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Plastic Surgery

Sidelaze

For patients dealing with excess skin and fat under the chin and around the neck, California Skin Institute physicians offer a minimally-invasive procedure called Sidelaze. Also known as “laser liposuction,” Sidelaze is utilized to target neck fat, tighten skin in the treatment area, and create more definition in the jaw. Dramatic outcomes can be achieved without the need for general anesthesia or significant recovery time.

How Sidelaze Works

The neck plays a major role in our appearance due to how it interplays with the jaw and the rest of the face. Contour and definition in the area are commonly associated with youth, while sagging skin and submental fat develop with age. It’s amazing what a difference a small amount of fat under the chin can make in an individual’s appearance, by disrupting contour.

Sidelaze is a revolutionary procedure that works in conjunction with the body’s natural processes to contour the targeted area and tighten skin. Unlike traditional liposuction, Sidelaze does not actually suction out the fat from the treatment area. Instead, the laser breaks down the fat under the skin, which is then removed by the body’s lymphatic system.

Further, the Sidelaze laser is also used to gently heat up the skin, which causes collagen fibers to contract. This creates a skin tightening effect that augments the outcomes of the fat reduction.

What Sidelaze Treats

Sidelaze is primarily used to target fat deposits and tighten skin around the neck and the jaw. The procedure is used to target issues like a double chin, jowls and sagging skin.

However, it is important to note that Sidelaze will not significantly affect vertical muscle bands, which require a surgical neck lift to correct.

Is Sidelaze Safe?

California Skin Institute providers are experts at performing the Sidelaze procedure, having used this treatment to help many patients. Risks to the patient are further reduced because the procedure requires only small incisions (the width of a ballpoint pen tip) and no general anesthesia.

For patients who have strong skin laxity and are only concerned with targeting the double chin, Kybella injections may be a viable alternative to Sidelaze.

How Long do Treatment Results Last?

Sidelaze outcomes are not immediate and will need some time to materialize, as the body removes the damaged fat cells and the skin begins to tighten. The most dramatic improvement will appear months after treatment, when the body has had time to fully heal and remove the fat.

For patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle that involves exercise and a healthy diet, the outcomes are more easily maintained.

What to Expect During Treatment?

During Sidelaze treatment, your California Skin Institute board-certified physician will first numb the treatment area with local anesthetic. Then, several small stab incisions will be made and anesthetic fluid will be delivered under the skin, to the treatment area.

When the area has become fully numb, your California Skin Institute surgeon will insert a thin tube through the incisions. The tube is very thin – approximately the width of a ballpoint pen tip – and contains the laser on one side of the tip.

The laser will then be moved around under the skin, with the laser pointing toward the fat tissue, to target the fat cells. When the fat has been treated, the laser will be turned upward, toward the skin, and will deliver heat to the collagen fibers, to cause them to tighten.

You will be awake during the entire procedure, but will not feel any pain or discomfort.

After the procedure is over, you will be able to drive yourself home. However, we strongly recommend that you have someone drive you, so that you can fully relax the day of the procedure and focus on healing.

Sidelaze Side Effects

After the Sidelaze treatment is over, your body will need several weeks to recover, and you may need to wear a chin strap, to help the skin heal properly. However, this procedure is not as invasive as traditional liposuction.

Disclaimer

Treatment results will vary, talk to a practitioner to see if this treatment or procedure is right for you.


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