You might be shocked to hear that up to 91% of women are unhappy with how their bodies look. They might not feel good in general about how their body looks or they might have a problem area they can’t seem to get quite the way they want.
Some will resort to dieting or exercise, others will continue to feel bad about the problem area. Still, others will seek the help of a professional to address the issue.
If you’re considering seeing a plastic surgeon, you might be hearing some about laser sculpting. How is laser sculpting different from other types of plastic surgery? Why should this option be considered for problem areas?
Read on for what you need to know about laser sculpting.
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What Is Laser Sculpting?
Laser sculpting, which is sometimes called laser liposuction, is a relatively new procedure to address areas of body fat. The great news about laser sculpting compared to traditional liposuction is that it’s noninvasive, making for an easier and faster recovery than invasive surgery.
In laser sculpting, the doctor uses laser energy to address areas that have body fat. Instead of an incision where the fat is removed, the laser energy gets used to shrink the fat away.
In most cases, laser sculpting can be done as an outpatient procedure over several visits to the doctor.
How Does Laser Sculpting Work?
When you have traditional liposuction, there’s an incision and the fat cells are removed via suction. In laser sculpting, the patient may get a small sedative, usually right in the doctor’s office.
The area of the body is singled out for treatment. Then pads are placed onto that body part. The pads contain laser diodes that will send the energy into the fat cells. The lasers create very tiny holes in the membranes of the fat cells.
Once the tiny holes are in place, the fat cells release the stored fatty acids, water, and glycerol back into the body. Once those are released the goal is that those fat cells shrink and the body size shrinks down.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Laser Sculpting?
Is laser sculpting good for all fat removal? The pool of patients for laser sculpting might be smaller than those who would be good candidates for traditional liposuction.
Laser sculpting probably isn’t a good choice for someone who has large weight loss goals. Instead, the better candidate for laser sculpting is the patient who has smaller weight loss goals.
The better candidate might also want to focus on a specific body area that’s a problem versus all over fat removal and weight loss.
Finally, a good candidate should be in good general health so they have good skin elasticity that can recover once the fat cells shrink.
What to Expect During Laser Sculpting?
When you’re ready for your laser sculpting, you’ll visit the doctor’s office. Typically, a technician will work with you during the procedure.
They will lay you down and you get comfortable. Then they will lay the laser pads on the treatment area. The treatment, which can last up to 20 minutes, will send the laser energy into the fat cells. And it’s as simple as that.
Some people will see results immediately. Although most patients require several visits for up to four weeks before they start to really see the results. It’s suggested you start with a few visits per week over the treatment period for the best results.
The good news is that you’ll have little to no downtime after the procedure. Most experts recommend less than a week of quiet time following the procedure.
What Is the Cost of Laser Sculpting?
The cost for this procedure will vary depending on the part of the country. The area and number of treatments needed will also impact the overall cost.
Generally, laser liposuction costs $2,500 to $4,500 per area of the body. The average cost is about $5,450 per body part according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery.
Most health insurance companies will not cover this procedure. However, if you have benign, fatty growths called subcutaneous lipomas then insurance may allow this procedure to address them and cover the cost.
Where Can Laser Sculpting Be Used?
Laser liposuction is intended to target fat cells on specific body parts. The most common body parts for laser liposuction include:
- Waist area
- Stomach and abdomen area
- Thighs
- Arms
- Under the chin
When you have the procedure done, you can opt to treat more than one body area in each visit. For example, you might have a treatment in your abdomen area, then follow up right away with treatment on your thighs.
Are the Results Permanent?
Once you get rid of that fat, it would be natural to want it gone forever. When you have traditional liposuction, the fat cells are actually removed from your body, so they won’t return.
In laser liposuction, the fat cells are not removed. The actual cells are still in your body. The fat was just removed from the cells. So, is this procedure permanent? No, the fat can return.
If you opt for having laser liposuction, you want to prepare to follow it up with a healthy lifestyle including a good diet and exercise.
Everything You Need to Know About Laser Sculpting
Laser sculpting is a new advancement in cosmetic procedures that allows you to address problem areas in the body. You can target specific problems areas with very little recovery or downtime from the procedure. You slowly get the fat released from the cells and your body can shrink over time.
If you’re interested in more weight loss options, the UnCraveRx weight-loss program could be a good alternative to laser sculpting. Learn more here https://uncraverx.com.