New outpatient Lipo procedure cuts recovery time

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By Lynda Figueredo - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Brand-new outpatient plastic surgery techniques are giving patients the body they always wanted without spending hours at the gym or enduring a painful recovery and unsightly scars.

The new technology is being used in Savannah to target those pesky problem areas.

We do have to warn you some of the content of this story is graphic, as we take you into the operating room.

"Hello Queen, you ready?" said Dr. Mary Kay Ross as she walks into the room. "I'm ready," responds Queen Ross with a slight quiver in her voice and a smile on her face.

Queen, a 24-year-old mother of two and Fort Stewart mechanic is preparing to undergo a non-invasive type of liposuction.

"I work out a lot and I have two children, and I can never lose that belly fat, so I thought this wouldn't be a bad thing," Queen said.

"We are going to do your abdomen, lower and upper abdomen," Dr. Ross told Queen.

What is unique about Queen's procedure is she is going to be awake the whole time and be able to return to work within days.

"I never heard of that ... when you see it on TV, they are always asleep," Queen said.

Three new technologies will be used during the procedure.

The first is a tool called "Smooth Shapes," that just rolled off the factory last month.

Kevin Simons is the regional director of Smooth Shapes and is showcasing the new technology for Dr. Ross.

"Eighty-five percent to 90 percent of women have an accumulation of fat in an area," said Simmons. "Fat cells go up in fibrous cells and expands and makes dimpling effects. This system will go over those areas and cause those fat cells to shrink, giving the appearance of a smoother area."

"[It] feels like a massage," said Queen as Simmons rolls Smooth shapes over the target area.

Ross then takes over and begins prepping Queen.

"I will be initially inserting fluid into the fat layer, basically inflating her abdomen and making a safe layer in order to insert the laser and melt the fat," Ross said. "Then we will suction it out."

Once Queen's stomach is filled with the saline solution, Dr. Ross begins using a tool called the Vaser.

Vaser lipo uses ultrasonic energy to break apart fat deposits.

"So far so good," said Dr. Ross as she uses the Vaser. "We have vasered one side, and we will vaser the other side.

Soon it's time to switch tools.

Ross then begins to use a new technology from France called lipotherme, that uses heat to melt apart the cells and tighten the skin, all while Queen is wide awake.

"Is it weird to be awake, while this is being done," said Queen as she listens to music.

Soon those stubborn fatty areas begin to melt away. In just a couple hours the procedure will all be over, and Queen will be able to walk out feeling several inches thinner.

"That is going to be the best thing," Queen said.

A procedure like this usually costs about $5,000 and up. Ross said it can take up to three months to see the full effects.