This 21-year-old grew suddenly during puberty and developed stretch marks and a localized deposit of fat in her lower abdomen. She hoped for improvement in both areas without having big scars.
Left: Patient before treatment. Right: 6 weeks after liposuction plus radiofrequency assisted skin tightening.
Note the dramatic improvement in contour and reduced prominence of stretch marks.
To view more liposuction before and after photos, click here to visit my gallery.
Neither Vaser nor Smartlipo can create this dramatic level of skin tightening and contour improvement. Vaser produces an 8-10% skin surface area reduction, about the same as traditional liposuction or SAL. Smartlipo can create a 13-17% skin surface reduction. Using radiofrequency in combination with liposuction can give up to 35% skin surface contraction as measured with a Canfield computerized Vectra system.
Left: 34-year-old with gynecomastia and abdominal lipodystrophy. Right: Six weeks following treatment with J-Plasma® to flanks, chest, and abdomen.
He felt the project “turned out really well”. He returned to work 3 days postop and resumed gym workouts at about 5 weeks.
Because liposuction remains at the top of the popularity list monitored by ASAPS, both practitioners and consumers continue to focus on improving outcomes. The use of tumescent fluid infused before removing fat reduces blood loss and perioperative discomfort. A close tab on the use of lidocaine reduces the risk of lidocaine toxicity. Limiting the amount of fat removed in an outpatient setting has made the procedure safer. Also, use of soft tissue tightening has greatly reduced the likelihood of wavy, ripply skin. Nowadays, instead of using superficial liposuction for that purpose, RF-based devices can achieve measurable skin tightening without adding risk.
Left: 48-year-old with a desk job. Right: Patient three months after RFAL by Dr. Duncan.
The patient still has a slight bulge due to internal or omental fat. This can easily be lost with a low carb diet in men. Women tend to have a bit more subcutaneous fat. Their results with diet and exercise are much slower.
An Austrian colleague explained it to me: old fat is usually soft, or pudding-like. Young fat is usually more fibrous and can be found even in otherwise trim athletes. Soft fat responds quite well to liposuction. The more fibrous fat can be stubborn. These types of areas are very responsive to the addition of RF energy.
Left: 36-year-old had diet/ exercise resistant spots. Right: Same patient, same underwear 3 months post RFAL.
Left: 28-year-old with cellulite and fat in the inner and outer thigh region. Right: Six months after RFAL. Using RF heat to tighten skin gives a smooth look postop.
Dr. Duncan’s artistic style results in dramatic, yet natural improvements. She works with each individual patient to create a personalized treatment plan based on his or her unique situation and desired goals. We would love to speak with you about achieving the best version of yourself. Call Plastic Surgical Associates in Fort Collins today at 970.493.7445 or click the button below to request a consultation. You can also email us any inquiries at info@drdianeduncan.com.
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