Introducing LipoRe, from GIOSTAR Chicago
What is LipoRe?
Orthopedic disorders affect more than 100 million adults in the United States. Knee, hip, and back problems contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, and a sharply reduced ability to exercise. It is not surprising then, that many individuals with these issues also suffer from obesity along with poor self-esteem.
People have typically resorted to cosmetic procedures such as liposuction to address body image issues; a recent survey estimates that 260,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the United States in 2018. To effectively maintain their “beach bodies,” however, individuals must also attend to orthopedic issues that may prevent them from running a 5k or playing a game of pickup basketball. Traditionally, patients would undergo highly invasive and painful surgeries on impacted areas of the body. They would need to pay separate visits to the respective specialists for cosmetic and orthopedic procedures, and be forced to undergo recovery spanning several weeks (or months).
Enter LipoRe – a new offering from GIOSTAR Chicago that combines awake liposuction with regenerative therapy. Total body rejuvenation and cosmetic fat reduction allow patients to achieve relief from orthopedic and other degenerative conditions, while taking advantage of body contouring services. Patients can now help alleviate joint pain, while trimming unwanted fat from various parts of their body as a one-stop shop. LipoRe leverages groundbreaking lab techniques developed by regenerative medicine pioneer Dr. Anand Srivastava, along with the expertise of renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Gellis.
Tumescent (or “awake”) liposuction can have many benefits in enhancing the aesthetics of a patient’s body. Here are a few representative examples of regions of the body “before“ and “after” liposuction. Please note that results may vary between patients.
What is awake liposuction?
The technique was advanced by Dr. Gellis in response to widely documented patient concerns over safety and discomfort with liposuction under general anesthesia. Individuals undergo the procedure – also known as tumescent liposuction – while awake, hence the name. Currently, this is the most popular form of liposuction, and the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States.
How is awake liposuction performed?
Awake tumescent liposuction is performed using a diluted solution of local anesthetic and other medications, to fill the layer of fat under the skin before the removal of excess fat. The procedure begins with the doctor injecting a solution into the patient’s fatty tissue, which acts as a sort of anesthesia to numb the area.
It causes the tissue to swell and grow firm, enabling the cosmetic surgeon to better target the excess fat and tissue of concern. The cosmetic surgeon also sculpts those areas that bulge to improve contouring in the areas of concern, thereby offering significant aesthetic enhancements. The doctor makes small incisions in the skin around the area that is to be treated.
From there, a cannula is inserted through the incision, which allows for removal of excess fat. Once the fat is removed, the tiny wounds are covered with gauze pads, and elastic support garments are applied to impacted areas. At the same time, the patient’s adipose is extracted to harvest the stem cells. Upon extraction, the adipose tissue is sent to GIOSTAR Chicago’s state of the art in-house laboratory. Patients may feel some numbness for 36 hours or longer after their awake tumescent liposuction procedure.
What are the benefits of awake tumescent liposuction?
Awake tumescent liposuction offers several advantages over traditional liposuction in terms of efficacy, safety, and the level of pain felt by patients. Most importantly, awake tumescent liposuction is performed as an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require general anesthesia or IV sedation. Hence, patients can enjoy a reduced recovery time, avoid a lengthy stay in the hospital, and return to regular exercise, work, and other elements of their routine fairly quickly. Further, in avoiding general anesthesia, awake liposuction greatly reduces the risk of potential complications, along with the overall cost of the procedure to the patient.
To achieve maximum efficacy, cosmetic surgery requires unfettered access to areas with excess fat. Awake liposuction is extremely effective in this regard: patients are under only oral sedation and therefore able to easily switch positions when asked, allowing the surgeon to more effectively target problem areas. Further, patients experience fewer complications with the procedure, and much lower incidence of bleeding, bruising, and skin irritation.
Would I be a good LipoRe candidate?
As with all procedures performed at GIOSTAR Chicago, individuals must complete a medical review form and undergo a thorough screening process from Dr. Gellis and our clinical review team. Patients must meet specific requirements for weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and other criteria in order to be eligible for the procedure.
What are the areas of the body targeted by LipoRe?
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LipoRe allows for same-day fat removal for both men & women from the:
- Thighs
- Arms
- Chin and jaw
- Chest (for males)
- Lower abdomen
- Waist and hips
- Medial knee
- Upper and lower back
- Dowager back
- Front and back bra roll
The cosmetic surgery is supplemented by:
- Total anti-aging rejuvenation therapy
- Joint injections (hips, knees, shoulders)
- Vitamin therapy
- Oxygen therapy
Why GIOSTAR Chicago?
GIOSTAR Chicago is one of the first and only centers in the world to provide patients with the convenience of a combined offering. Patients can have both procedures performed in one visit, and only have to go through the recovery process once. They greatly benefit from the services of highly credentialed plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Gellis, regarded by many as one of the pioneers of awake tumescent liposuction.
Dr. Gellis promotes patient safety, positive surgical outcomes, and adherence to the high practice standards expected by our patients, in line with GIOSTAR’s tradition of excellence. He has published many articles on reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, and has performed thousands of complex operations. His affiliations include the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
Ready to take the next step?
Please complete a medical history review form today, and one of our specialists will contact you to discuss next steps.