Serving San Diego, Oceanside, Carlsbad, & Nearby Areas of Southern California
Hundreds of thousands of men and women in the United States undergo liposuction every year, and lipo techniques are continually improving. You have several options when it comes to this plastic surgery. Tumescent liposuction is the traditional method, but SmartLipo is growing more and more popular, particularly because it provides an added benefit of tightening the skin. Our San Diego board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Tirgari has performed countless liposuction procedures and can help you determine which lipo method is right for you and your aesthetic goals.
Smart Lipo and tumescent liposuction differ in three main ways:
1. The SmartLipo and Tumescent Liposuction Procedures
Both types of lipo involve using a small cannula to suction out unwanted fat cells and improve your body contour, and both methods involve numbing the area with an anesthetic. Tumescent liposuction involves injecting a mixture of diluted lidocaine and epinephrine which bind to your fat cells causing them to swell and firm up, making them easier to isolate and remove through physical manipulation. The cannula used for SmartLipo has a tiny laser fiber inside which heats your skin tissue and fat cells, causing the fat to liquefy. That softening of the fat cells makes them easier to remove and also leaves you with significantly less bruising.
2. Skin Tightening for Loose Skin
Liposuction is the removal of fat cells from stubborn areas of the body including the abdomen, “love handles,” thighs, and upper arms. When we remove fat from those areas, some of our San Diego liposuction patients are left with loose skin. The benefit of SmartLipo over tumescent liposuction is that the laser heat used to melt the fat cells also produces a skin tightening effect. The traditional liposuction method has a small possibility of skin dimpling or lax skin following the procedure, especially in older patients or women who have gone through pregnancy.
3. The Liposuction Recovery Process
The recovery process for traditional tumescent liposuction is much longer than that of SmartLipo. You will need to wear a compression garment for up to six weeks to help with swelling and bruising as well as refrain from certain exercises to ensure you recover properly. Our plastic surgeon often recommends liposuction patients take two weeks off of work. In contrast, the laser heat utilized in SmartLipo leaves you with less bruising and eases the healing process, meaning you could reach recovery much faster (Sometimes, in as little as a few days) and will only need compression garments for one week.
Additional benefits of Smart Lipo include no need for general anesthesia, shorter incisions, and less risk of infection. Both forms of liposuction are effective. The right lipo procedure for you depends on several factors. Dr. Tirgari can help you identify the right plastic surgery for you during your initial consultation.
Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation in San Diego or Carlsbad
If you’re interested in SmartLipo or tumescent liposuction, please contact Avalon Lipo and Aesthetics in San Diego or Carlsbad today at (619) 436-5224 to schedule your lipo consultation. Our board-certified plastic surgeon serves patients in surrounding areas of Southern California including Oceanside.
