Are you struggling with body fat in a certain area like your abdomen, buttocks, hips, or thighs, no matter how much time you spend doing crunches or squats? Do you eat a healthy diet but haven’t seen improvement in your trouble spots? If so, maybe it’s time to consider liposuction.
Here at our office in the Upper East Side of New York City, double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Theodore Diktaban and our highly skilled staff provide a variety of plastic surgery procedures. From breast augmentation to rhinoplasty to liposuction, we offer the perfect combination of realistic, aesthetic, and safe treatments to enhance your appearance.
Curious how liposuction can help you achieve your body goals? Read on to learn about the process and understand the difference between traditional liposuction and SmartLipo.
Liposuction basics
The second most popular cosmetic procedure in 2018, liposuction helps you look your best by removing fat cells from certain problem areas like the abdomen, upper arms, buttocks, hips and thighs, and more. This is not a traditional weight-loss program, but it works well for targeting specific trouble spots.
Weight gain occurs when your existing fat cells increase in size. Liposuction removes some of those cells, reducing your overall fat cell count and leaving the treated area with a leaner, more contoured look.
Good candidates for liposuction are typically healthy individuals without serious health problems or a weak immune system.
Modern liposuction was developed in 1974 by a father-son team of gynecologists in Italy. The procedure has continued to evolve and improve over the decades, with input from doctors all over the world. Two popular types of liposuction today are traditional liposuction and SmartLipo.
Traditional liposuction
Traditional liposuction typically involves general anesthesia, so you won’t feel anything. Once you are under, Dr. Diktaban makes incisions in the targeted area and then inserts a thin tube. Fat is loosened and then extracted through the tube. Recovery time can last from days to weeks, and a compression garment will likely need to be worn for up to six weeks.
SmartLipo
Also known as laser-assisted lipolysis, SmartLipo can be done under local anesthesia. After Dr. Diktaban makes a small incision, he’ll insert a very thin tube with a laser fiber into the targeted area. Thermal energy from the laser melts the fat, which is then removed by gentle suction. Coagulation tightens the tissue, providing a smoother shape.
Bruising is minimal, and typical recovery lasts one to two days. A compression garment will also need to be worn for a few weeks.
These tips should give you a better understanding of the difference between traditional liposuction and SmartLipo. So if you’re tired of sweating at the gym with little results or hiding under baggy clothes, call or click to book an appointment with Dr. Diktaban today and find out which procedure is best for you.
Dr. Theodore Diktaban, MD FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon with 35+ years of experience, specializes in safe and subtle cosmetic treatments, enhancing natural beauty and boosting self-confidence in the Upper East Side and New York City.
