Smart Lipo vs Tumescent Liposuction: What is the Difference & Benefits

Deciding between Smart lipo vs tumescent liposuction is a situation that many people find themselves in during their visits to the clinics or providers of cosmetic surgeries.

Both procedures are variations of the traditional liposuction, which aims at suctioning the fat from different areas, such as the abdomen, back, or thighs without ling incisions. In any case, liposuction is not a cure for obesity.

Both procedures are also very effective and highly recommended. Nevertheless, there are key differences between the two. If you’re planning to have one of them, you need to be aware of these differences.

Smart Lipo vs Tumescent Liposuction: The Right Definitions

The key difference between Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction lies in the mechanism of each one. We can define both procedures as follows:

Definition of Smart Lipo

Smart Lipo is another name of laser-assisted liposuction or laser lipolysis, which is a fat-melting process that uses laser energy and a cannula to remove fat out of your body without causing much trauma.

The FDA approved Smart lipo in 2006, and since then, the treatment gained incredible popularity because it’s less invasive and easier than other liposuction techniques. Many people use the term” new lipo” to refer to Smart lipo.

Definition of Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent liposuction, known as local liposuction, involves the use of fluids (saline and other compounds) to help remove fat. Unlike other types of liposuctions, tumescent liposuction doesn’t require general anesthesia al the time.

Tumescent liposuction has become the most popular form of liposuction in the United States. When compared to the traditional liposuction, tumescent is less painful and more effective, leading more surgeons to depend more on this type.

What Are The Benefits of Smart Lipo & Tumescent Liposuction: 

Both Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction have incredible set of benefits.

Benefits of Smart Lipo

• Achieves better-looking, more defined body contours
• Stimulates collagen production and tightens the skin
• Achieves high level of fat removal without surgery
• Has short recovery period because it causes less trauma
• Can target smaller areas of the body, such as upper arms
• Requires only local anesthesia, meaning fewer anesthesia-related risks.

Benefits of Tumescent Liposuction

• Can remove fat from almost any part of the body, including the abdomen and breasts
• Has shorter recovery when compared with the traditional liposuction.
• Uses adrenaline, which reduces the possibility of bleeding
• Requires local anesthesia, not general anesthesia.
• Can treat lipomas (benign fatty lumps or tumors beneath the skin)
• Has fewer risks and side effects

What Are The Risks of Smart Lipo & Tumescent Liposuction

Despite being very effective procedures, Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction still carry some risks and potential complications, but they remain rare and minor.

Risks of Smart Lipo

• Still requires the making of a small incision, so it’s not really a non-invasive procedure.
• Involves extended downtime for 5 days at least. Sometimes people needs several weeks or months before everything returns ok.
• Can burn the skin, especially if the provider is underqualified or the device is not well adjusted.
• Can cause hematoma, infection, and other post-surgical side effects.

Risks of Tumescent Liposuction

• Mild burning or discomfort
• Scars and lumps formation
• Minimal bleeding
• Skin irregularities
• Loose skin
• Numbness
• Infection

What is The Cost of Smart Lipo & Tumescent Liposuction

When it comes to cost, there is a huge difference between Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction based on the location, clinic or surgeon reputation, and other factors. However, Turkey is by far the cheapest option for liposuction and other cosmetic surgeries.

Cost of Smart Lipo

• Turkey: 700-4000 US dollars
• United States: 2000-7000 US dollars
• United Kingdom: 2200-8000 US dollars
• Germany: 3000-4000 US dollars

Cost of Tumescent Liposuction

• Turkey: 1700-4000 US dollars
• United States: 2000-10000 US dollars
• United Kingdom: 2500-11000 US dollars
• Germany: 2000-7000 US dollars

Related Article: Cost of Liposuction

Smart Lipo Vs Tumescent Liposuction: Which One Is Better for You?

Before moving forward and choose the type of liposuction you want, you must consult a qualified surgeon to assess your fat and skin condition. Smart lipo is less invasive and very effective procedure, but maybe tumescent liposuction is better for your case.

In fact, the demand for both procedure is high, and no one can prefer one over the other easily until the surgeon gives the final verdict. However, if you want additional skin rightening and improvement, you can go for Smart lipo.

Clinical studies described the results of most liposuction types as being “equivocal” without raising one type over the other in terms of benefits. So, it’s very important to remain cautious about exaggerated claims made by clinics and medical providers who want to market selected types of liposuctions.

Other Liposuction Techniques

Besides Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction, you have the option to choose other types of liposuctions, including:

Traditional liposuction: Most plastic clinics initially offer traditional liposuction to their patients who desire fat removal from small areas in their bodies, such as neck and chin. The traditional lipo is carried out under local anesthesia and can bring good results with fewer side effects.

Water assisted liposuction: Both water- assisted liposuction and tumescent liposuction share a lot of similarities. However, water- assisted liposuction depends heavily on using” pressurized” saline solution to dislodge fat.

Power-assisted liposuction: This method relies more on power of vibration to remove fat. As the cannula vibrates back and forth, the surgeon will be able to extract fat without much effort.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction: Known also as VASER Liposuction, ultrasound-assisted liposuction aims at turning fat cells into liquid using ultrasonic vibrations. Surgeons often use this technique to remove fat from fibrous areas, such as the breast.

Other Body Sculpting Techniques

Regardless to type, liposuction remains just a category of body sculpting. Other body sculpting techniques that can sculpt the body and remove fat include:

• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): If you seek flat and well-defined abdomen with tight muscles, you can choose this surgery.
• Thigh lift (thighplasty): People often undergo thigh lift to remove fat and improve the appearance of skin on the upper thighs.
• Arm lift (brachioplasty): Considered as the best solution for “bat wings”, arm lift can reshape the back of your upper arm and grant you a more defined look.
• Butt lift (gluteal lift): This is a surgery that can reshape your buttocks and remove drooping skin for the sake of having rounder, better-defined buttocks.

The Bottom Line

People who speculate about Smart lipo vs tumescent liposuction usually opt to know the difference in terms of mechanism, benefits, risks, and cost. Smart lipo is less invasive than the tumescent liposuction and maybe less expensive, but the later might bring better results and cover large areas in the body.

Here at International Clinics, surgeons use both techniques to sculpt the body and remove excess away from certain areas. Besides Smart lipo and tumescent liposuction, we offer other types of body sculpting procedures. You can reach us directly by using the Contact Us buttons below.