Smartlipo in Oslo – gentle liposuction with laser

What is Smartlipo? 

Laser liposuction, laser lipolysis, laser-assisted liposuction, SmartLipo, and SlimLipo are all essentially the same thing and are alternatives to traditional liposuction. The method is considered gentler because the plastic surgeon uses laser energy to break down the fat in a targeted area, making it easy to remove instead of manually breaking it down with traditional liposuction.

The broken-down fat is then removed through small incisions and suction. The procedure is best suited for smaller areas and is usually performed under local anesthesia (unlike the general anesthesia required for traditional liposuction). The treatment usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.

How is it done?

First, a few points are anesthetized and placed so that they are hidden as well as possible, e.g., in the panty line, in the navel, on the inside of the upper arms, or under the chin, depending on the area to be treated. Then, a liposuction mixture is inserted, consisting of water, anesthetic, and adrenaline to prevent bleeding. A laser probe is then inserted to break down the fat. In addition to emulsifying and breaking down the fat, smaller blood vessels are also coagulated, resulting in very little fluid accumulation or swelling, which can occur with more traditional methods. The method is considered gentler than traditional liposuction because it breaks down the fat with heat. The crushed fat is then sucked out, and the laser can be used to tighten the skin from the inside afterwards.

How does the method work?

There are various lasers on the market that are marketed using slightly different terms and have slightly different wavelengths, but the standard is to use an ND:YAG laser that has an affinity (selective) for fat and also tightens the skin and stimulates collagen. This is the same laser that is used for skin tightening in some facial treatments (Fotona 4D, "ND YAG tissue tightening"). 

This procedure is designed specifically for localized fat areas that are resistant to traditional diet and exercise. In addition, it is more suitable for fat that can be harder and more difficult to remove with conventional liposuction, e.g. under the chin, on men, or in areas where abdominoplasty or liposuction has been performed previously. 

The fat cells are selectively heated and disrupted without affecting other types of cells in the skin or other structures. Once the fat has been diluted using laser liposuction, it is drained from the body through small incisions or gently sucked away. The procedure is considered gentler than other liposuction techniques due to the smaller cannula used and the smaller incisions.

Before and after pictures

During the consultation, you should talk to the plastic surgeon about different treatment options and ask to see before and after pictures of different methods such as traditional liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction, 3D/high-definition liposuction, when skin should be removed, and when you can expect the skin to retract on its own. In some cases, with both regular liposuction and laser-assisted liposuction, it may be recommended to remove skin, but the patient may not want this due to scarring and may prefer to wait and see how it turns out first. In some cases, it is obvious that skin must be removed, and in others it is not necessary, but there are some borderline cases where you can choose one or the other. 

In cases where there is scarring, the results will be much tighter and there will be more options, but some people may want to see how it turns out without surgery first. In these cases, laser liposuction may be beneficial. In some cases, it is often necessary to wait a while and see if the skin retracts on its own, and perhaps later perform a correction of loose skin, such as a mini tummy tuck. 

Areas that can be treated

The most popular areas for liposuction are the abdomen, thighs, hips/flanks, neck, knees, and back fat pads. The method is ideal for smaller areas and for treating areas that are difficult to reach with traditional liposuction, including under the chin, bra line, and above the knees. It is also suitable for those who have smaller fat deposits that they want to remove and can be done as a same-day procedure, often taking only an hour. As no anesthesia is required, you can drive yourself home and return to your normal activities quickly.

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Different methods of liposuction

As a patient, you may feel confused when reading about liposuction because there are many methods used today. Traditional liposuction (machine, manual, water-assisted liposuction). Power-assisted liposuction PAL technique (Microaire, Power X, Nuovag, etc.). Laser liposuction (Fotona, Smartlipo, Slimlipo). Vaser liposuction (ultrasound-assisted liposuction) Nordstrandklinikken currently Nordstrandklinikken the top three methods and combines or switches between them depending on the problem. All methods are simply different ways of breaking down and removing fat, some more effective in certain situations than others. Remember that overcorrection or overly aggressive liposuction can often lead to very unfortunate results and can be difficult to correct. That is why most plastic surgeons, including us, often use traditional liposuction or PAL because it provides predictable results and the ability to remove a lot of fat safely, and because we have access to anesthesia personnel. 

The other energy-based systems (“liposuction energy-based devices”) have several advantages in that the procedure can be performed without anesthesia, they are better for removing more resistant fat, treating smaller areas, shortening the healing time before returning to work, or performing high-definition liposuction. The method can be good for back fat where the fat is harder, poses less risk of bleeding, and where you want to retract the skin, but it also has some disadvantages as described below. It is therefore important that the plastic surgeon evaluates the different methods against each other and chooses the technique that is best suited for you. Often, different methods can also be combined for more optimal results.

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How good are the results compared to the risk of complications?

When it comes to liposuction, there are many methods, and as a general rule, the plastic surgeon performing the procedure is usually more important than the method. Different plastic surgeons have different methods, and the most important thing is that they are proficient in their chosen method and achieve good results without unevenness or indentations, and that sufficient fat is removed. It is good if your plastic surgeon is proficient in several methods and chooses the method that is best for each individual patient based on the problem. It is better to have a plastic surgeon who is proficient in several methods and who can choose the right method for the right patient than one who is not a plastic surgeon and may only be proficient in one method, such as Smartlipo. 

It is worth noting that many people who perform laser lipolysis in Norway are not plastic surgeons, and that liposuction can only be performed by plastic surgeons. If laser lipolysis is performed without subsequent liposuction, large swellings of dead fat are left behind, which can lead to very unpredictable and unfortunate results, often including unevenness and indentations, as well as large amounts of fat having to be broken down by the body via the liver, which is undesirable. Laser lipolysis is actually also liposuction, as the fat is sucked out, but has so far been defined differently by the authorities. 

If used incorrectly, this method can cause much greater damage than conventional liposuction, as too much energy can be applied at the wrong level to break down fat and tighten skin, which can lead to indentations, scar tissue, and undesirable results, requiring either multiple fat transplants or major surgery to correct. It is therefore important to be cautious with this method and to seek out practitioners who have mastered it fully.

What is included in the price?

The price you pay for an operation includes all follow-up checks you would need after an operation. We are available to all our patients and want them to have the safest experience throughout the entire process.