Smart Lipo is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that is performed by a trained physician in an office or clinic setting. General anesthesia is not required; however, local anesthesia will be administered before the treatment for patient comfort during the procedure. Prior to beginning the procedure, the physician will mark the areas to be treated, based on the treatment areas determined by the doctor and patient during the pre-procedure consultation.

Once the areas to be treated have been cleansed and marked, and the local anesthetic has taken effect, the physician will insert a very thin cannula (tube) through the skin and into the fat deposit. The cannula is generally between 1.0mm and 2.0mm in diameter and has a laser fiber, which delivers low-level laser energy to liquefy the fat by rupturing fat cells. The cannula is moved back and forth by the physician in the target area until the desired level of fat melting is achieved. The liquefied fat is then removed from the body through the body’s elimination system, or suctioned out during the procedure.

The use of such a small cannula and laser fiber results in minimal damage to surrounding tissue. At the same time, the laser energy causes nearby blood vessels to coagulate on contact, which is why Smart Lipo results in significantly less bleeding than conventional liposuction procedures. The heat from the laser also encourages collagen production and skin tightening in the immediate area, resulting in a smoother, more toned appearance of the skin, as well as improved body contours.

The entire procedure generally takes less than an hour per treatment area and more than one area can be treated in the same session. Patients can expect minimal scarring and a speedy recovery. Patients can return home immediately after the procedure and should experience little to no discomfort after receiving a Smart Lipo treatment.