Liposuction or Smart lipo?

Since the increase in popularity of smart lipo many people are unsure as to whether they should have liposuction cosmetic surgery or smartlipo which is a less invasive fat removal procedure. In this article we aim to provide you with some useful information on both procedures which should help you with your decision.

What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is one of the most well known plastic surgery procedures. It is a fat removal cosmetic surgery operation which can be performed to remove fat from many different sites of the body including the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttock, arms and neck. Most often liposuction surgery is performed to remove excess fat from the abdomen and flanks in men and from the abdomen and thighs in women.

There are a number of different techniques for performing liposuction which include ultrasound assisted liposuction and tumescent liposuction. Your cosmetic surgeon should advise you on the various types of techniques available and recommend the most suitable one for you depending on your specific case. In general however liposuction surgery consists of making a small incision near the target area through which a narrow tube (cannula) is then inserted. Suction is then applied through the cannula to aspirate excess fat beneath the skin. The incision sites are carefully chosen to ensure that scarring is as inconspicuous as possible.

Liposuction can be performed under both local anesthesia and general anesthesia. In general the type of anesthetic chosen will depend on the extent of the liposuction surgery and the regions targeted. Smaller liposuction procedures can often be performed under local anesthetic but you should discuss the various anesthetic options which are suitable for you in depth with your cosmetic surgeon.

What is Smart lipo?
Smartlipo is a more recent and less invasive fat removal procedure than liposuction. The smart lipo procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and involves inserting a small cannula near the target body region through which a laser is then applied to break down excessive adipose tissue (fat cells) which are then naturally removed by the body’s natural waste removal system. Due to the usage of a refined laser the smart lipo procedure is also sometimes known as smartlipo laserlipolysis. Smartlipo can be performed on a variety of different body areas including the abdomen, thighs, hips, flanks, behind the knees, arms, neck, chin and face.

The Hurlingham Clinic situated in London is one of UK’s leading cosmetic surgery providers and specialises in both smartlipo and liposuction. For more information on liposuction or smart lipo treatment The Hurlingham Clinic can be contacted on 020 7348 6380