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Demand for cosmetic surgery procedures like liposuction is growing.
And in France, many leading surgeons are turning their attentions to the new, safer way of reducing unwanted body fat – the laser.
The Lipolyse laser heats and breaks down fat cells, which are subsequently disposed through the body naturally. But the laser doesn't just break down fat, it also tightens up the skin – and that's something that traditional liposuction can't do. The good news is that you don't have to travel all the way to France for treatment: leading French aesthetic facial and body rejuvenation expert, Dr Georges Roman, has just introduced the first Lipolyse laser in the UK to his London practice, the Aesthetic Medical Clinic.
'Lipo is a fantastic technique, but now a lot of French surgeons are learning how to do laser lipo – and that's all down to the amazing results you can get with the laser,' says Dr Roman. 'Before, we could reduce fat but we couldn't do anything about hanging skin. With the laser, you can tighten the skin too – so now a 50-year-old can have the tight, smooth skin of a 35-year-old.
'Of course if weight loss is what you're after, you can get great results with lipo. But the laser gives far better aesthetic results because of the skin contraction it promotes. And the laser can reduce cellulite, which is something lipo also cannot do. It is an amazing, soft way to sculpt the body.'
The Lipolyse laser is ideal for treating common problem areas such as the tummy, hips, knees, ankles, upper arms and chin. The tightening effect is achieved by stimulating the fibroblasts, structural cells within the deep layer of the dermis that are involved in the production of collagen. This collagen boost lasts for months and results in skin that becomes increasingly tighter, smoother and younger-looking.
And since laser treatment is non-invasive, the only anaesthetic required is a local one, which means you can go home or back to work immediately afterwards and carry on as normal. Unlike traditional liposuction, there is no post-operative pain, surgical dressings or lengthy recovery times – the only potential side effects are some mild swelling and bruising that last a few days rather than weeks.
Laser liposculpture isn't, however, an entirely new concept: a system called SmartLipo has been available in the UK for more than a year. However, the Lipolyse laser uses a different, more powerful wavelength – meaning better results in a shorter length of time.
Unlike the SmartLipo system, the Lipolyse laser also has an on-board computer that makes the laser more versatile and allows each treatment can be tailored for each individual patient and for the different areas of the body being worked on: for instance, the skin on the upper arms may require more tightening, whereas the hips and tummy may need extra fat reduction.
Costs for two to three sessions three weeks apart are around £1,500 per session for large areas such as the hips and stomach. The manufacturers claim that most people see results after 10 days, with optimum results achieved after six weeks.
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