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or patients who are seeking a solution to get rid of excess fat of the face and body, we offer the revolutionary FDA approved laser liposuction called SmartLipo™ which is the latest in facial/body sculpting. SmartLipo™ is a minimally invasive method for fat removal and facial and body sculpting. We can help you define and sculpt your body and your face including the chin and neck area with minimal downtime and fast recovery. This procedure can be performed on any part of the body to rid you of those “trouble areas”.

What is Body-Sculpting?

What is Body-Sculpting (SmartLipo™, laser lipolysis, laser body sculpting, laser liposuction) and how is it different and superior to other, older forms of liposuction?

Many patients tend to shy away from liposuction due to all the negative publicity generated by the traditional liposuction techniques. There are several factors about the traditional method that make it less desirable. Firstly, complications arose due to the heavy anesthesia necessitated by the surgery. Secondly, the traumatic fashion in which fat was literally “bashed” into chunks to be sucked out caused patients severe discomfort with approximate downtime of 4-6 weeks or even longer. Thirdly, the large cannulas or tubes used to suck out the fat also left unattractive scars that visibly show where the procedure had been performed.

If you’re interested in learning more about Liposuction, please contact Awaken Aesthetics to set up a consultation by calling (310) 791-2233 or by completing the form on this page. Awaken Aesthetics serves the Torrance & South Bay, CA areas.

Liposuction Details

Surgery details

Fat is removed from areas of excess in a controlled and graded fashion with special cannulas and powered devices. Not recommended for correcting excess skin

Length of procedures

60-180 minutes depending on the degree of correction required

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia (tumescent or wet anesthesia) can be successful in appropriate individuals, IV sedation or general anesthesia may be useful for longer cases

What is the recovery process like?

Majority of swelling and bruising resolved in 4 weeks, with normal mild swelling that can take up to 3 months to resolve. Liposuction access incisions usually slightly red for at least 4 weeks. Garments need to be worn usually for 4 weeks

How soon can I return to work?

Most patients can resume non-physical work in 2-3 days

How soon can I return to my regular exercise routine?

No lifting more than 20 pounds, and avoid bending/straining for 1 week

Will follow up appointments be necessary?

Usually 1,4, and 12 weeks after surgery

Length of consultation

60 minutes 

Another major downside with traditional liposuction is that it could not address the residual sagging skin after removal of the fat. Patients were often left with a “deflated balloon” appearance and crepe-like sagging skin. The only way to address these results was to perform a tummy-tuck which is even more invasive, creating a scar from hip to hip forcing the patient to undergo another 4 to 6 weeks of downtime along with accepting this enormous scar. Because of this drawback, many areas of the body such as the arms, inner legs, outer thighs, male breast, flank, upper and lower back were not seen as ideal places for liposuction as removal of the fat would leave very visible sagging, wrinkly skin.

SmartLipo™ has revolutionized liposuction by using a laser that softly melts away your fat. This avoids the traditional traumatic fashion of fat removal and risks and complications mentioned above. The laser only targets your fat. Adding the SmartLipo laser means that there is no need for secondary surgery to tighten skin by using a laser. It is performed under local anesthesia where the patient is fully awake yet comfortable, avoiding the need for heavy sedation or general anesthesia. This is accomplished by first using a tumescent solution which is a mixture of lidocaine (an anesthetic), epinephrine (the body’s own natural product to help reduce bleeding), and saline fluid to “overload” the fat cells causing them to burst and liquefy.

The SmartLipo ™ laser liquefies the fat with its patented laser system that reduces any bleeding and, most innovative of all, simultaneously causes the overlying skin to contract and tighten because of the heat generated from the laser. This solves the over-hanging loose skin after the fat is sucked away and avoids the need for additional skin-tightening surgery. Additionally, the SmartLipo™ procedure can allow the surgeon to harvest the fat cells completely intact. In fact, recent studies have shown that adult fat cells have a very high concentration of stem cells that can adapt to different types of tissues. We can take advantage of this by immediately injecting the harvested fat cells into the body or the face to add volume to the body or face that lack volume. This helps to correct defects from aging or from previous procedures or simply to help augment the natural beauty of our patients.

Smartlipo Torrance

*Individual Results May Vary

What can be achieved with Body-sculpting (SmartLipo™, laser lipolysis, laser body sculpting, laser liposuction) and who is a good candidate?

Ideal patients for Body-sculpting (SmartLipo™, laser lipolysis, laser body sculpting, laser liposuction) come in all shapes and sizes. Realistic expectations can lead to very happy and gratifying results. While this surgery is minimally invasive, there is a mild level of discomfort during the initial minutes of the procedure while the anesthesia fluid is administered. Oral sedation and pain control can help patients get through the process. However, if a patient elects to have oral sedating and pain control, he/she would need someone else to provide them transportation. Our office can help arrange complimentary transportation for his patients to and from his office for procedures. Listed below are some of the areas that have been successfully treated by Body-sculpting (SmartLipo™, laser lipolysis, laser body sculpting, laser liposuction):

  • Arms
  • Male breasts (gynecomastia)
  • Bra bulge (upper back)
  • Love Handles
  • Saddlebags (outer thigh)
  • Inner thigh
  • Knees
  • Hip rolls (“muffin top”)
  • Abdomen
  • Face (chin, neck, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, cheeks, lips, peri-oral lines, temples)

What procedures may be combined with Body-sculpting (SmartLipo™, laser lipolysis, laser body sculpting, laser liposuction)

Many patients elect to have their procedure in concurrence with other procedures such as eyelid surgery, facelift, and rhinoplasty as to recover from healing all at the same time. As it is minimally invasive, it can be safely combined with other types of procedures. As the fat harvested can also be placed anywhere else in your body or face, we can also augment other parts of your face and body at the same time.

What type of anesthesia is used for this procedure?

As opposed to traditional liposuction, Awaken Aesthetics’ body-sculpting does not require patients to be put under general anesthesia. By performing the procedure under local anesthesia, we have the patient stand up after the surgery is done and immediately fine-tune any areas that may need a little touch up to achieve the desired results. A patient can literally have the procedure performed on themselves during their lunch-hour and drive back to work immediately by themselves.

What is the recovery like?

Most patients experience minimal discomfort after the procedure. Discoloration is minimal. Majority of the swelling will generally improve over 5-7 days, but it will take several weeks for all the swelling to resolve. Most individuals will be able to return to work and social activities within 1-2 days although some swelling will still be present.

Smart Lipo Torrance & South Bay

*Individual Results May Vary

I am interested! What do I do next?

If you are considering this procedure we encourage you to schedule a consultation. During this visit, we will listen to your concerns and discuss your options. We can tell you whether you are a suitable candidate for this procedure and inform you of the potential risks of the procedure. There are great variety patients’ faces and bodies and each procedure must be custom tailored for the patient to get the best possible result. As this procedure can also include augmenting one’s face, this can change a person’s appearance. It is important to be properly evaluated to make sure that a person’s features and body to still stay balanced and symmetric. You will also have a chance to view before and after photo albums of his patients who have undergone procedures similar to what you are considering.

*Individual results may vary

If you’re interested in learning more about Liposuction, please contact Awaken Aesthetics to set up a consultation by calling (310) 791-2233 or by completing the form on this page. Awaken Aesthetics serves the Torrance & South Bay, CA areas.