You are very lucky if you have waited until now to consider having liposuction, or liposculpture body contouring. The new laser liposuction techniques are a vast improvement over traditional methods. The new laser technology melts fat and tightens skin resulting in a much gentler liposculpture procedure and minimal loose hanging skin after liposuction.

Whether you have a double chin, tummy fat after childbirth, saddle bags, spare tire, or just little problem areas around the hips or thighs, the new laser assisted liposculpture and laser body contouring techniques may be what you are looking for.

Not all of the machines in use are the same. Some laser wavelengths, such as the 924nm and 924/975nm work much better than others. You need to understand which technology is best if you are considering laser liposuction.

Liposuction is the most commonly performed plastic surgery operation.

Problems Associated with Traditional Liposuction-Traditional liposuction is done by inserting a metal tube called a cannula beneath the skin into fat containing areas of the body. High pressure suction is applied and fat is suctioned out from under the skin. While the procedure works well, it is traumatic as the suction pulls out not only fat but also some of the connective tissue which holds the skin tight to the body. There are several problems which can occur after liposuction:

•    Loose Skin After Liposuction

•    Contour Deformities-Skin Irregularities

•    Prolonged Bruising

•    Difficult and Painful Recovery

How Laser Liposuction Works-During laser assisted liposuction, a very small laser fiber is inserted beneath the skin. Heat from the laser melts the fat into a thin liquid. The liquid fat is then more easily removed with very small cannulas usually only2-3 millimeters in diameter. The heat form the laser also tightens the skin, and closes many blood vessels, thus less bleeding.

Advantages of Laser Liposuction

•    Skin Tightening!!!!!!!

•    Liquefaction of Fat = Fewer Contour Deformities

•    Uniform Skin Appearance after Liposuction

•    Smaller Cannulae = Tiny Incision

•    Much Less Traumatic

•    Can Contour Visible Areas in Thinner Patients

•    Excellent for Touch Ups after  standard Liposuction

Which Laser is best for Liposuction?

There are several different machines available using several different laser wavelengths-the 924nm, combined 924/975nm, the 1064nm, and the 1308nm are the most popular.

I prefer the 924nm and combination 924/975nm laser because the 924nm is very selectively absorbed by fat tissue. The 924nm liquefies 3 times as much fat as some of the other wavelengths and is also more strongly absorbed by blood vessels, which helps reduce bleeding and bruising.

The 924nm and combined 924/975nm laser is used by the SlimLipo™ laser liposuction machine made by Palomar Medical™.

Are You A Candidate for Laser Liposuction?

If you are healthy, do not smoke, and have extra fat beneath your chin, around your tummy, on your hips, thighs, arms or knees, and are relatively fit and not obese, then you are likely an excellent candidate for laser liposuction. The younger you are the better your skin tightening will be after laser liposuction. I have, however, seen good skin tightening after laser liposuction in a 70 year old person-see photo below:

If you are obese and significantly over weight, you should lose weight first before liposuction.

For more information about laser liposuction with SlimLipo™ call 978-369-4499 or contact us by email.

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Dr. Seckel

Concord, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

By: Dr Brooke R. Seckel

About the Author:

Advancements in methods of fat removal by liposuction continue to change and be improved. One of the most noteworthy methods that is currently marketed and touted is laser liposuction, or more accurately, laser-assisted liposuction.

As opposed to the traditional technique of a hollowed-out cannula insertion, loosening and beating up the fat tissue, and then ******* it out, this mechanical particulation is replaced by the heat of laser energy. Inside the liposuction cannula, fibers carrying laser light deliver their heat to the targeted fat breaking it down into a liquid ‘soup’ which can be suctioned out. Theoretically, the skin in the areas overlying where the liposuction was done may get tighter due to the heat from the laser.

As of this date, there are three such laser-assisted liposuction systems available in the United States. They are under the marketed tradenames of SMARTLIPO (Cynosure), COOLLIPO (CoolTouch), and PROLIPO (Sctiton). All of them tout more effective and efficient fat removal, less bruising and swelling after the procedure, a faster recovery, and some skin tightening and improvement in the appearance of cellulite over the treated areas.

The real question is….are they truly better than basic liposuction…and are their increased costs over traditional liposuction worth it? (someone has to pay for the equipment purchase…and that someone is you the patient!) To date, laser-assisted liposuction is tremendously appealing, particularly to the general public. In the past, any medical treatment that included the word, laser, always enamors the public. No clinical trials have yet been reported however, that I have seen, that have ever directly compared any laser-assisted vs traditional liposuction procedure in patients. No clinical trial, large or small, has yet been done that has compared the results of any touted liposuction method in a prospective, controlled clinical study. FDA approval of these devices implies that they are safe for patient use but that does not mean they are necessarily more effective than other liposuction methods.

Much like ultrasonic-assisted liposuction when it was introduced 10 years ago, laser-assisted liposuction may be a popular trend that, in the end, will fare no better. It will undoubtably have its place in liposuction options and armamentarium but I doubt if it is magic or whether it offers a quantum leap forward in patient outcomes and recovery times. While it is another method of removing fat, I remain skeptical if all of the marketing claims of laser-assisted liposuction such as a quicker recovery and skin tightening can live up to the hype.

I am all for any form of advancement in liposuction, which is a fairly traumatic procedure on the tissues. While effective, liposuction is still one of the most ‘brutal’ procedures that we as plastic surgeons do. Is laser-assted liposuction a better method of liposuction?…..ask me again in 5 years!



By: Dr Barry Eppley

About the Author:

If you are thinking about having liposuction, comparing the procedures will let you know how to find the best one that suits your needs. The best liposuction procedure should be the least harmful and produce the best possible results.

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that involves small incisions. The cannula is a small hollow tube that is used in liposuction surgery. The cannula is attached to a vacuum pressure unit. The surgeon will use this cannula to **** out any unwanted fat of you body.

However there are many liposuction methods for you to consider. Most of the liposuction methods produce heat which can cause some problem to the skin after the surgery.

Smart Lipo is a laser-assisted liposuction. The heat of Smart Lipo produces irregularity of skin. The report shows that laser-assisted liposuction can leave permanent ugly scars too. Water-assisted liposuction produces no heat and has more suction capability.

Smart Lipo has the suction capability of 200 cc. per session while water-assisted liposuction has the suction capability of 2,000 – 3,000 cc. per session.

The suction capability is one of the reasons why Smart Lipo cost more money than Water-Assisted Liposuction.

Smart Lipo need more recovery time and more painful than Water-Assisted Liposuction due to the result of the heat that produced by the system.

The reason why Water-Assisted Liposuction is a better choice is because of the different system of the cannula. Water-Assisted Liposuction uses a thin fan-shaped water beam cannula. The cannula continually adds water during the liposuction session. Surgeons who use this liposuction method can **** out your fat a lot easier because the water will loose the fat cells.

Water-Assisted Liposuction is less harm to your body since the surgeon can **** out your fat very easy without damaging your body.

This method also leaves less bruises and scars. Water-Assisted Liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia while Smart Lipo is normally performed under general anesthesia.

Water-Assisted Liposuction takes less time of recovery. Normally the recovery is only 7-10 days.

However before having a liposuction you should consult with more than one surgeon. The process of choosing the right surgeon is very important. You need to be careful on this process and choose the surgeon that is a board certified surgeon. To ensure that the liposuction will turn out well, you also need to ask your surgeon about his/her prior liposuction patients and testimonials.



By: Jaturont Thanapura

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