November 13th 2006 It's official!  The FDA has just approved the New Lipo/SmartLipo/LAser Lipo liposuction procedure! It's common knowledge that some of the best plastic surgeons who perform liposuction, and liposculpture are in Los Angeles California. Though some of the latest liposculpture technicques such as Laserlipolysis often called SmartLipo are pioneered in other countries, it is the plastic surgeons of Los Angeles that bring those methods into the mainstream. This web site is devoted to the latest liposculpture/liposuction methods and those that perform the procedure in Los Angeles, so come back often for the latest updates as this site will be updated on a regular basis.  Currently full FDA approval for plastic surgeons to proform this new fat removal technique should occur by end of summer of 2006. What is SmartLipo and How Does It Work? Dr. Bruce Katz, clinical professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said, "It's the first laser that vaporizes the fat." He has been using the fast and painless technique for the past six months at his Juva Skin and Laser Center in New York as part of an FDA-authorized study for the company. "The really amazing thing is that it not only takes away the fat, it also tightens the skin overlying it," Katz said. Patients get a local anesthetic and stay awake. The incision made for the procedure is so small that no stitches are required and there are no scars, Katz said. How Much does SmartLipo cost? The cost of SmartLipo is the same as normal liposuction, and depends on the number of areas involved.   It starts at about $3,000 to $4,000 for one area. LASERLIPOLYSIS – Laser-assisted liposculpture Laserlipolysis is a new-generation procedure which enables to treat cellulite and body adiposities through the laser’s ability to dissolve or liquefy redundant body fat with heat. Laser-assisted liposculpture deals successfully with problem areas of high fibrous content, or delicate due to their extremely thin fat layer, which are very difficult to treat by traditional methods. It also achieves a skin retraction we would not achieve through other procedures. The Procedure  Laserlipolysis is carried out basically according to the same principles as traditional liposculpture, but adds some unique features that make it different. The technique of tumescent infiltration normally used to prepare the fat by laser is hot, approximately at 105 F (40C), which allows a higher and faster emulsion of subcutaneous fat, as the area is heated up by the Nd: YAG laser radiation. Once the hot tumescent infiltration has been made, we insert the probe, 300-600 µ of optic fibre that conducts the laser’s energy by means of a very thin cannula of 1 mm diameter and we sweep the whole area with the probe in order to dissolve the body fat New Lipo Technique Laser-assisted liposculpture is a new technique. Most probably in a few years it will set the trend for body and face remodelling, as it is safe, efficient, predictable and easy to recover from. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that is still a kind of surgery and must be performed meeting all requisites of a good medical practice. PLANNING YOUR Liposcultpure SURGERY At the clinic, your surgeon will evaluate your adipose deposits, the quality of your skin and your cellulite levels. He will also explain to you the different methods of body modelling. Be honest with your surgeon and let him/her know your expectations. You must tell him/her recent weight gains and losses, whether you smoke or if you are taking any medication, vitamin or even drugs. WHERE DOES THE OPERATION TAKE PLACE? Laser assisted-liposculpture (Laserlipolysis) is usually performed in an operations room at a clinic or a hospital, under local or regional anaesthesia, in an ambulatory fashion, or in some cases a night at the centre may be necessary. THE SmartLipo SURGERY Time required may vary from one operation to another, depending on the amount of fat to extract. To begin with the procedure, physiological serum is administered along with anaesthesia and adrenaline (as a vasoconstrictor) in the area to treat. The serum will be at more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 C) to facilitate the liquefying of the fat. Then a very thin cannula led by an optical probe along with the laser terminal is inserted into the fat through a small incision of 1 mm. The laser energy produces a breaking of the adipose cell, thus freeing the fat from its deposit. The liquefied fat gets mixed with the injected serum forming an emulsion that is removed from the body through an extraction cannula (liposuction).