Practice Information
Thomas Heggen, MD, FACOG, did his initial training for tumescent liposuction with Dr. Jeffery Klein who invented and perfected tumescent anesthesia in the mid 1980’s. Dr Heggen subsequently trained with Dr. Roger Hogue, a protégé of Dr. Klein, who expanded and increased the results of tumescent liposuction by using laser technology during the procedure. Dr Heggen has taken the best from both methods to provide his patients with state of the art technique that provides patients with gratifying results while maintaining the safety and low risk profile inherent in tumescent liposuction.

Dr. Heggen is a Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist who has practiced in the Chicago area for over 22 years. He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr Heggen earned his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in Ames, IA where he graduated With Distinction with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. It was during these years he became interested in the use of lasers and light in the treatment of numerous medical conditions.

Dr. Heggen has become known for his holistic and compassionate care of his patients. His special interests include minimally invasive surgery, the perimenopause, and general medical care of his patients, especially as it is uniquely influenced by age and gender. His career-long interest in gender specific aspects of dermatology, coupled with more than two decades of experience using a variety of lasers in the treatment of gynecologic and skin conditions, have made aesthetics medicine a natural addition to his practice. Dr Heggen has received advanced training in non-surgical aesthetics/cosmetic procedures from some of the nation’s leading experts in this field.

Dr. Heggen is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecology (ABOG). He is also a member of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), North American Menopause Society (NAMS), AMA, Illinois State Medical Society, and Will-Grundy County Medical Society.

Eterna Liposuction Services
Eterna Medspa now offers procedures recently approved by the FDA for use in melting and removing fat and firming skin. Building on the success of SmartLip,™ ProLipo™ uses the first laser to liquefy fat cells and its much less invasive than the traditional liposuction procedure.

An added benefit is that the second laser also tightens skin, often preventing the sagging that traditional Liposuction can causes. SmartLipo™ has been widely used for several years in Europe, Canada, the UK, Australia, japan and other countries prior to being approved for use in the US. ProLipo™ is the latest advancement, is more powerful and effective, and has the added benefit of tightening loose skin.

Dr. Thomas Heggen says " The ProLipo™ procedure is a fantastic option for people who want to eliminate unwanted fat, get a more toned look, and address specific problem areas. We use local (tumescent) anesthesia instead of general anesthesia and were trained by Dr. Jeffery Klein, the inventor of the technique. Tumescent anesthesia is far safer and more comfortable for the patient. Invented in 1985, there have been no fatalities from this form of anesthesia. We allow the solution to dwell inside the patient for about an hour to maximize its numbing effects before starting the laser portion of the procedure. Patients most often rate their pain as either non-existent or a one or two on a scale of ten. The fat is melted by the first laser and then removed with suction. We follow the suction segment of the procedure with a second laser of a different wavelength that tightens the underside of the skin in the treatment area. This laser is designed to tighten the skin by stimulating collagen production, making it less likely that the skin will be loose in the areas where the fat has been removed. Because the canulas or tubes that we use to remove the fat are small, the tiny holes that are created to gain access to the treatment area will heal without stitches resulting in a much shorter recovery time than traditional Liposuction, often less than two days. Since the fatty cells are dissolved and suctioned out, the results are permanent. If you have ever thought of having "liposuction surgery" but were afraid of the pain, risks and down time, then you should strongly consider ProLipo™.

Laser lipolysis is ideal for eliminating fat or flabby skin in areas of the body such as: under the chin, on the neck, upper arms, abdomen, flanks or love handles, buttocks, inner and outer thighs, and knees.

ProLipo™ benefits:
• FDA approved
• In-office procedure
• Performed safely under local anesthesia
• Safer and more comfortable than traditional liposuction
• Greater skin tightening
• Little to no downtime

Testimonials
“Recently, I had Laser Liposuction done at Eterna Medspa and Laser Vein Center. From the moment I made the call to the actual day of surgery, my experience has been very good. The intake person was very friendly and strived to make an appointment for me that best fit my schedule. The Patient coordinator helped me define my goals and identify those areas that were my greatest concern. Dr. Heggen spent over an hour with me explaining the procedure which made me very comfortable. On the day of surgery, the staff treated me with care and respect, making me feels less anxious and safe. The procedure itself was virtually painless. Afterwards, I was given the cell phone numbers of the doctor and the nurse in case I had any issues after going home. I was back at work in two days. My results exceeded my expectations and I would recommend these professionals to all of my friends.
--J.L

“ Dr. Heggen delivered all of my children. I trusted him then and when I found out that he was doing Liposuction, there was no question who was going to do my Liposuction. He took an extraordinary amount of time explaining the procedure and my results are fabulous.”
--T.M.

“ I did three areas and Eterna found a way to get no interest financing for me. I’m back into a bikini!”
--L.T.

“ For years I have been self conscious about my double chin. Until now, the plastic surgeons’ remedy was to cut and restitch the area which would result in a “small scar.” On ones face, even a small scar is scary. The doctor at Eterna offered a procedure that was safe, effective, and scar free. Best of all, he resolved my problem with one visit and one day of down time.
“After having two kids I have always had a problem losing that last little bit of fat in my abdomen area. I decided to have the ProLipo laser procedure done and am thrilled with the results! The doctor and staff made me feel totally at ease. I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat!”
--Jennifer