As the weather warms and swimsuit season gets closer, fat reduction seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind (both men and women).   If the dizzying array of swim suit styles has your head spinning, then you’re sure to be shocked by the staggering amount of weight loss, fat reduction, and skin tightening options available.  This is why we’d like to take the opportunity to explain all of the body contouring procedures available at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s specialty centers:

Tumescent Liposuction- One of the most trusted liposuction techniques, tumescent liposuction is performed under general anesthesia and used to remove areas of excess fat from men and women.  Your surgeon will carefully inject tumescent fluid into the treatment area to “puff-up” the unwanted fat cells for easier removal.  Additionally, the tumescent fluid contains carefully calculated amounts of anesthetic to control bleeding and post-procedure bruising and swelling.  While it’s no replacement for a healthy lifestyle, tumescent liposuction can remove larger amounts of fat than body sculpting procedures performed under local anesthesia.  Tumescent liposuction is available at The Atlanta Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center.

Laser Liposuction- Similar to SmartLipo™ fat reduction procedures, laser liposuction uses local anesthesia to numb isolated areas of excess fat on the hips, thighs, abdomen, back, neck or jowls.  Thin metal suctioning tubes called micro cannulas are then inserted through small incisions to remove very small amounts of undesired fat cells.

Exilis- One of the newest, non-invasive body contouring procedures available, Exilis treatment is FDA approved for skin tightening.  Exilis works by topically heating the skin on the face and body to improve skin tone and texture by boosting the body’s collagen production capabilities.  In addition to skin firming, most Exilis patients also report noticeable fat reduction after one treatment. The thermal energy causes fat cells to breakdown and disperse.  Exilis patients tend to benefit most from a series of four sessions spaced a few weeks apart.  Exilis treatment is available in several of Dermatology Associate’s specialty centers.

Coolsculpting™ by Zeltiq™- Produces fat reduction similar to Exilis by employing the opposite approach:  metal plates sandwich excess tissue to freeze the fat located in the treatment area.  The extreme temperature damages the fat cells so that the body gradually disposes of the excess material to reveal a slimmer silhouette of the abdomen, hips, or back.  Zeltiq™ is available at DAA’s Atlanta Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center.

Fat Transfer / Autologous Fat Transplant- Fat transfer removes undesired, excess fat via liposuction.  The fat removed from the patient is then purified and re-injected into other areas of the body to promote collagen production and rejuvenate the appearance of the hands, acne scars, and deep wrinkles around the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds).

It’s important to remember that no fat reduction or body sculpting procedure can take the place of regular exercise and a healthy, nutrient rich diet.  Each fat reduction technique addresses certain locations and amounts of unwanted fat better than others.  Schedule your cosmetic consultation at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta so that an appropriate recommendation may be made.  You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn about the newest fat reduction technology as it becomes available.