It seems that almost every day a new type of lipo equipment comes on the market to replace the traditional tumescent liposuction. It may be water assisted, laser assisted or other type that is backed by marketing dollars to physicians, and the public. The truth is, what’s far more important than what name the procedure is given, or what type of equipment is being touted, is the skill and knowledge of the surgeon using the equipment.
There is not a single study showing any advantage of SmartLipo over traditional tumescent liposuction. Because of extensive marketing, the public perceives lipo as a “simple” procedure, since it requires only minimal incisions and little if any suturing. The fact is, nothing could be further from the truth.
SmartLipo uses lasers to work on small, localized areas. The laser is used to heat the fat prior to being suctioned. Some claim that the greater heating stimulates collagen production, which leads to better skin retraction. The problem is, the cannula with the laser fiber works very close to the skin’s surface, which can result in burning and scarring.
SAFELipo is the liposuction technique that is regarded by most liposuction experts as superior to all other techniques. SAFELipo is a technical variation on the traditional Tumescent Liposuction where a POWERLipo hand piece is used for the tumescence technique, and the actual lipo is slightly altered to improve the appearance of results.
Dr. Jugenburg prefers using tumescent SAFELipo to SmartLipo, because it offers:
Compared to SmartLipo, SAFELipo Liposuction provides a more gradual and controlled removal of fat, producing smoother results. And because the specific technique used, there is lower risk of producing skin depressions and irregularities.
Sutures are often not needed to close the holes produced by tumescent lipo. This promotes a large amount of post-procedure drainage, which reduces bruising, tenderness and swelling following the surgery. Another advantage of tumescent liposuction is that it provides fluid so efficiently to the body that IV fluids are not required after the procedure.
Power assisted liposuction uses a specialized cannula that vibrates at a very fast speed allowing easier removal of fat. Fat is also suctioned more gently than with other types of lipo, and requires less anesthesia. Because it requires less force to use, there is reduced swelling and bruising on the patient, as well as less pain.
Unlike SmartLipo, Power Assisted liposuction uses no heat, so there is no concern for the accidental burning that could occur with laser liposuction.