SAFELipo^®

You may find that SAFELipo^® costs a bit more than other liposuction techniques because of the SAFELipo^® surgeons’ ability to perform a much more thorough removal of excess fat and a more dramatic contouring of your problem areas – as well as the fact that only highly qualified and experienced plastic surgeons are SAFELipo^® surgeons. Dr. Reid and Dr. Gordon are the only SAFELipo^® surgeons in Austin, Texas. Their comprehensive, transformative results – not to mention the potential advantage of avoiding repeat procedures – make it worth the extra cost to satisfied SAFELipo^® patients.

Liposuction – the removal of fat from the body – is only one part of SAFELipo^®procedure. The SAFELipo^® process includes fat redistribution/grafting/shifting, liposuction, skin tightening and contour deformity correction for a comprehensive reshaping of the entire treated area.

First, you will first meet with Brandy, our Clinical Consultant, or one of our wonderful nurses. We will discuss your goals and will review before-and-after pictures so you can see first hand the dramatic results that SAFELipo^® can deliver. You will then meet with your surgeon to discuss your medical history and your aesthetic goals. Your surgeon will then do a complete exam, zoning in on your areas of concern and your skin quality. The procedure, risks, and recovery will be discussed in detail with you and all of your questions answered. You will then meet with your Patient Coordinator, who set up your consultation, to discuss scheduling, costs and financing. Once you pick a surgery day, we will schedule your pre-op appointment 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. At your pre-op appointment, we will review your surgical plan, finalize your range of implants, and take photographs. During the visit you will also sign consents and receive your prescriptions and specific instructions to get you prepared for before and after your procedure. We promise to make sure you are comfortable and well prepared.

We believe there are many reasons, but our name, RESTORA, explains it all.

Results. Our “Before & After” pictures speak for themselves.  Natural, beautiful results in a wide range of sizes and types of patients.

Experience. Our board-certified plastic surgeons are arguably the busiest breast enhancement surgeons in Austin.

Safety. It is a privilege when you choose us, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. Your well-being and comfort are our primary concerns, so your procedure will be performed in a fully accredited operating room with a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Team. Our team is a group of overachievers focused on delivering the best plastic surgery experience possible. Over half of us started out as patients of Dr. Gordon or Reid, so we have an intimate understanding of the anxiety and excitement that come with this decision.

On the Cutting Edge. Our surgeons never rest on their past and present achievements. Their practice is a constant evolution in the “how” and “why” of aesthetic surgery, always perfecting techniques that minimize scarring, discomfort, and downtime but give maximal results.

Respect. Our practice is built on word-of-mouth referrals from happy patients and our medical colleagues. For example, Dr. Gordon was name a Texas Rising Star in 2012 and 2013 and a Texas Super Doctor in 2014, and Dr. Reid was named a Texas Super Doctor in 2013 and 2014. Super Doctors identifies top doctors as selected by their peers and only 5% of physicians are named to Super Doctors and no more than 2.5% are named to the Rising Stars list. We have two of those docs under one roof!

Artistic Approach. We don’t believe in “one operation or one type of implant fits all” cookie cutter approach to aesthetic surgery. Our doctors will create an individualized plan to exceed your expectations and bring out the best version of yourself.

Only the nation’s top board-certified plastic surgeons are invited to participate in the SAFELipo^® certification process. Having completed the extensive training program, Drs. Gordon and Reid were among the first plastic surgeons in the country to offer this cutting-edge technology to their patients and are proud to be the only certified SAFELipo^® providers for Austin and Central Texas. They believe the integration of this innovative body contouring technology into their surgical practice has revolutionized patient outcomes.

One of the most exciting “side effects” of SAFELipo^® is the unparalleled skin contraction that occurs for up to a year following surgery. Dr. Gordon’s analogy is “shrink wrap” because the treated area isn’t just debulked, it’s sculpted and truly made smaller. You will look better in and out of your clothes because your rolls and bulges will be eliminated, and your skin will contract on its own, without the need for heat and the risk of burns and surrounding tissue damage.

Yes. The rise in complications from the influx of tissue damaging liposuction devices is what prompted Dr. Simeon Wall, Jr. to think outside the box and find new solutions to these challenging problems. SAFELipo^® was developed specifically for revision liposuction. The technique worked so well in complex cases that over time he applied his unique method to primary liposuction cases and was able to provide smooth, natural-appearing results with fewer contour irregularities than standard liposuction.

‘Laser lipo’ and SmartLipo™, like all thermal liposuction methods, use tremendous heat to burn the fat before removal. SmartLipo™ generates this heat by using laser energy. VASER liposuction is similar to Smartlipo, but it works by ultrasound, and does not damage the tissue to the degree that SmartLipo™ does. The unfortunate by-product of all of this heat is burning and coagulation of the blood vessels and supporting tissues that keep the skin and remaining fat healthy and supple. An inflammatory process follows the death of these fat cells, which leads to dermal adhesion and scarring. In rare cases, these burns can be so severe, as to actually burn through the outer skin leaving horrific scars. Ultimately, this heat-induced trauma can result in the contour irregularities, often associated with a “bad” liposuction outcome, with wavy, uneven skin that appears damaged and unnatural.

Absolutely, and the difference in results is why surgeons and patients alike are raving about SAFELipo^®. It has truly been a game changer in liposuction, and it inspired Dr. Reid and Dr. Gordon to look at body contouring in an entirely new light. For decades, traditional liposuction, although considered the gold standard, was plagued with complications, such as contour irregularities, excessive blood loss, excessive pain and bruising, skin burns, and loose skin, just to name a few. Surgeons were frustrated with the limited technology available, but in 2007, everything changed, and there was an influx of new liposuction devices, like SmartLipo™, Cool Lipo, and Body-Jet. It was a promising time, but it was short lived. Unfortunately, these technologies delivered more complications than solutions, and the complications were much harder to treat than in the past, primarily because of tissue damage from heat generated by these “fat-melting devices”. The multi million-dollar companies behind these devices invested in slick direct to consumer marketing instead of scientific research. To make matters worse, they sold the majority of devices to non-plastic surgeons whose only training was a weekend course. Liposuction was being offered in family practice, gynecology and dermatology offices across the country. Body contouring centers were set up and staffed by emergency room physicians. Although the providers were doctors, many weren’t surgeons, much less board-certified plastic surgeons. Complications skyrocketed and plastic surgeons saw an influx in revisionary liposuction cases.

Yes. SAFELipo^® is frequently combined with the following procedures:

• Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck 360™
• Mommy Makeover Austin and Before Baby Body Procedures
• Breast Lift and Breast Reduction
• Brachioplasty or Arm Lift
• Outer and/or Inner Thigh Lifts
• Brazilian Butt Lift and/or Butt Augmentation with Fat Grafting
• Facelift

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will discuss your concerns and goals and will formulate an individualized treatment plan to achieve your best result.

SAFELipo^® can be done on almost any area(s) of stubborn fat, including:

• Abdomen
• Inner and Outer Thighs
• Knees
• Neck and Chin
• Arms
• Waist, Hips and Flanks
• Back
• Bra Roll in women
• Chest in men

SAFELipo^® is performed using Microaire’s PAL^® LipoSculptor. PAL stands for Power Assisted Liposuction. The PAL^® LipoSculptor is a very sophisticated, patented device that utilizes specialized vibrating probes or cannulas to perform SAFELipo^®. The vibrations facilitate movement of the cannula through the tissue, so the back and forth motion of the cannula is much gentler and slower than with traditional liposuction. Almost everyone has seen scary YouTube videos of traditional liposuction, where the surgeon looks like he’s physically assaulting the patient. The vibrations of the PAL^® LipoSculptor are employed in all 3 steps of the SAFELipo^® procedure.

Well, it’s definitely not your mother’s liposuction. SAFELipo^® is a comprehensive, multi-step body contouring process that doesn’t just remove fat, as traditional liposuction does, but it also uses local fat grafting to sculpt the target areas for visibly smoother and more dramatic results. SAFE is an acronym that stands for fat Separation, fat Aspiration, and Fat Equalization. It is the first and only body contouring technique to eliminate excess fat evenly by combining the benefits of liposuction, fat shifting and fat grafting into a patented 3-step S-A-F-E process. It results in dramatic, smooth and natural contours and a big boost of self-confidence.

Yes, there’s superficial fat and deep fat. Superficial fat is located between your skin and your abdominal muscles. Deep fat is located behind the muscles inside your abdominal cavity, around your intestines and organs. Liposuction only treats superficial fat. Deep fat loss occurs with diet and exercise. Excessive internal or deep fat can cause protuberance of the abdominal wall, much like pregnancy does. Men tend to have more internal or deep fat than women.

We want to know what’s motivating you to consider SAFELipo^®, so we can help you best achieve your aesthetic goals. Liposuction is not a weight loss alternative.

You are an ideal candidate if you are:

• Your BMI is <30% of your ideal body weight for height and frame.
• Generally healthy and physically active.
• Have good skin quality. This is the key to great results because after SAFELipo^® your skin must mold itself to your new contours.
• You are internally motivated and are doing this for yourself and not from pressure by your husband or partner.
• You have realistic expectations and understand that what nature has given you (body type, skin quality) may limit the outcome. This will be discussed in detail during your consultation.