With the longer days, warmer weather, and clear skies of summer beckoning, thoughts turn to the outdoors, poolside, beaches and good times on vacation. We'll probably be wearing a little less and exposing a little more. Hopefully, that will be a good thing. But don't we all have a few concerns?
How many days at the gym have we logged, or time have we spent, discussing or thinking about food choices, only to have a bulge, roll, or soft spot that simply won't go away?
Exercise is great - the health benefits are manifold, and it is so easy to do. I really like the approach outlined by Gretchen Reynolds in her new book. This is very doable - and well worth it. We all have work to do, and competing priorities, but incorporating exercise into everyday life is possible.
Eating well is important - less processed food, no fast food, little or no sugar, more homemade meals, no sweetened beverages. All basic stuff, and again something that can be made routine.
Let's not forget genetics - that is, the body type and makeup you essentially inherited from your parents.
We'll address each of these topics in greater detail in later posts, but let's say you've nailed them all and still have those problem areas? Smartlipo liposuction may be a great option for you.
We've been using this technique at GLOW for five years now, and we've literally treated hundreds of patients and thousands of areas. The Smartlipo treatment is done under local anesthesia, and includes the use of a powerful laser to loosen fat deposits and heat stimulate the skin layers. Once the Smartlipo laser has been applied, a narrow suction tube is carefully used to sculpt the areas while removing excess fat.
Happily, this can be done in just a few hours, after which you are on your way home to rest. Most folks are back to work in 3-4 days, and exercising within a week. We do like you to wear a compression garment for up to 3 weeks, and we'll have you back for several Tri-Active massage treatments to enhance your final recovery and results.
The Smartlipo technique can be used for many problem areas. At GLOW, we commonly treat the abdomen (stomach), flanks (love handles), inner and outer thighs, arms, and portions of the back and chest. It also may be a great option for portions of the neck and chin.
Pictures are worth a thousand words:
Before: Flanks After: Smartlipo of Flanks
We've gained a wealth of experience with the Smartlipo technique at GLOW over the past five years, and we look forward to using it to provide outstanding results for patients in future.
If you're ready to learn more about Smartlipo, and how we can use our experience to help you, give us a call today.
While Smartlipo liposuction, breast augmentation, and tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) remain popular as standalone procedures, we’ve seen an increased interest in combining some of these into one sitting. As such, a few lines on the fabled ‘mommy makeover.’
The term ‘mommy makeover’ usually refers to some combination of procedures meant to restore a woman’s body to the shape and dimensions enjoyed before pregnancy and breastfeeding. Natural and predictable changes on the road to motherhood may include stretch marks, sagging or lax skin, pesky, intractable fat deposits, and volume loss and sagging of the breasts.
Of course, some bodies revert to baseline in an enviable, almost magical way. We are not talking about those bodies. What if you, or someone you know, have some of these changes? You have options.
Changes in your breasts may be addressed with augmentation with implants, a lift (mastopexy), a reduction, or some combination of these options. If sagging and volume loss is present, one reasonable option may be breast augmentation along with a lift. Sometimes a straightforward augmentation with implants will suffice.
What about that fat, or sagging skin, particularly around the belly and love handles? Skin, while resilient, is sometimes stretched beyond its ability to snap back. If redundant, hanging skin is in abundance, removal during a tummy tuck may be necessary. Depending on the technique used, additional fat can be removed through liposuction, and the stomach wall can be tightened. If the skin is in good shape, Smartlipo liposuction may be all that is required.
The good news is that reshaping the stomach, love handles and breasts (ie. your torso!) can often be done at the same time. This means you can set aside the recovery and procedure time only once. Imagine that: one longish procedure and a significant transformation of your body.
At GLOW, we are excited to offer combination mommy makeovers to help our patients realize their goals. Do you want to learn more about how we can help you? Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Have you been thinking about having liposuction done? Do you have problem areas that just don’t respond to diet and exercise? If so, liposuction may be a smart choice for you.
Liposuction involves removing unwanted fat from defined areas using a variety of techniques. Most commonly, a dilute anesthetic solution is infused into the treatment areas to stiffen and anesthetize the tissues. Once this is done, the fat layers are manipulated with instruments to disrupt, alter, and remove fat cells and lipids. After the fat is removed and a smooth contour has been obtained, a compression garment is fitted over the areas and the recovery begins.
At GLOW, we use Smartlipo laser lipolysis to disrupt and alter the fat lying in between the skin and the deeper muscle layers. This powerful laser heats the fat cells and surrounding tissues, making them easier to remove. It also imparts a heat stimulus to the overlying skin, which can lead to gentle skin tightening. In addition, we have found that there is less bruising, less swelling, and an easier recovery after using the Smartlipo laser.
Immediately after using the laser, small cannulas (thin tubes) are used to remove (through suction) the fat cells and lipids in the treatment area. This important step often defines the final contour and outcome of the procedure, and requires careful attention to detail.
As for the original question….is liposuction for you? It may be. If you have a positive body self image, lead an active lifestyle, make smart eating choices, and are of good health….yet have bothersome areas (the stomach, love handles, arms, thighs, or hips), then it likely is a good alternative.
The best way to find out for sure is to visit with an experienced liposuction surgeon. At GLOW, liposuction using the Smartlipo laser lipolysis technique is one of our most popular procedures. We offer free consultations, and would be happy to visit with you, discuss your concerns, and offer any assistance we can.
Before Abdomen Liposuction After Abdomen Liposuction
