
cosmetic surgeon was not a Plastic Surgeon" We had to fix her abdomen
and other areas damaged by the laser. Cost should not be the only
criteria for selecting your Plastic Surgeon. Experience and training
matters a lot. Non Plastic surgeons (cosmetic surgeons) tend to charge
less than Plastic Surgeon. Below are other criteria to use when
selecting a Plastic surgeon.Questions to ask (Answering NO is a big red flag)1) Are you a plastic surgeon? (Do you know difference between cosmetic surgeon & plastic surgeon)2) Are you board certified in Plastic Surgery?3) Will the procedure be performed at a fully accredited procedure room or ambulatory surgery center4) Do you have hospital privilege to perform liposuction or SmartLipo? 5) Do you offer complication insurance (it does happen, it better to be safe)The
most important decision is to do your homework well. Any doctor can
offer SmartLipo. Its your duty to know who is doing your procedure. Its better to choose a Smart Doctor. Good
luck.

To begin with surgical liposuction and some of the new nonsurgical devices that can destroy or lyse fat cells such as cool sculpting, Liposonix and what sounds like lipo Ex using radio frequency waves like TruSculpt does should be reserved for targeting areas of disproportion to create a better balanced body. They all really have nothing to do with weight loss or muscle tone and exercise. These are the patients responsibility. When you are comparing a surgical procedure such as Smart Lipo to a non surgical procedure such as Lipo Ex there really is no comparison. The surgical procedure if well done can give you dramatic results. The nonsurgical procedure should be reserved for patients who simply do not want to undergo surgery, are good candidates looking for mild improvements. This is the way I represent it in my practice when a patient is looking to decide between surgery or not.

Smart liposuction uses laser to breakdown fat cells in order to facilitate the liposuction process. Smart liposuction in los angeles is gaining popularity but many patients are unaware of its risks and potential complications. In my professional opinion as a plastic surgeon who specializes in liposuction, tumescent liposuction is more effective in terms of liposuction resutls and carries far less risks.

Areas around the thighs can be a difficult area; with SmartLipo you can be assured that fat will be removed permanently. While there are several "non-invasive" treatments to reduce fat, we found that CoolSculpting gives the best consistent results on both inner and outer thighs. However, it is important that in your assessment they make sure the different handpieces for CoolScultping fit your body type well.

Treating excess fat around the thighs is always one of the more difficult problems we see in our clinical practices. Smart Lipo and laser-assisted liposuction truly works here — and in skilled hands can give very nice results. In 2014, we do have several other technologies you might want to consider that are also non-invasive and have shown pretty good success in these areas. First is CoolSculpting – and some new applicator tips allow treatment of the thighs. Then there is UltraShape, new to the U.S. market, not new in fat reduction, also which can be used and has been used to remove fat in these areas. I would suggest getting into an office which has many devices and can go through the pros and cons of each procedure.

 Consider traditional liposuction. Also any liposuction result is based on your starting skin quality. If you have lost a lot of weight, or have been in the sun a lot, your skin quality may not be as good as you think.. You should visit with a reputable board certified plastic surgeon. Don't pay for a marketing mirage. You should visit with a reputable board certified plastic surgeon. Don't pay for a marketing mirage. If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

Thank you for the question.

Based on the description, you may be a good candidate for liposuction surgery. As you have mentioned,  if the procedure  recommended sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Please make sure you are consulting with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.

Best wishes.

Any procedure that does not physically remove fat will have very subtle results. If you're goal is to have a more dramatic change then SmartLipo (or any traditional form of liposuction) where fat cells are actually removed is the way to go. While a totally non-invasive technique sounds great, the old adage, "you get what you pay for" holds true. You simply cannot get dramatic results by "melting" fat with sound waves. These methods are more suited for people who either have very small problem areas and want only minimal change or for those that are not good surgical candidates, for whatever reason. In my experience, most people who opt for the non-invasive option are usually not satisfied and end up going with the more invasive option thereby spending more money and investing more "downtime" in their treatment. Good luck!

Significant results from Smartlipo / Liposuction are more evident compared to size reduction from non surgical methods. If you are looking for a major difference in the appearance of your thighs, this can only be accomplished by a surgical procedure that removes fat. If you gain weight, there are no procedures - non surgical or otherwise that will prevent you from increasing in size. Healthy eating habits and exercise are the solution to maintaining your post procedure appearance.Thanks,Dr. B