In 2020, more than 200,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the United States, making lipo the fourth most popular cosmetic surgery in the nation. Contrary to popular belief, cosmetic surgeons recommend lipo not only for people trying to lose weight. Liposuction is great for getting rid of stubborn fat in areas that are just difficult to tone through regular diet and exercise. If you have been working hard towards your body goals and need a little assistance, Virginia Surgical Arts can help you achieve your vision.
Laser Liposuction by Dr. Vendetti
Our Smartlipo® procedure is ideal for individuals who want to redefine themselves in certain areas. Fat cells can find their way into the most stubborn places, especially those areas where exercise sometimes does not reach. Whether you choose traditional liposuction or our current, state-of-the-art Smartlipo procedure, we make it easy to reach your goals.
Calling Virginia Surgical Arts, LLC is your first step in obtaining the vision you have for yourself. Call 757-430-7690 today to find out we can help you reach your goal.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a procedure designed to remove fat cells from the body. A long cannula is used to break up the fatty deposits so they can be suctioned away, effectively removing them from the body. Before the introduction of laser liposuction procedures like Smartlipo®, the recovery time was much longer. Those who choose to undergo the procedure would often require weeks to be cleared by their doctor for normal activities.
Smartlipo® is designed exclusively to perform laser-assisted lipolysis, commonly referred to as laser liposuction. The laser literally melts fat, which is removed with gentle suction. At the same time, tissue coagulation through laser energy is delivered, contributing to an overall smoother shape. Three wavelengths provide targeted treatments to disrupt fat, coagulate blood vessels, and stimulate collagen, which helps tighten skin and improve elasticity by 57%.
During traditional liposuction, surgeons generally use anesthesia. It is effective as a body contouring procedure, especially when a person has already lost most of their weight but is stuck with fat deposits and loose skin over targeted areas where weight is hard to lose. Once the procedure is over, a patient may wear a compression garment to assist with skin tightening. When used correctly, liposuction is more of a beautifying tool than a weight-loss tool. It’s important to remember to continue eating a healthy diet even if you undergo one of the latest advancements in laser procedures, like Smartlipo® treatment.
Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Deciding to have a cosmetic procedure can be difficult. With Smartlipo®, a few things may help you make your final decision. Anyone who has undertaken a weight loss journey knows that the last 30 pounds are often the hardest to lose. They are hard to lose because they are in areas where fat collects but does not want to leave. If you are close to your goal weight and have realistic expectations about your overall weight loss, you may be a good candidate for the Smartlipo® procedure.
The next step is determining if you are eligible for the procedure. An important factor is that you have enough fat to remove during the procedure. It’s also important that you have multiple trouble spots. Correcting many spots at one time means you will not have to return for another procedure later. Smartlipo® will make it easier for your clothes to fit properly instead of being too tight in some areas and too loose in others.
When you are ready to take that first step toward a better, more beautiful you, call Dr. Vendetti and his team at Virginia Surgical Arts, LLC at 757-430-7690 today! We will guide you along your journey through the Smartlipo® process. As soon as you contact us, we will begin the process and inform you every step of the way. Take a look in the mirror and get a vision of your future self. Schedule your first appointment at Virginia Surgical Arts, LLC. We can help you make that vision a reality.
How Does Smartlipo® Laser Liposuction Work?
Both traditional liposuction and Smartlipo® work in much the same way but are very different. The primary difference is that surgeons put you under general anesthesia with traditional liposuction, while Smartlipo® can be performed under local anesthesia. During a Smartlipo® procedure, once the cannula enters the body through a small incision, it emits a laser. The laser produces heat which liquefies the fat cells allowing them to be easily suctioned from the body. Laser energy is extremely effective at eliminating fatty deposits in difficult, hard-to-treat areas where a traditional liposuction cannula will struggle.
- Smartlipo® uses local anesthesia to numb only the specific area of the body being treated, so you’re awake during the procedure. There is no general anesthesia!
- The Smartlipo® laser fiber is inserted into your body through a very small tube. The laser ruptures the fat cell membranes, and the fat cells are permanently destroyed
- The liquefied fat is gently suctioned out. Because Smartlipo® actually tightens the skin through coagulation, you don’t have to worry about dimpling and sagging skin.
Traditional Liposuction vs. Smartlipo®
Because Smartlipo® uses a laser to disrupt the fat cells, surgeons can use it in even the most difficult and hard-to-reach areas of the body where excess fat hides. The Smartlipo® procedure also offers a few more benefits than traditional liposuction.
Traditional liposuction tends to be for larger areas of the body; Smartlipo® can also be beneficial for fat removal anywhere on the body. Laser liposuction procedures use specific wavelengths and are a great way to add the finishing touches to the body sculpting process using very tiny incisions.
Because Smartlipo® uses laser energy, it also stimulates collagen production and improves elasticity which helps with skin tightening.
What Results Can I Expect From Liposuction?
For most people, results are achieved in just one treatment. Results can be seen within a week, with continued improvement over 3-6 months. At our office, we can adjust your treatment plan to fit your lifestyle.
With Smartlipo®, you are in our doctor’s office one day and turning heads the next. Are you ready? It’s time to reshape your body and reshape your life. Call or contact us here!
Targeted Areas of the Body
Smartlipo® can target specific areas of the body using the minimally invasive laser. The use of laser lipolysis accomplishes the body contouring aspect of the procedure. Smartlipo® targets trouble spots and fatty tissue that traditional liposuction procedures may struggle to treat. They include:
- Upper arms
- Neck
- Buffalo hump (dorsal neck)
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Back and bra bulges
- Love Handles
- Buttocks
- Thighs
- Knees
- Ankles
Many of these areas are not affected by exercise, no matter how hard you try to focus on them. They also won’t respond well to diet either. With Smartlipo®, you get all the benefits without the struggles of a more invasive procedure.
Not Just for the Body — Precision Laser Liposuction for Neck and Face!
Our Smartlipo® Precision TX focuses on concerns on the neck and face. Double chin? Saggy neck? Fat pocket under the chin or on the back of the neck? Scars? No problem!
Using a smaller laser of a different frequency, Precision TX is a smaller, more detail-oriented scale of Smartlipo®. Watch the video below to learn more!
What Are the Benefits of Smartlipo®?
There are many benefits to the Smartlipo® laser procedure. While still considered an invasive procedure, Smartlipo® does most of its work by laser. This means less trauma to the tissues and less pain and discomfort after the procedure.
When surgeons use traditional liposuction, patients can start to see the effects when the inflammation subsides. With Smartlipo®, however, the effects of the laser can continue to be seen for a few weeks. The laser energy melts the cells while it is in use, but the effects of the laser continue to work on the cells long after the procedure is over.
Because it encourages collagen production, it will help tissues in the treated area “firm up” and become stronger.
Smartlipo® Means a Much Shorter Recovery Time
With Smartlipo®, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia and can occur right in the doctor’s office or surgical center.
Only mild sedation is used. The downtime for recovery is much less than a traditional procedure. In larger cases, your recovery may last a week to ten days.
The laser technology used in the Smartlipo® procedure increases its effectiveness, making it possible for the doctor to treat more areas and provide much more detailed results.
It is a highly effective body contouring tool that will help you achieve the sculpted look you have always wanted. Best of all, once the fat has been removed, it will not come back!
There are few side effects from minimal pain and discomfort in the treatment area.
Smartlipo® Isn’t Just for the Body!
Smartlipo® is a precision laser liposuction procedure that is effective for the neck, face, and other hard-to-access areas!
Smartlipo® is Helpful for Patients Who Have Made Major Weight Loss Progress
Liposuction techniques are outstanding for localized areas of fat deposits which do not seem to diminish no matter how much you work on them. It can be difficult, for example, to reduce excess fat in hips, thighs, abdomen, arms, neck, back, and other problem areas, depending on your age, sex, and general body makeup.
However, it is important to note that while liposuction results can be dramatic, we do not recommend this form of cosmetic surgery enhancement as a substitute for natural weight loss.
The best form of weight loss always comes through adjusting diet and exercise. Liposuction is intended for people who cannot obtain their desired look through traditional weight loss alone.
Prepping for Your Laser Liposuction Procedure
Choosing to have a Smartlipo® procedure performed is a decision you shouldn’t take lightly. If you are considering the procedure, you need to have all of the facts. Contact Dr. Vendetti to set up a consultation. Ask as many questions as you need.
Once you are comfortable with what the procedure involves, as well as the potential results, you can schedule your appointment. Dr. Vendetti’s team will provide you with a detailed list of instructions to follow the night before and the day of your procedure.
On the morning of your procedure, you will actually be able to have something light to eat and drink. You will need to wear comfortable clothing.
Someone will have to accompany you to your appointment because you will not be able to drive yourself home.
You should make arrangements before your appointment so that you can rest for the next few days, but working from home is often still manageable. Your family will need to take care of you for a change!
What Does the Recovery Process Look Like for Liposuction?
Tummy tuck or liposuction procedures carry a few common side effects. You will likely experience swelling, bruising, and some pain where the treatment occurred.
Your cosmetic surgeon will probably recommend wearing elastic bandages or compression garments to help with contouring.
You will be asked to rest and refrain from exercise or strenuous activities for about two weeks, possibly up to three weeks, if the surgeon simultaneously performs other cosmetic surgery procedures.
You will notice visible results as the swelling goes down during this period. The exact recovery period depends on the amount of fat you have removed, and sometimes the doctor recommends follow-up appointments to ensure everything is going as it should.
What Are the Limitations of Liposuction?
It is also vital to understand that liposuction will not tighten excess skin. This is a separate plastic surgery procedure that some patients do opt to receive but is not a part of liposuction. You should discuss with your plastic or cosmetic surgeon if you need skin tightening after the fact. Lipo is often a part of mommy makeovers when women wish to return to their pre-childbirth bodies but have been unable to do so through exercise and diet.
The ideal candidate for lipo procedures is a person who is fit, healthy, and has worked hard to get rid of excess areas of fat but has been unsuccessful with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Such candidates will likely see a few manageable side effects. Liposuction is intended as a targeted fix, not a dramatic weight loss procedure.
Achieving the Desired Results
Our goal is to make you as comfortable as possible. We also strive to help you realize the vision you have for yourself. Dr. Vendetti and his team of professionals work with you to uncover which procedures and treatment options will best provide you with the results you are trying to achieve. We will go over every opportunity until we find the perfect procedures to allow you to reach your goals. We understand that beauty may only be skin-deep. Still, we also understand that rejuvenating the body will help rejuvenate the mind and restore your confidence in your own body.
About Virginia Surgical Arts
Virginia Surgical Arts serves Virginia Beach and other Hampton Roads communities such as Chesapeake and Norfolk. Board-certified maxillofacial and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Sergio Vendetti and his team of highly skilled professionals offer a variety of services. In addition to oral/facial reconstruction and bone grafting procedures, they also offer rejuvenation procedures for both the face and body. They also offer cutting-edge procedures like Smartlipo® and other laser procedures that can help you redefine your body as well as your self-image.
Every member of the team is fully licensed and accredited. They have spent years honing their skills so they can provide you with accessibility to the surgical procedures you want. The goal is to provide opportunities to see the new you and help you make that vision a reality. Dr. Vendetti has made it his life’s work to make Virginia Surgical Arts, LLC the ambulatory surgical center it is today. For the past 20 years, Dr. Vendetti, a board-certified maxillofacial and cosmetic surgeon, has devoted his time to the patients he serves. During that time, he has continued to incorporate new, state-of-the-art procedures and treatment options into his comprehensive list of offerings.
Restore Your Body Confidence with Virginia Surgical Arts
Why should you choose Virginia Surgical Arts? At Virginia Surgical Arts, we don’t treat you like a patient. We treat you like family. We know that when a new patient comes through our front door, they are going to have questions. It’s our job to answer those questions so that you fully understand what a procedure entails and what your expected results may be. With every procedure we perform, we commit ourselves to supplying the highest quality of care possible. Our goal is to provide you with the most advanced procedures possible. This includes cutting-edge options like Smartlipo®.
