A new body sculpting technique called SmartLipo™ promises to get rid of fat with less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional liposuction. It is now being offered by Doctor Barry Lycka, after Cynosure™, the company that developed the laser approached him about it. It should come as no surprise to you that he’s one of the first in Canada to offer it.
The Health Protection Branch of the government of Canada has recently approved the SmartLipo™ system which uses laser light to melt away those nagging problem areas rather than the traditional suction apparatus. As a result, it’s designed to be more efficient and easier on the patient. Doctor Lycka has been following this developing technology since the early 1990’s, ever since his friend, Dr. David Apfelberg, a plastic surgeon from Palo Alto, California, introduced him to it. It has received a lot of publicity in the press, including an article in last November’s People magazine.
Another friend, Dr. Thomas Jeneby, a plastic surgeon at the Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Center, in San Antonio, was one of the first in the United States to use the technique.
"The heat and the light break up the fat cells themselves and they then turn into a liquid. You then just take a small cannula to remove the liquid," Jeneby said.
The Smart Lipo hand piece is smaller than the one used for traditional liposuction — it's about as big around as a pencil lead, whereas a traditional cannula is about the size of the whole pencil. Since the procedure doesn't involve physically breaking up the fat, an added benefit is that Smart Lipo can be performed under local anesthesia.
The heat generated by the laser cauterizes blood vessels, creating less bruising and patients don't have to wait as long to see the full benefits of this procedure.
"The heat actually causes the dermis, (the layer under the skin) to shrink. You get almost an immediate result, rather than waiting six weeks for the skin to shrink on its own.
What are the benefits to the patient?
- Significantly reduced bleeding, bruising and swelling, decreasing the patient’s downtime
- Significantly improved tissue tightening
- Less tissue invasion and disruption due to miniaturization of the device
- Precise visual targeting of the treatment areas making challenging areas easier to do
- General anesthesia not required making the treatment safer
- Postoperatively, compression garments need to be worn only for a few days
One downside is that Smart Lipo costs a little bit more than the traditional method. For those who are concerned about their bodies, nothing can offer the results of SmartLipo™. If you would like a consultation, give Dr. Lycka a call today at 1-780-425-1212.
**Please note, Dr. Lycka’s availability is limited and surgery spots book up very quickly.
