Sequential Liposuction and Body Sculpting: A New Liposuction Treatment

Posted: 23-Sep-2009 23-Sep-2009

Since the introduction of liposuction to Palm Beach County by Dr. Douglas Dedo in 1983, the procedure has undergone several advances that improve results and make it safer.

In 1986, Dr. Jeffrey Klein introduced tumescent anesthesia which revolutionized liposuction. By allowing the operation to be done under local infiltration with the patient fully awake, general anesthesia was eliminated along with the associated risks of any general anesthetic. Now, the patient was literally capable of walking out of the operating room immediately after the surgery. To date there have been no fatalities associated with straight local as reported in the dermatology literature. Furthermore, this tumescent anesthesia allowed the safe extraction of larger volumes of fat without fear of bleeding or the need of a transfusion.

In 2000 Dr. Rodrigo Neira introduced the 635nm low-level laser. In contrast to the hot lasers that basically heated the tissues, the 635 was a “cold” laser that worked by modulating the tissues exposed to the laser energy. Fat cells ruptured facilitating their removal; nerves were turned off reducing pain, and the biological wound healing process was speeded up. The addition of a power cannula markedly reduced the operating time as efficiency of fat removal was enhanced and surgeon fatigue reduced.

The latest addition for liposuction is the hot laser, aka SmartLipo, Cool Touch or Sciton. Touted by the manufacturers for “laser lipolysis” as a smart way to remove fat, it actually increased operating time and did little to facilitate fat removal. Instead, what the latest generation of the “hot” lasers does is tighten the skin without long painful incisions. It has been shown that when skin is heated to a proper temperature, it will tighten. As a result, with “awake” anesthesia, mini tummy tucks, neck lifts and arm tucks are now being done with excellent results.

The latest development by Dr. Dedo is the S.L.A.B.S. procedure; the acronym for Sequential Liposuction And Body Sculpting. It is the safe solution for the obese patient contemplating gastric bypass surgery. Instead of undergoing general anesthesia for gastric surgery, the patient has the local “awake” anesthesia for liposuction to remove fat throughout the body. In accordance with the statutes of the State of Florida, the volume of fat removed at each session is limited to 4000 cc (four liters). Sequential liposuctions are done for the abdomen, back, flanks, arms, thighs, legs and neck. After de-bulking the different areas, the skin is further tightened with the laser, by heating it to 39-40 degrees Celsius. The amazing effect of liposuction and laser for skin tightening eliminates the need for massive skin excision necessary after gastric bypass. Furthermore, the potential postoperative complications associated with the bypass surgery have been eliminated. As with any weight loss procedure, be it gastric bypass or liposuction, the patient has to change their lifestyle, reduce their caloric intake and begin to exercise.

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