SmartLipo Fat Removal: Is it Worth the Costs and Risks?

SmartLipo laser liposuction is a fairly new procedure that was FDA approved in 2006. Since its approval, SmartLipo has been became a cosmetic procedure popping up all over the United States and world. However, is SmartLipo fat removal worth the high costs and risks for cosmetic beauty?

The women in Janet Henderson's family have always struggled with stubborn fat pouches in the abdomen area after having kids. Henderson said, "It's embarrassing when I would take my children to a beach or have someone come up and ask when I was due. I wouldn't even be pregnant and people thought I was. I never really had an issue with fat or dieting until I started having children. That's when I decided to look into options such as SmartLipo, liposuction, or other options. My self confidence was shot."

Janet Henderson opted to have SmartLipo following two years after the birth of her third child. With other options to remove fat, why did Janet choose SmartLipo as opposed to other techniques such as: Liposuction? Henderson claims, "I spoke to several doctors in regards to removing the excess fat from my abdomen. At first I planned on getting Liposuction because I was quoted roughly $2500 for the procedure and felt it was a fair price; however, when I heard that I might be down for two weeks then the procedure didn't seem appealing. I had three kids and work to think about and I couldn't just take two weeks off to recover. I was also told that my skin could sag a little for liposuction. I didn't want that. Then I heard about SmartLipo in a magazine advertisement and decided to research more about it."

According to Wikipedia.com SmartLipo is Laser assisted liposuction may also refer to a laser technology, known in the United States as SmartLipo, which employs a cannula tipped with a diode laser emitter. A small cannula threaded and tipped with a laser fiber is inserted through a small incision. It delivers energy directly to subcutaneous fat cells-causing them to rupture. The emitted fat melting energy also coagulates surrounding tissue, thus inducing collagen retraction and tissue tightening. The surgeon monitors cannula placement by following a visible red light that shines through the skin and tissue. This is from a "guide" optical fiber in the cannula (surgical wand). Typically, when SmartLipo is used, fat is not removed by a suction device, but rather, dissipates through the body's natural processes. Laser assisted liposuction of either type is considered to be minimally invasive when compared to traditional liposuction techniques.

After researching what SmartLipo offered and speaking to a few cosmetic doctors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she found that it was a better option even though the costs were quoted high. Janet scheduled a consultation with cosmetic surgeon that performed SmartLipo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The whole consolation lasted about an hour. "I was quoted about $5400 which was over double of the traditional liposuction procedure but the benefits of SmartLipo were what convinced me to have it done instead. My cosmetic doctor said that I would have no scars, I could resume my normal life right after the procedure, and that SmartLipo actually encouraged tissue tightening." Janet was shown before and after photographs at the consultation, was explained how the procedure would be performed, possible risks, and all other options that were available. What were the risks to SmartLipo? According to Henderson, "I was told that I may experience dimpling, lumpiness, numbness, scarring, discoloration, or sagging skin in my abdomen area but if I followed the after treatment orders then I should be fine. Infection could occur like any other medical procedure but as long as I kept an eye on things then I should be fine"

After agreeing that SmartLipo was what Janet Henderson felt that was in her best interests she was scheduled to meet with the cosmetic doctor shortly after the initial consultation. The second consultation would ensure that she would be a candidate for the procedure and was told that she was not to eat anything after midnight the night before surgery. Janet was also told to remove the nail polish, not wear any jewelry, and if she was to wear her hair up to use an elastic band with no metal parts. She was set up on a payment plan to cover the costs of the SmartLipo procedure and pictures were taken of her abdomen. "I was told that I would only need one SmartLipo procedure done. I was also told it would take around an hour or so for the procedure to be completed," claims Janet.

Janet Henderson was awake for the whole SmartLipo procedure. "It kind of reminded me of when my sister had a caesarean section for her son. I was numb and couldn't feel a thing during the procedure. I couldn't see anything because there was a blue sheet that was draped over my breasts from the ceiling. After a half and hour or so, two nurses lifting me up to a standing position so that the cosmetic doctor could see if my abdomen looked even. I was then laid back down for another fifteen or twenty minutes and stood up again in which the doctor said that he was done with the SmartLipo procedure," claims Henderson.

Janet was stood up again and shown the results in a mirror before being taken to the recovery room. "I could not believe how instant the results were! I had a tight flat stomach. There was some redness and swelling from the SmartLipo and only a few dots from the incisions. It was great." Shortly after spending a brief time in the recovery, Janet was allowed to go home.

"I was told it would take about 3 months to fully be healed. I don't know if this is true or not because I was only a little sore in my abdomen area for a few weeks. It felt like I did some heavy sits ups or something but I was prescribed a mild pain killer that helped. I also had to wear a wrap around thing around my stomach for a couple of weeks. It wasn't bad at all. In fact I only took one day off from work," stated Henderson. Janet Henderson resumed her normal life only being cautious for a few weeks with lifting heavy objects.

It's been a few months since Janet Henderson had SmartLipo and she is thrilled. Her confidence has improved since she now has a flat stomach that she has envied for years. Would Janet Henderson recommend SmartLipo for people? "I certainly would recommend it. I had no problems from the procedure what so ever. I have no regrets. The payments were affordable despised the high costs but the short recovery time, no scars, and best of all no stomach pouch have made SmartLipo all worth it compared to other options such as liposuction," claimed Janet.