What to Expect

Results from your Smartlipo treatment including reshaped and sculpted trouble areas will be significant in anywhere from a few days to weeks. You will enjoy improvement in the contour and shape of the treatment immediately and see results as the minor swelling and bruising subside. Skin laxity will also improve over time as the laser's tissue tightening properties take hold and new collagen is generated.

How it Works

The procedure consists of the insertion of a tiny laser fiber less than a millimeter in diameter and the delivery of laser energy which breaks up and "melts" fat cells by heating up cell walls to a destructive temperature. In the process, the laser seals up surrounding blood vessels to reduce bleeding, bruising and swelling enabling quicker recovery times than traditional liposuction. The Smartlipo MPX™ is the second generation Smartlipo system with higher power allowing faster in-office procedures.

Patient Experience

A laser assisted liposuction procedure takes anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on the treatment area size. The treatment itself is painless as a local anesthetic is used to block pain, and any post-procedure discomfort is usually very mild and can be addressed with an over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol. The treatment is performed in our state of the art in-office operating room, and you will return home the same day.

You may return to normal activities within a day or two after a Smartlipo procedure on smaller areas like the neck, jowl line, inner thighs and arms, but you should expect minor swelling and bruising for up to a week. If paired with a tumescent liposuction procedure, you will likely be able to return to a desk job within three to five days and recovery time should be similar to a tumescent liposuction procedure alone.

What are the characteristics of a good candidate for Smartlipo?

For both women and men who are unable to get rid of stubborn areas of fat no matter how much you work out and diet, Smartlipo will help to sculpt those areas to make you look and feel your very best about your body. It is important to set realistic expectations and be in good psychological health. There are no body sculpting procedures that are a perfect substitute for a healthy diet and exercise.

Is Smartlipo painful?

A local anesthetic is used to block any pain during the procedure so you will remain awake and comfortable (does not require general anesthesia). Post-procedure discomfort if smaller areas are treated usually subside within a few days, and pain may be remedied with an over-the-counter pain medication as recommended by Dr. Hotchandani. If Smartlipo is combined with tumescent liposuction, you will again feel no pain during the procedure itself and prescription strength pain medications are typically not required during the next week of minor discomfort.

What is the recovery time I should expect?

Most patients are able to return to work in a day or two when a small area is sculpted with only Smartlipo. Expect some swelling and bruising after the procedure, but soreness and any significant swelling will usually subside within a few days. Heavy lifting and jobs requiring more rigorous physical activity may be resumed in approximately one week. Recovery time is similar to tumescent liposuction alone when combined with that technique to treat larger areas.

Does Smartlipo leave scars?

Incision entry points are sufficiently small that they typically do not require stitches and merely leave barely noticeable puncture mark scars.

Is Smartlipo safe?

Laser technology has been used safely in a variety of medical procedures including eye correction and dermatology for many years. Extensive clinical studies and research has been conducted to evaluate the safety of Smartlipo and Smartlipo MPX, and it has gained FDA approval for laser assisted lipolysis. Use of eye protection and the wealth of Hotchandani Laser & Vein Center experience using lasers minimize the most common risk which is eye injuries.