Liposuction has come a long way since the very first procedure was performed nearly a century ago. It’s hard to believe that our ancestors could have been sculpting their bodies long before modern medicine was formalized! Truth be told, cosmetic liposuction didn’t become popular until the 1970s. Since that time, the procedure has been refined multiple times. What is available today is definitely not what was presented to our mothers. Today, we have techniques like SAFELipo to truly sculpt the figure you want.
SAFELipo is an innovative body-contouring liposuction procedure that a board-certified surgeon must learn through a specialized course of training. Not all plastic surgeons perform this technique but, as more patients request it, we imagine SAFELipo will become more widely available. For now, we are proud to be one of the first providers in the Chicago area. Here, we discuss a few particulars about the procedure.
The Purpose of SAFELipo
SAFELipo was developed by a plastic surgeon who was seeking solutions to common liposuction problems back in the 1990s. During that time, a larger number of patients was returning for follow-up treatment after ripples, asymmetry, or other subpar results occurred after an initial (traditional) liposuction procedure. To improve patient outcomes, this surgeon developed a technique that sculpts the body in a three-part process.
The first step in SAFELipo is to separate fatty deposits from their attachments. This is achieved with specialized, vibrating instruments that dissolve fat cells to a moderate degree. The separation of fatty deposits is beneficial because it aids in the following step and also preserves vital structures such as blood vessels.
After separating fat, SAFELipo aspirates the partially dissolved matter with gentle suction. Because fat has been broken down, it can be removed with a smaller cannula and gentler motions than are common with traditional liposuction. The final step in the procedure is to equalize remaining fat. This process greatly minimizes the chance of indentations, ripples, or other irregularities by smoothing out the layer of fat just beneath the skin.
Is SAFELipo Right for You?
Healthy adults whose weight is stable are good candidates for SAFELipo. This procedure, unlike traditional liposuction, has been utilized for larger volume reduction with great success. However, doctors do not recommend SAFELipo for significantly overweight individuals. As it always has been, liposuction is intended for body contouring, not for weight loss.
Multiple areas of the body can be treated with SAFELipo, including the torso (abdomen and flanks), thighs and legs, breasts, bra fat, arms, face, and neck. Surgery may be performed with a local anesthetic and mild sedation or under general anesthesia. This depends on the extent of body contouring desired.
Want to know more? Contact our Chicago office at 312.736.7545 to schedule your SAFELipo consultation.