Laser Sculpture Surgery

Laser sculpture, which is an updated form of what is commonly known as laser-assisted liposuction, has become the most popular procedure in the world.

Laser sculpture may be performed by cosmetic and plastic surgeons or by doctors who specialize in laser liposuction. The number of laser sculpture and liposuction surgeries surpassed breast augmentation in 2009 and became the most highly sought procedure in 2009, as indicated a study conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), took place in 25 countries and represented 75% of all procedures carried out in 2009.

Laser sculpture has evolved from original liposuction technique and taken on a new shape of its own in the past decade. Liposuction procedures have transformed over the years to incorporate state-of-the-art advances, so laser sculpture is now far more safe and efficient than ever, due to: new techniques and technologies, smaller instruments, and the use of local anesthesia, unlike traditional liposuction.

Laser sculpture is a preferred way to remove unwanted, stubborn fat from the following areas: stomach, abdomen, legs, thighs, hips, knees, buttocks, back, arms, face, chin and neck. Laser sculpture is an excellent way to physically contour, shape, mold and tone different parts of the anatomy. Because it is minimally invasive, the recovery time is quick and fairly painless.

Laser Sculpture Surgery Now Safer than Ever

Laser sculpture is performed under local anesthesia (loss of sensation without loss of consciousness) a vast majority of the time. Only in rare cases would a doctor recommend general anesthesia for a laser sculpture procedure (if combined with another cosmetic surgery or procedure, like a tummy tuck or mommy makeover, which involves multiple surgeries). Laser sculpture uses a laser device and work station, along with the tumescent or wet technique.

Getting laser sculpture surgery is very safe and quite simple. Typically your laser sculpture procedure will take place with three simple steps.

First, you may receive a mild sedative, which is common. Next, your selected laser sculpture surgeon will numb the areas under the skin with an injection of local anesthetic, and when the patient is comfortable and pain-free, the laser sculpture surgeon will make a series of tiny incisions in the area (typically one or two per region), usually 0.12-0.25 in (3-6 mm) in length. Then the area or areas to be treated are flooded with a larger amount of local anesthetic.
Second, laser sculpture requires large volumes of very a dilute local anesthetic (a substance that produces anesthesia) to be injected into the targeted areas, between the layers of skin and muscle, making the tissue swollen and firm. Epinephrine is added to the solution to contract the blood vessels in and around the tissue, which reduces bleeding while the fat is being removed from the region.
After this step, the laser sculpture laser, using a very small cannula containing the laser sculpture laser fiber, is inserted into the skin. The cannula is a tube, approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameters in size. During the surgery, the surgeon will move the laser sculpture cannula back and forth, between the layers of skin and muscle, delivering the laser sculpture laser's energy to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. The laser sculpture surgeon repeatedly pushes the cannula through the fat layers in a radiating pattern creating tunnels, and thus removing fat and reshaping the area. This technique allows the fat to be extracted with suction through the long, blunt hollow cannula.

Some newer modifications to laser sculpture surgery include the use of a cutting cannula called a liposhaver and the use of ultrasound to help break up the fat deposits. The person is awake and comfortable throughout the Laser Sculpture surgery.

In some cases doctors have computer programs that can simulate the results that can be obtain with surgery.

Laser Sculpture Surgery Length

The length of time required to perform the laser sculpture surgery varies with the amount of fat that is to be removed and the number of areas to be treated. Most laser sculpture surgeries take from 30 minutes up to 3 hours, but extensive procedures can take longer. The length of time required also varies with the manner in which the anesthetic is injected. In some cases, the laser sculpture surgeon may divide the treatment into different stages if the patient desires to have several areas treated, over time. For example; in some cases a laser sculpture surgeon may treat the hip, thighs and back area first, and treat arms, neck and chin in a different surgery.

"I had laser sculpture surgery on a Friday, and was back to work by Monday. The recovery was fast and the results are amazing – I love my new body." Laser Sculpture Patient, NY.

Laser Sculpture Surgery Benefits

The laser sculpture laser energy also interacts with the skin, stimulating collagen, and resulting in shrinkage and therefore skin tightening. Due to the cannula's small size, laser sculpture is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The laser sculpture laser also causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising. This decreases the recovery time for patients and offers far more benefits than liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the procedure is very safe with only minimal side effects. All throughout the laser sculpture surgery; a red diode laser provides visual guidance to the surgeon, allowing for better precision and treatment.

Laser sculpture surgeons can achieve more refined results using the laser sculpture technique!

Typically only one short laser sculpture surgery is needed per area treated. The average amount of fat removed during a laser sculpture procedure is 1 - 3 liters.

After Laser Sculpture Surgery

After the laser sculpture surgery, the patient will need to wear a compression garment around each treated area, continuously, for up to three weeks. If ankles or calves were treated, compression hose will need to be worn for up to six weeks. The compression garments can be removed during bathing, but bathing is not recommended until 24 hours after the laser sculpture surgery. In some cases where large amounts of fat have been removed; additional therapies may be necessary to help drainage and prevent fluid build-up.

Some mild side effects may occur after laser sculpture surgery, including: a burning, prickling sensation on the treated areas (can last up to a month), some swelling of the tissues around and below the treated areas (may last up to six weeks), minor bruising around laser sculpture incision sites and treated areas, and some pain for a couple of days.

Wearing the special elastic compression garments at all times will help reduce swelling and help achieve the desired final results.

Laser sculpture surgery only requires tiny incisions (they can be compared to a mosquito bite). But in rare cases stitches may be necessary. If so, they will be removed within a few days after laser sculpture surgery. However, most laser sculpture surgeons use no sutures. They rely on dressings to cover the incisions. Either way, your surgeon will schedule an appointment to see you within a few days to check your incision sites and monitor your recovery.

After your laser sculpture surgery minor bleeding or seepage through the incision site(s) is common. Wearing the compression garment also helps reduce fluid loss after surgery. Blood clot formation after laser sculpture surgery is exceedingly rare. The risk of blood clot formation is reduced by wearing the compression garment after the surgery, and with the resumption of normal mild activity, like walking, after laser sculpture surgery. It is uncommon, but excess fluid and blood can occur if patients do not follow instructions and wear the compression garments. If this occurs, the excess fluid can be drained off with a needle in the doctor's office.

Laser Sculpture Surgery & Pain

Laser Sculpture surgery is virtually painless and requires very little downtime. However, for the first postoperative day, there may be some discomfort that will require light pain medication. Your laser sculpture surgeon will prescribe you oral pain management medications to take after surgery. In many cases, the prescribed medication is not necessary and patients can take over the counter pain relievers.

Laser Sculpture surgery does not require any hospital time, because it is an outpatient procedure. The patient may stand up after the surgery and walk. It is required that every patient arrange for transportation home. It is also recommended that laser sculpture patients designate at least one person or contact to be available for the first 24 hours. It is important to let at least one person know the date, time and location of your laser sculpture surgery or with any surgery.

Soreness or aching may persist for several days. A person can usually return to normal activity within a week. Postoperative bruising after a laser sculpture surgery will go away within a few days and two weeks at the most. Your laser sculpture surgeon may prescribe you with additional medication to help heal the bruising and swelling faster. Postoperative swelling begins to go down within a week. Few laser sculpture patients lose sensation in the area that has been suctioned after surgery, but most feeling usually returns within a short time.

Patients are amazed at the results they achieve through laser sculpture surgery. They get to enjoy the benefits of a slimmer more toned body within days.

The visible results are immediate and permanent, but it may take three to six months to see the results and the total transformation from laser sculpture.

Laser Sculpture Surgery Considerations

As stated, laser sculpture surgery is performed under local anesthesia, and it is considered to be exceptionally safe. Studies have concluded that there are no serious complications or deaths with laser sculpture and the calculated the risk of any complication is 1%.

However, like with any surgery, the risks associated with laser sculpture surgery include:

Blood clots
Excess fluid and blood accumulation
Infection
Shock (if too much fat is removed)
Swelling
Bruising
Perforation (rare)
Damage superficial nerves
Numbness