Many men and women have consistently struggled with losing excess body fat in order to achieve healthy and aesthetically pleasing lives.

Though a balanced diet paired with regular exercise works for many, still others see little results despite large amounts of stress and frustration. Until now, the best solution for removing such fat was liposuction - a cosmetic procedure that literally sucks the fatty tissues out of the body and enables a person to effectively lose weight in a matter of minutes.

However, a new procedure is now available that is making traditional Liposuction lose its edge and become less desirable. Developed by Cynosure, SmartLipo is a revolution in fat removal - giving realistic meaning to the phrase "it melts fat away."

What is SmartLipo?

SmartLipo is a remarkable method for removing unwanted body fat through a low-pain, highly efficient process. Instead of the bulky tubes and uncomfortable office visits required of traditional liposuction, SmartLipo utilizes smaller instruments and specialized technology to zap fat cells for contouring and reshaping areas of the body including the abdomen, love handles, backs, thighs, hips, knees, arms, neck, and chin.

It is important to recognize that though SmartLipo is highly effective, it is only appropriate for patients wishing to lose small amounts of fat, or up to about 8 pounds. SmartLipo will not provide satisfactory results for persons needing to lose significant amounts of body fat - such patients require traditional liposuction or alternate methods for weight loss.

How does SmartLipo work?

Through a special laser similar to that used in cataract surgery, fat cells are targeted and the sound energy literally dissolves the cells on contact. A gentle suction then massages the dissolved fat out of the body. A very small percentage is retained, absorbed into the body, and excreted as waste within 24 hours.

Worries about the safety of the laser should be quelled - the laser can easily differentiate between fat cells and other tissues including nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues.

What will happen during my visit?

Prior to your actual procedure visit you will need to schedule a consultation appointment with the physician. During this visit you will discuss your goals for the SmartLipo and your expectations. You will also need to share your medical history and other relevant information. The physician will inform you of the realistic expectations you can achieve based on your initial body state.

During your procedure visit the physician will begin by filling the procedure area with a saline solution. This solution helps numb the site and shrink blood vessels. The laser is inserted into the skin and heats the fat cells to 45 degrees centigrade, resulting in a breakdown of membranes and release of liquid fat. A small incision is made in the area and small cannulas (tiny tubes) are inserted to suck out the dissolved fat cells. A pressure garment is placed over the procedure area for 2 weeks.