Life Healthcare is a leading private hospital operator in South Africa and primarily serves the market for privately insured individuals, representing approximately eight million people. The group provides mainly acute care, high technology private hospital services.
The extensive hospital network includes 64 hospitals (of which 57 are majority owned by Life Healthcare and another seven in which the group holds substantial minority ownership), providing a range of healthcare services throughout South Africa.
What is SmartLipo?
SmartLipo is a laser-assisted lipolysis procedure to remove fat. SmartLipo uses a calibrated laser, which liquefies fat under the skin.
What body parts can be treated with SmartLipo?
SmartLipo can be carried out on various parts of the body including the stomach, thighs, arms, face and back.
Are you a candidate for SmartLipo?
SmartLipo is recommended for patients with a body-mass index of less than 25, who are slim with localized areas of fat that can’t be removed through exercise or dieting.
How is SmartLipo carried out?
A laser within a cannula, or tube, is inserted into the layer of fat beneath the skin and moved slowly back and forth. The laser produces heat, which ruptures the fat cell walls and liquefies the fat inside them. The liquefied fat flows into the bloodstream and is removed by the liver as normal.
How long will SmartLipo last?
SmartLipo is permanent – when fat is removed from one area of the body it won’t return there.
About SmartLipo
Key facts to plan your treatment: how long it takes, your hospital stay, anaesthesia, risks and recovery.
Duration of surgery/treatment
Depending on the areas treated, the SmartLipo procedure can take anywhere between 45 minutes and 2.5 hours.
Days admitted
None. SmartLipo is an outpatient procedure.
Anesthesia
SmartLipo is carried out under local anesthesia.
Recovery
When compared with traditional liposuction, SmartLipo delivers a faster recovery time. The laser seals blood vessels so there is minimal bleeding and swelling.
Most patients are back to work after 1 day and many patients return to full activity immediately following SmartLipo.
Final results are seen after around 12 weeks.
Risks
SmartLipo was FDA-approved in November 2006 and has a good safety record, due to being carried out under local anesthesia and the absence of major incisions and sutures.
Risks include:
- Very occasionally, hard lumps form in the treated area due to the scarring process.
- Bruising.
- Swelling.
- Skin burn.
After care
- A compression garment is optional because the treated area does not bleed very much.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief for any aches and pains.
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