Traditional Lipo vs. Smart Lipo – What’s the Difference?

Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the United States. Nearly 240,000 liposuction surgeries were performed in 2017. Liposuction or lipoplasty is so commonplace because it allows people to obtain the body shape they desire, and gets rid of localized fat cells that are difficult to banish by exercising and living a healthy lifestyle.

Liposuction has come a long way from its humble beginnings

In 1974 surgeons in Italy and France first started using suction to remove fat. Liposuction experienced its first big advancement in 1985 when Dr. Jeffrey Klein, a dermatologist in California, determined that a smaller cannula (a tube for removing or inserting fluids into the body) could be used for the procedures. Then in 2006, a new addition was made to the liposuction family in the form of laser light known as Smart Lipo.

What’s the difference between traditional liposuction and Smart Lipo?

Traditional liposuction and Smart Lipo are great at doing their job—removing excess fat—but both do it in different ways. Traditional liposuction involves physical manipulation of the area before the cannula removes fat that is located underneath the skin. This procedure takes slightly longer to heal and does nothing to tighten loose skin. In fact, liposuction alone can leave some dimpling and sagging after the procedure because it cannot change the elasticity of your skin; this is more common in older patients. The healing time following traditional liposuction may interfere with your daily activities for about a week.

On the other hand, Smart Lipo uses laser heat to liquefy the fat before the cannula removes it. Also, Smart Lipo can be done on nearly any area of the body because of this laser technology. A Smart Lipo procedure can help restore skin elasticity, which makes it a great option even for patients that not only need fat removal, but also wish to have tighter skin. Finally, Smart Lipo comes with a quicker recovery. You can expect to return to your daily routine within about 3-5 days.

If Smart Lipo has so many advantages, why would you still choose traditional liposuction?

If a person with a higher rate of skin elasticity does not want to have the added expense that comes with choosing Smart Lipo, there is no reason that traditional liposuction wouldn’t work. However, the beauty goals of each patient vary, which is why scheduling a consultation with Dr. Preminger is the first step in determining which fat-reducing procedure is right for you.

Laser Liposuction in Manhattan

If you are tired of working hard, yet not seeing the results that you want, consider meeting with Dr. Preminger to discuss your options for fat removal. Preminger Plastic Surgery is proud to offer both traditional liposuction and Smart Lipo. Call our office today at (212) 706-1900. We can help you make a personalized decision on which type of lipo procedure is right for your body.

Preminger Plastic Surgery is a boutique plastic surgery office serving the areas of the Upper East Side, Manhattan, and throughout New York City, NY.