ThermaLipo vs. Traditional Lipo: What’s The Difference?

In traditional liposuction, the doctor marks off areas on the patient’s body that need treatment. The patient is then given IV sedation or can be placed under local or general anesthesia. The operation takes about one to two hours, and the recovery period varies depending on where on the body the liposuction was administered. Most traditional liposuction surgeries are outpatient procedures, and the patient can go home after a period of rest. It’s important that the patient have someone drive them home, and stay with them overnight.

ThermaLipo differs in that the liposuction itself is more advanced than that of traditional liposuction. After marking the treatment areas on the patient’s body, the doctor administers a local anesthetic. This allows the patient to be fully awake and aware during the ThermaLipo procedure. This not only cuts down on the risks of general anesthesia, but allows the patient to retain muscle tone. This helps the doctor have a better feel for the area they are working on.

After the area is numbed, the doctor floods it with a saline solution mixed with more pain killer and a medication that causes the blood vessels in the area to constrict. This reduces blood loss, which is a problem in traditional liposuction. After this, the doctor inserts the suction device and removes the patient’s unwanted fat.

The real difference between ThermaLipo and traditional liposuction comes after the cannula is removed. During ThermaLipo, the doctor applies heat to the area that was just treated. The heat during ThermaLipo reaches into the deep layers of the skin, which causes the collagen that is found there to contract. Collagen is a type of protein that is found throughout the body and makes the skin springy and elastic. When it’s heated, the body is stimulated into producing even more collagen. This results in smoother and more supple skin over the area that was just treated with liposuction.

To learn more about the differences and which procedure may be right for you, contact Nowak Aesthetics today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in Chula Vista, CA near San Diego.