Laser Fat Removal, What You Should Know

Laser Fat Removal, What You Should Know

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It could be in the smallest amounts but fat is part of our everyday life; even the fittest people have fat somewhere on themselves. The amount and location can have a major impact on how your body is shaped and consequently, how you feel about yourself.

To address this, more and more people are turning to nonsurgical procedures, like laser fat removal, but is it worth it? Miami Skin Institute looks into what the process and possible results are to give you the answers you’re looking for.

Are Liposuction and Laser Fat Removal the same?

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Lasers don’t go deep into fat tissue like surgery/liposuction does, so by definition laser fat removal is less invasive than the former procedures. As such, results do tend to be more subtle, but the positive is that when compared to liposuction, laser fat removal has zero hospital stay , far less downtime, virtually no risk, and lower costs.

On the other hand, Liposuction is the surgical removal of fat and is used on people that cannot use diet and exercise do manage their weight (they are simply too overweight) Slimmer people can also have Liposuction performed on them if they are looking to boost or replace major major exercise and diet. Oftentimes, people who opt for liposuction will combine it with other plastic surgery procedures, like tummy tucks or face lifts, and have them done at the same time, but it is also possible to have liposuction performed on its own. It can be done under the chin and on the thighs, back, abdomen, arms, hips, and butt.

The main difference between these two procedures, aside from how invasive they are, is who is a candidate for liposuction and who is a candidate for the laser. Liposuction is a surgical procedure and they will put you under anesthesia. Because of this, the qualifications to have it performed are strict. Most surgeons will require that you already have firm, elastic skin and make sure that you do not smoke. There are several risks associated with liposuction, as it is a major surgery, so you should not make the decision to have liposuction done without lots of thought and consideration.

However, laser fat removal, unlike liposuction, is non-invasive. There is no need to go under anesthesia, which significantly reduces the risks, and once a person is cleared by their doctor they will most likely qualifies.

What is Laser Fat Removal?

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Laser fat removal, also called laser lipolysis, is thought to be minimally invasive because of the fact that no needles are used and no cutting is performed. Instead different wavelengths of fiber-optic lasers create heat and then that heat is applied to specific body areas to melt the fat.

The heat from laser fat removal procedures can also help your body to make increasing levels of collagen, a protein made naturally by the body that makes up about a third of the total protein in the body. Collagen is necessary for many of the important functions of the musculoskeletal level of the body and is also important in maintaining the aesthetics of the face. This protein is what makes your skin skin look full, firm, and youthful. When levels of collagen start to go down, skin’s radiance begins to dull, dark circles become more apparent, and skin starts to sag. The heat from the fat reduction lasers can often help with tightening the skin when the fat underneath shrinks, resulting in a new, beautiful, smooth body contour.

The best candidates for laser fat removal are those who want to treat their fat deposits in a specific area of their body, rather than striving for overall fat loss. They should have started , or be planning to start, a diet and exercise routine.

How Does The Laser Fat Removal Procedure Work?

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There are many types of laser fat removal devices, but they all basically work in the same way. The laser emits heat which then melts the fat cells in the body by releasing the contents inside the fat cells (the actual cells themselves still remain). The laser targets specific cells without affecting the other, non-fat cells around it, which is why it works so well!

Each laser beam targets and penetrates the fat cells, deflates them, and shrinks the overall fatty deposit on the body. The contents of the inside of the cells are put into the interstitial fluid which is eventually flushed out by the lymphatic system and expelled by the body.

The medical provider you choose will direct the lasers to the desired treatment areas and all you will have to do is lie there and relax! Remember that it’s important to drink lots of water before and after the treatment (this will help in the removal of the fat cell contents) and that you will have to be in your underwear during the whole treatment process. There is often no pain during the procedure and there shouldn’t be pain after the treatment.

How Long Does A Procedure Like Laser Fat Removal Take?

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Once you have found the licensed, qualified board-certified aesthetic physician you like, the first questions you may have is about the length of the treatment. Your medical provider can give you an answer to this, as well as a price estimate, but there are some general averages.

Typically, one laser fat removal treatment takes about 30-45 minutes, which may not sound like a long time, but keep in mind that many lasers require repeat treatments to maintain and optimize results.

Remember, although fat reduction lasers have FDA-approved studies proving their effectiveness, their results can vary.

In Summary

When you combine regular skin care with laser treatments and injectables, you can help fight visible signs of aging, and the Miami Skin Institute can help keep you looking radiant and youthful throughout your life. Aging, like fat, is a normal part of life, but you can now mitigate the effects of skin aging nonsurgically and “age gracefully”.

We’ve recently been able to fight several cosmetic signs of aging on the body as well! Whether you are suffering from specific fat deposits, weight, or excess cellulite, our Kybella?, Vanquish ME?, or Qwo?, treatments (or all threeJ) may be right for you!

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedure-liposuction#1

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-collagen-and-your-body

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-find-new-clues-about-aging