Is getting in shape at the top of your New Year’s resolution list? You’re not alone. Every year, millions of people pledge to lose excess pounds, slim down and just feel better about the way their bodies look. Of course, not everyone who makes those resolutions keeps them, but often, it’s not for lack of trying. Losing weight is hard, especially when your life is already packed with obligations and responsibilities. And that’s one reason why so many men and women turn to fat removal procedures like liposuction and laser lipolysis to help them get rid of fat, feel better about the way they look and enjoy better health too.
At Lansdowne Aesthetic Center, we use the state-of-the-art Sciton ProLipo laser-assisted liposuction system to help patients eliminate excess fat while toning and tightening the overlying skin, helping women and men enjoy slimmer bodies and sleeker contours. The ProLipo laser system is an FDA-cleared, minimally invasive system specifically designed to melt away and remove unwanted excess fat using the focused intensity of laser energy. Here’s how it works.
Liposuction has been used for decades to literally “suck away” fatty tissue in the belly, flanks, back, thighs and other areas of the body. During a traditional liposuction procedure, an incision is made near the treatment area and a long, blunt-tipped hollow tube called a cannula is inserted. The cannula is used to break apart fat tissue so it can be suctioned out through the end of the cannula.
While liposuction can certainly be very effective in getting rid of unwanted fat, there are a couple of big downsides to the procedure. First, the surgeon must use the blunt end of the cannula to break apart fat, and that means a lot of surrounding tissue can be bruised and “traumatized.” As a result, there tends to be a lot of bleeding with liposuction, as well as a lot of bruising, swelling and discomfort afterward. Plus, once the fat is removed, many patients are left with loose skin that doesn’t “re-attach” to its new slimmer contours. So while the fat may be gone from the treatment area, the patient is left with a lot of loose, saggy skin.
Laser-assisted liposuction (also called laser lipolysis) uses the same basic premise as liposuction — using suction to remove excess fat that’s been broken down — but with an added twist. Instead of relying solely on a blunt-tipped cannula to break up fatty tissue, the Sciton ProLipo uses ultra-focused laser energy to target fat and melt it. As a result, patients don’t have the tissue trauma associated with liposuction, plus the heat of the laser helps seal blood vessels around the treatment area so there’s far less bleeding during the procedure and less swelling, bruising and discomfort afterward. The melting “technique” can also help Dr. Baraki achieve smoother results compared to traditional liposuction.
That’s all great, but those aren’t the only benefits of the Sciton ProLipo system. The controlled heat of the laser also helps shrink the tissues overlying the treatment area, so skin adheres to your new contours much more readily. Plus, the laser energy promotes collagen development, so you’ll continue to see remodeling benefits for weeks after your procedure. Collagen also helps the skin in the treatment area feel firmer and appear smoother.
Because they are minimally invasive, treatments with the Sciton ProLipo laser system use very small incisions, and there’s no need for general anesthesia, although you can have a sedative to keep you relaxed. During your procedure, Dr. Baraki will make a couple of very small incisions near the treatment area. The entire area is numbed using a special solution. Then, he inserts the Sciton laser device and fires controlled bursts of laser energy to melt the fat in the target area.
Once the fat is liquefied, it will be suctioned away using the cannula tip. Most procedures take about two hours, but the length of your procedure can vary depending on the area that’s being treated and other factors. You might also decide to have more than one area treated during one surgical session.
Are you ready to begin a new year with a slimmer, sleeker body? The Sciton ProLipo system could be just what you’re looking for. To learn more about Sciton ProLipo treatments at Lansdowne Aesthetic Center, book an appointment online today.
