Laser lipo in London
Laser lipo is seen as the gold standard of minimally invasive body contouring and gives consistently better outcomes compared with cryolipolysis or ‘fat freezing’.
Do you have stubborn pockets of fat in your legs, hips and under your chin? Have you tried exercise and diets but they aren’t making a difference? You may be interested in undergoing laser liposuction which is a combination of laser lipolysis and microlipo
Otherwise known as “laser lipolysis”, laser lipo uses laser energy to target fat cells, leaving you with a slimmer appearance.
Laser lipo can also be combined with TightSculpting.
About
What are the different types of liposuction?
Liposuction has undergone a series of evolutionary changes since it was introduced in the eighties. With the traditional method of liposuction, the plastic surgeon made an incision and passes a metal tube with openings near the tip into the area of excess fat. The tube is connected to a suction pump, so that as the surgeon passes it back and forth, fat is removed. This was known to be a particualrly traumatic method with significant bruising and swelling and also increased recovery time.
A significant advance was made with the invention of tumescent local anaesthesia. TLA facilitated the liposuction procedure to be performed under local anaesthetic. This makes the liposuction more efficient and less traumatic. This introduction of fluid is known as the tumescent technique and is the foundation for all types of modern liposuction – Laser, Ultrasound or power-assisted.
Laser lipolysis is the most recent cutting edge innovation in the field of liposuction. Like all other forms of liposuction, the surgeon firstly injects the area with tumescent local anaesthesia solution. This is a dilute solution of local anaesthetic and adrenaline. The surgeon then inserts a miniaturised cannula containing the laser fibre into the treatment area. Application of the laser energy serves to melt or emulsify fat tissue. The surgeon then finally removes the melted fat with a specially designed vibrating cannula.
Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive alternative to other non-surgical fat removal procedures and also more invasive surgical liposuction.
It uses fibre-optic lasers to melt the body fat, leaving you with a thinner, more contoured and sculpted appearance. The laser is the 1064nm wavelength which has the most proven track record of all lasers currently available
You can have laser lipolysis on virtually all areas of the body, including the chin, neck, lateral chest, upper and lower abdomen, waist and hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, calves and lower back. You can even have laser lipolysis on multiple areas of the body in one session if you are deemed suitable.
There are numerous benefits to undergoing laser lipolysis.
As laser lipolysis is performed under a local anaesthetic, it poses fewer risks than traditional liposuction, which is performed under a general anaesthetic. It also encourages the production of collagen and elastin, improving the appearance of the skin. A significant degree of skin tightening is possible with laser. Finally, there is little recovery time, as it is a minimally invasive procedure.
For moderate degrees of skin laxity, we also offer the BodyTite RF technology for even greater degree of skin tightening.
Candidates
You will be a suitable candidate for laser lipolysis if you have stubborn areas of fat which you have been unable to lose through traditional methods such as exercise and healthy eating.
It is recommended that you be at or close to your ideal weight when undergoing this procedure.
You will need to have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve. Prior to undergoing surgery, you will also have to stop smoking for at least one month. You will also need to stop taking any blood thinning medication.
You will need to be at least 18 years old to undergo this procedure.
You will not be suitable for laser lipolysis if you are significantly overweight. This procedure is not considered a suitable alternative for weight loss.
You will also be unable to undergo this procedure if you are currently pregnant.
Before having laser lipolysis, you will need to attend a consultation with one of the surgeons. They will be able to assess your suitability for this procedure, or they may recommend that you are better suited for an alternative treatment.
Laser lipo procedure
Laser lipo is a local anaesthetic technique unlike surgical liposuction
Laser lipo is very suited to being performed under a local anaesthetic. The main reason is related to the design of the laser fibre. In laser lipo, only the tip is exposed and can therefore only the tip can get hot. In other methods such as ultrasound assisted lipo, the whole cannula gets very hot and can make for a very uncomfortable procedure.
The precision design coupled with gentle technique facilitates the extraction of fat and simultaneous skin tightening.
Performing microlipo alone under local anaesthetic is also not well suited to local anaesthetic. Although there is no heat produced, the cannula tends to catch on internal connective tissue amd nerve fibres and this can discomfort after a short while. Fat that has been exposed to laser energy becomes a liquid consistency and is this much easier to extract with microlipo.
By combining laser lipolysis and microlipo, the procedure is comfortable with a very quick recovery.
Before undergoing the procedure, a local anaesthetic will be injected into the treatment area to ensure you feel minimal discomfort throughout the procedure. The surgeon will also make markings on your skin.
The surgeon will then make a very small incision in the area where the lipolysis is taking place. The laser will then be inserted through the incision and into the top layer of skin. The laser will then be moved around at different angles. The previously injected local anaesthetic should stop you feeling any discomfort, however, you may feel a warm sensation. The laser then causes the fat to melt. Depending on how much fat there was, the fat will either be vacuumed out or it will be naturally metabolised by the body.
The treatment will take between one to two hours, depending on how much fat there was and the area of the body which was being treated.
Laser lipolysis is performed as a day procedure, so you will be able to leave and return home once the treatment has finished.
Recovery
The advantages of laser lipo under local anaesthesia
Over 90% of the laser lipo procedures our surgeons performed under a local anaesthetic. In some cases oral sedation can used if you prefer.
The benefits:
With a general anaesthetic, you will need to undergo a prolonged period of fasting prior to the procedure. The downside is that patients often arrive for their procedure in a dehydrated and fatigued state. With laser lipo, you can have a light breakfast on the morning of your procedure.
Most people will get a morning headache without their cup of tea or coffee. With laser lipo, you can still have small cup of a hot beverage.
You avoid all the risks of general anaesthesia and without any of the dizziness, grogginess or postoperative fatigue.
There is significantly less risk of DVT after local anaesthetic procedures.
After the procedure, you may experience some swelling and bruising, which will subside after a few days. You may wish to take painkillers during this period to help with any symptoms.
You will be given antibiotics which you will need to take to avoid complications such as infection.
You may have to take one or two days off work to fully recover. You will also have to avoid any strenuous physical activity for around one week.
You may start to see some results right away, such as tightened skin. However, most results will become visible after six to eight weeks.
Laser lipo before and after
FAQs
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What is laser lipolysis?Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive way to reduce fat pockets from areas of the body. It involves the use of a 1064nn laser fibre which melts the body fat. This body fat is then either suctioned or naturally metabolised by the body. This procedure will leave you with a thinner, more sculpted appearance.
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Am I suitable for this procedure?You will be suitable for this procedure if you have stubborn pockets of fat which you have been unable to remove.
You will not be suitable if you are pregnant or are significantly overweight.
You will need to be at least 18 years old to undergo this procedure.
You will need to be a non-smoker, or be able to stop smoking at least one month prior to surgery. -
What anaesthetic will be used?A local anaesthetic will be injected into your skin prior to the procedure beginning. This will mean you will be awake during the procedure but will be unable to feel any discomfort. Oral sedation is an option if you prefer to be more relaxed.
General anaesthesia is not required for laser lipo. However if you prefer to be asleep, our ClearSleep technique is available if you prefer. -
What is the difference between liposuction?Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive procedure that relies on lasers which use heat to melt fat, which is then removed or metabolised by the body.
Liposuction is considered to be a surgical procedure, which will be performed under ClearSleep anaesthetic. This involves using larger cannulas and tubes which will suck the fat from the body. As this is a surgical procedure, it will involve a longer recovery period. However surgical liposuction is more suited for larger quantities of fat or if you feel very nervous about undergoing a local anaesthetic procedure. -
Where does the fat go?Once the fat has been targeted with the laser, it will either be suctioned out of the body. In very small procedures, the fat will be left in the body, and it is naturally metabolised and flushed out by your lymphatic system. This will often depend on how much fat is being removed; if there is a large amount of fat, it will be suctioned.
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How long will the procedure take?Laser lipolysis will take between one to two hours to complete, depending on where on the body the treatment is taking place and how much fat there is to be removed.
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What will the recovery be like?You may experience some swelling, bruising and redness for the first few days following your procedure. You may wish to take pain medication during this time.
You may have to take one or two days off work to fully recover. -
How long until I can exercise again?We recommend avoiding strenuous physical exercise for at least one week following the laser lipolysis.
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When will I notice the results?You will be able to notice some results right away, however, results will continue to improve and will become more noticeable after six to eight weeks.
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What if I have very large amounts of fat to be removed?Safety is the primary concern in all procedures. Your surgeon can split the procedure into 2 or more sessions to make sure local anaesthetic recommended dosages are not exceeded.
What To Expect
Find the right time
Our friendly and knowledgeable patient coordinators will speak with you to learn about your requirements, it’s all confidential and your information will be used to assess whether a procedure is right for you. If the procedure is right for you, we’ll organise a convenient date and time for you to visit to come and visit our patient relationship manager at our bespoke central London clinic.
3D Crisalix imaging
Our patient relationship manager will take time to listen to your needs and requirements and you you will receive a complementary 3D Crisalix scan to enhance your experience. You will be given a rough idea of guide prices at this stage. You can then be booked in to to see a surgeon of your choice based on their individual field of expertise.
Personalised quote
At the surgical consultation, you will meet directly with the plastic surgeon. The surgeon will thoroughly assess you to determine your suitability and advise of the best options for you. Your surgeon will then explain how the procedure will work including our innovative ClearSleep™ anaesthesia technique for those who chose to be asleep for their procedure. You will receive your personalised quote the next working day from your patient coordinator.