It's amazing how far technology has come these days. It's hard to imagine what life would be like without computers and the Internet, but just ten years ago there were still lots of people who didn't use a computer at all. Now, things like lasers are making their way into the medical profession, so that now, it's hard for some patients to imagine what procedures were like before lasers.

Lasers have become pioneers in cosmetic surgery, and at the forefront is SmartLipo. You've heard a lot about SmartLipo recently through various medical journals that you read (yes, you admit it, you're a nerd). You're intrigued by the fact that not only is it a minimally invasive procedure, but it's also already been FDA approved.

At a dinner party that you're hosting, you mention SmartLipo to one of your friends. Your friend has no clue what this procedure entails. So, you explain that it's a laser technology that ruptures the fat cells in those areas of the body that store fat (usually that's the midsection for most people), which ends up liquefying it. The fat is then drained out through a small metal tube.

Your friend is both disgusted (you have a way of going into lots of detail on these kinds of things) and intrigued. She's a busy woman like yourself, and thus hasn't had time to go to the gym. SmartLipo is definitely one of those procedures that could give her back that firm midsection she used to have, right?

You tell her that she's partially right. But, from the research that you've done, it's pretty clear that the doctor will only perform the procedure on someone who has love handles that, despite diet and exercise, just won't go away. It's not the kind of procedure that's done on people just because they have a little bit of fat they want to lose as quickly as possible.

Admittedly, when you first heard about this kind of procedure, you were most attracted by your idea that the fat will just melt away. Plus, it seemed as if the results would be long-lasting. It's true that the results last longer than a regular liposuction procedure, but it also takes longer for the results to show up. For example, a person who has had a decent amount of fat extracted might not see the results for up to a year.

Wow, an entire year? That's right. Why? Because it takes time for the body to readjust after it has been changed. Take, for example, a pregnant woman. Once she's given birth, she will still look pregnant for a couple of days to a couple of weeks afterward. So, it only makes sense that, in the case of a person who has lost a lot of weight, it will take time for the body to readjust itself. However, there won't be a lot of extra skin just hanging (like jowls) because of significant weight loss. Instead, the skin and surrounding muscles will be tightened as part of the procedure.