FAQ

How experienced are Sono Bello physicians and their medical team? [–]

We specialize in Body Contouring. It’s all we do. Sono Bello physicians are highly-trained in this technique and perform thousands of Micro-Laser Assisted Body Contouring procedures every year. Our team approach gives patients the highest degree of attention and care.

Are consultations required? [–]

Yes, and they are free. Every person is unique and we cannot schedule a procedure without meeting with you first. We will explain all the benefits of our unique procedures, discuss your goals and expectations, answer questions, develop a customized treatment plan for you, and provide you with a specific cost estimate. If you would like to take advantage of any of the special financing options we have pre-arranged, this is a good time to ask about them. Our consultations are free because we believe that you need a risk and obligation free opportunity to carefully investigate your options.

Are consultations really free? [–]

We do not charge for consultations at Sono Bello because we believe it is so important to thoroughly discuss your options before considering any type of body contouring procedure. So if you have questions about body contouring and our unique techniques, if you want to talk about your hopes and expectations, if you want to find out what your customized procedure would cost, please call 1-877-SONO-BELLO to schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Can I bring my friends and family to my appointment? [–]

Yes. Our offices have plenty of room. I’m sure you can understand, however, why we cannot accommodate pets or children under the age of 12 in the office.

Do you offer payment options? [–]

Yes. Sono Bello offers monthly payment options to fit most budgets. Zero percent financing is available upon approval of credit. All costs will be discussed during your free consultation.

Does Laser Assisted Body Contouring leave scars on my body? [–]

The entry sites made with our Micro-Laser Assisted Body Contouring technique are small and placed as inconspicuously as possible. Since there are no stitches, there are usually no visible scars. The original incision marks on most patients are difficult to identify in 12 months and usually fade away with time.

How long will the bruising and swelling last? [–]

The duration of bruising and swelling after your procedure varies between patients and depends on the areas treated. Some patients have almost no swelling or bruising while others may experience some for up to a few weeks.

How much bruising or swelling will I have? [–]

Sono Bello’s Laser Assisted Body Contouring technique causes far less tissue trauma and inflammation than traditional liposuction; bruising and swelling are reduced. Some patients have almost no swelling or bruising while others may experience some for up to a few weeks.

How long until I can exercise? [–]

Every patient is different and everybody recovers at a different pace. Many patients have resumed their exercising routine within a few days after the procedure. We recommend that patients start out by doing about 25% of their usual amount of exercise. Then, keep increasing the level as it is comfortable. If you run or enjoy vigorous aerobics, feel free to wear the compression garment we give you for 3 to 4 weeks or until your skin fully retracts.

How long before I can go back to work? [–]

How quickly our patients return to work depends on many factors including which areas were treated, body mass index, age and their personal discomfort tolerance. Many patients should be able to return to normal desk-type work within a few days and although soreness and tenderness will limit the speed with which a patient can move about, patients should be reasonably comfortable while sitting at a desk or working at a computer. Remember though that everybody is unique and accordingly your experience may vary.

How long will it be until I see results? [–]

Final results vary from patient to patient; by age, area treated, amount of fat removed, and individual healing rates. Some patients see immediate results that continue to become even more impressive. Others experience minor swelling so that it takes a few months until the final results can be appreciated, even though substantial amounts of fat may have been removed. As a general rule, young patients tend to heal quicker and have less discomfort (although final results often take longer because young patients retain fluid longer than older patients). The timing for results also varies by area. Some, like the chin, show almost immediate improvement while other areas, like the abdomen, take longer for final results. There is no way to predict ahead of time your healing speed, fluid retention, or how quickly you will see the final results. On average however, most patients enjoy 80% of their ultimate results within three to four months following their procedure.

Does Laser Assisted Body Contouring produce permanent results? [–]

Yes! Laser Assisted Body Contouring immediately and permanently removes fat. Adults do not create new fat cells. When a person gains weight, fat cells expand. Should you gain weight in the future, fat will tend to accumulate in areas where the procedure was not performed (where there are more remaining fat cells).

How long after body contouring does the soreness or tenderness persist? [–]

The best analogy our patients have given us is that Laser Assisted Body Contouring feels similar to a good, hard workout. You will feel good the day of the procedure, but will most likely wake up with a bit of soreness the next day. Many of our patients don’t feel they need any more than Ibuprofen or Tylenol and recovery is aided by light exercise, like walking. We also provide a compression garment to help to minimize discomfort and swelling. This should be worn for the first 4-5 days. Some patients choose to wear the compression garment during exercise or strenuous activities (when skin is likely to jiggle) for a few weeks after the procedure.

Who is a good candidate for Laser Assisted Body Contouring? [–]

Laser Assisted Body Contouring is an excellent technique for removal of fat from difficult areas of the body that don’t respond to diet and exercise. If you’re in good health, have an active lifestyle and areas of fat you’d like to have permanently removed, talk with us about what we can do for you at Sono Bello.

Who is not a candidate for Laser Assisted Body Contouring? [–]

Laser Assisted Body Contouring is not suited for individuals with:

• Diabetes
• Liver problems
• Blood disorders
• Kidney problems
• Heart problems
• History of keloid scarring
• A BMI (Body Mass Index) over 40

What areas of the body can be treated? [–]

Unlike traditional liposuction, Laser Assisted Body Contouring can treat almost any part of the body. The most popular area for men and women is the abdomen and “love handles”. Our technique allows Sono Bello physicians to treat chins, arms and breasts with far faster recovery and less bruising.
Laser Assisted Body Contouring have been designed to treat localized pockets of fat in the following areas:

• Waist
• Chin (double or hanging chin)
• Inner and outer thighs
• Hips
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Face (not around eyes)
• Male breasts (gynecomastia)

How much fat can Laser Assisted Body Contouring remove? [–]

Laser Assisted Body Contouring can remove up to 70% of the fat in a treated area. The percentage of fat removed depends on the amount of fat present, the fibrosity of the patient’s fat (some patients have harder fat than others) and the aesthetic goal to be achieved. A good way to estimate your final results with Laser Assisted Body Contouring is to pinch the area you want to have treated and feel how deeply the muscles are beneath the skin. Feeling the muscle is most easily done by contracting the muscle and rubbing your hands over the skin. The distance between the skin and the outside of the tensed muscle is the thickness of your fat layer. If you would be satisfied with a 50% reduction in the fat layer, you would be a good candidate and pleased with your Laser Assisted Body Contouring results.

Is there discomfort during the procedure? [–]

The level of discomfort is different for every patient. As our Laser Assisted Body Contouring technique removes fat, the laser coagulates the loose ends of small blood vessels. Compression garments and natural healing does the rest of the work to contract the treated area and overlying skin. After the anesthesia has worn off, our patients tell us that it only feels like the aches and pains you have after a vigorous workout which can be relieved, if you wish, with over-the-counter pain medications. Many of our patients feel comfortable returning to work within a day or two but we do advise you to take it easy for a few days after the procedure.

Can I drive myself home after the procedure? [–]

NO. We require that you have a responsible adult sign you out after your procedure and stay with you for 24 hours. This allows us to give you additional medication during your procedure to keep you comfortable and relaxed.

What happens to the skin after Laser Assisted Body Contouring removes the fat? [–]

One of the wonderful benefits of Sono Bello’s Laser Assisted Body Contouring technique is that it leads to the formation of new collagen which promotes skin tightening. Immediately following the procedure the skin will be loose where the fat was removed, however, within 24 hours the skin’s natural retraction and the body’s normal healing mechanisms help the skin to tighten and return to nearly the same as it was prior to the procedure. Over the next 6 to 8 weeks, the skin continues to firm up over the new contour and is usually tighter and more toned than before the procedure. For patients above age 60 or patients who have lost significant weight, complete retraction of the skin is not possible. If you have any questions, your Sono Bello physician will give you realistic expectations about your outcome.

How will this affect my schedule after the procedure? [–]

Following your procedure you will walk out and be able to perform mild activities. Our Laser Assisted Body Contouring technique is far less impacting than traditional liposuction, which usually requires weeks of recovery and a possible overnight stay when performed with heavy anesthesia. We encourage you to take it easy for a few days, but this is dependent on how your individual body heals. Many patients return to normal activities within a few days.

Will I be awake or under general anesthesia? [–]

You will be awake because our techniques only require local numbing of the treated areas, NOT heavy anesthesia. This translates into faster recovery and less downtime. If you are concerned that you will be nervous, just talk to your doctor. We can provide you with medicine to relax and calm you during surgery to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

What about gynecomastia treatment for men? [–]

Some men suffer from abnormally large breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia. Sono Bello’s Micro-Laser Assisted Body Contouring is a great solution to this concern. It not only permanently removes the fat, but allows the physician to more accurately sculpt the treatment area.

Will I get fat in weird places after I have body contouring? [–]

No. It is a common but false myth that the fat removed by body contouring grows back in other places after the procedure. The number of fat cells your body has was finalized by the time you finished puberty. Once you become an adult, your body does not make any more fat cells.

What happens if I gain weight after body contouring? [–]

If a person gains weight after Laser Assisted Body Contouring, it typically will be gained primarily in areas that were not treated. While it is possible to gain weight again in the treated areas (since we generally can only remove about 70% of the fat cells), after Sono Bello treats an area there simply won’t be as many fat cells left to expand there if a patient does gain weight later.

Will body contouring help cellulite or sagging skin? [–]

Sono Bello’s new micro-laser techniques can improve the appearance of cellulite and help to promote skin tightening. However the degree to which each patient will see improvement varies. Some patients enjoy remarkable reduction in their cellulite while others see little change. Because the amount of cellulite improvement cannot be predicted, Laser Assisted Body Contouring is not considered a treatment for cellulite. If you are over 60 and have very little skin elasticity or have undergone a massive weight loss, your skin may have permanent wrinkling that looks somewhat like cellulite. If cellulite reduction is your goal, note that Sono Bello offers a new FDA-approved procedure called VelaShape that offers consistently impressive results.

Can body contouring still work if I am older or don’t have much skin elasticity? [–]

Yes, because Sono Bello’s new techniques promote skin tightening. Many patients with poor skin elasticity enjoy excellent results with Laser Assisted Body Contouring and are very pleased with the amount of skin retraction. During your initial consultation, we will discuss your particular situation.

What is cellulite? [–]

Cellulite is one of the most troubling aesthetic concerns of women. Skin with cellulite looks lumpy or dimpled, some women refer to it as ‘cottage cheese’ or ‘orange peel’ looking. Cellulite is the result of fat deposits that appear mainly on the hips, thighs and buttocks. It’s estimated that 80% of women over the age of 20, regardless of their weight or size, have some amount of cellulite.

What causes cellulite? [–]

The skin’s connective tissue surrounds fat cells, which are arranged in chambers. Over time, the fat cells increase in size and number. This phenomenon together with accumulation of localized edema, push the skin’s surface in an upward direction creating the lumpy, dimpled , ‘cottage cheese’ appearance associated with cellulite. Our new FDA approved procedure reduces the size of the fat cells and softens the connective tissue to significantly reduce the appearance of Cellulite.

How does cellulite reduction therapy work? [–]

The VelaShape™ cellulite reduction therapy works by combining a strong physical massage of the cellulite layers under your skin with penetrating heat and radio energy to recontour your body and improve the unsightly appearance of cellulite.

How well does cellulite treatment work? [–]

In clinical research published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 90 percent of adult women treated with the VelaShape™ cellulite treatment system noticed overall improvement. Almost 95 percent of the women who saw improvement planned to purchase additional VelaShape™ cellulite treatment on other areas of their bodies after the research study ended.

What does cellulite treatment feel like? [–]

The VelaShape™ cellulite treatment feels much like a deep tissue massage. There may be initially a slight pinching of the skin, which can be eliminated by the technician through adjusting the rollers on the treatment head.

What are the side effects of cellulite treatment? [–]

There may be very slight bruising or reddening after the first few treatment sessions.

How many cellulite reduction treatments will I need? [–]

The number of needed cellulite reduction treatments varies on the area of the body being treated and on a variety of personal characteristics, but clients generally see significant improvement within one month of weekly cellulite reduction treatments.

What cellulite reduction results can I expect? [–]

Cellulite is a natural part of your body, and no therapy, not even surgery, can eliminate it. The VelaShape™ cellulite reduction therapy, however, recontours the cellulite layers, and will smooth them out to reduce or eliminate the unsightly ridges or “cottage cheese” appearance of untreated cellulite.