In the current day and age, people are always looking for new ways to look better, younger, sexier, and fitter. This motivation helps explain why cosmetic surgery has been on the constant rise, with more than 17.7 million such procedures having been performed last year alone.
With the busy schedules many of us have, it is hard to take serious amounts of time off for surgery and recovery. This is where laser liposuction can prove essential, as it can be done quickly with recovery times typically tasting less than one week. Note that in this article, we will be discussing minimally invasive, internal laser liposuction, as opposed to the noninvasive variation that does not require incisions.
After hearing the word “laser” next to liposuction, the next question people frequently ask is if the procedure will hurt or burn. First, let’s make it clear that the lasers used do not burn or rupture the skin; instead, they are used only for breaking up the fat through a small incision before its removal. Local anesthesia is applied to ensure no significant discomfort occurs, but some pain may persist in the days after the procedure. Thanks to local, rather than general anesthesia being used, the risks and side effects involved with laser liposuction and its aftermath are diminished.
During the procedure, you may feel some tingling or even tickling sensations, but actual pain usually does not kick in until the day(s) following your session. This pain usually lasts for a few days, with patients reporting minor burning, numbness, or zapping in the treated area. Most can seamlessly treat this discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers. If this pain does not diminish within one or two weeks, you will need to consult your doctor.
Laser liposuction, which is an updated version of traditional liposuction, uses advanced laser technology to melt and kill the fat underneath the skin. Later, a small incision roughly two millimeters wide is made, and the fat is sucked out using a cannula, which is a vacuum-like tool. Thanks to the fat being melted by the laser, the incision made to remove fat is smaller and less traumatic for the treated area than during traditional liposuction. A few of the more notable variations of minimally invasive laser liposuction include Elite Body Sculpture’s AirSculpt and Sono Bello’s TriSculpt procedures.
Some of the benefits of getting internal laser liposuction include the following:
- Quick recovery time
- Minimally invasive
- No general anesthesia
- Cost-effective
- Relatively painless during the procedure
- Skin tightening effects
Like any other cosmetic procedure, there are certain risks and side effects associated with laser liposuction. With technological advances, however, come more sophisticated methods, meaning fewer risks and reduced side effects.
Some of the risks that are still involved with laser liposuction include:
- The use of anesthesia
- Infection
- Dimpling in the treated area
- Sagging skin, though this should not be as drastic compared with traditional, tumescent liposuction
- Death (as is the case with all cosmetic procedures that use some anesthesia, this risk is run)
Some of the side effects of laser liposuction are:
- Numbness
- Itchiness
- Tightness of skin
- Mild pain
- Small scarring
Reading this can scare anyone, but the truth is that the results really do speak for themselves. Laser liposuction truly is one of the safest cosmetic procedures in the market. We recommend you visit a board-certified surgeon and go over which treatment could be the best option for you.