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Laser liposuction – hype or hope?

Laser liposuction is the hottest thing in the liposuction we've seen for several years. In the U.S. this has been available for about two years. Smartlipo was the first on the scene and was approved by the FDA in 2007. Smartlipo is undoubtedly even greater at this race, but a few newcomers including slimlipo, lipolytic, and cool lipo lipotherme to name a few have come along.

Liposuction has been for years. Major advances in techniques have occurred. The most significant are the development of tumescent technique (injection of anesthetic solution) and the use of smaller cannulas. Laser Liposuction Is the next big advancement of liposuction?

What is Liposuction laser?

There is a general misunderstanding about laser liposuction. Most of the advertising suggests that Smartlipo and its competitors have reinvented Full liposuction. In fact all the basic steps involved with traditional liposuction is performed including:
1. Patient sedation
2. The injection of tumescent fluid (numbing solution)
3. Suction of the fat.
With laser lipolysis is an additional step that involves burning of fat just before removal.
Initially, the laser was intended to be used without liposuction fat. "Fat melting" was to be reabsorbed the body. This has generally proved ineffective. Fat should be removed after the fire, this is achieved at the exact same way as would be done without the laser.

The advantages claimed for the burning of fat are:

1. Skin Tightening
2. Less pain
3. A faster recovery
4. Smoother results
5. less invasive procedure, some ads even call it fat removal "without surgery or scars"
6. Faster procedure

How accurate are these claims?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery Surgeons "The only study that has compared this scientific standard liposuction did not find differences between these techniques in terms of results."

The author (Dr. Yates York) is a plastic surgeon in Salt Lake City, Utah area.

"I've been excited about the possibility of hardening Additional skin with laser liposuction. This is often a problem in the elderly or people who have lost so much weight. "

"I recently gave the opportunity to "test drive" a machine for laser lipo in a patient who was scheduled for liposuction. I had liposuction in the abdomen, upper hips, back and inner thighs. The lipo laser was used in the abdomen to tighten expect some loose skin. "

"Experience was less than satisfying. There were no complications from the laser, however, simply not lived up to expectations. Although other treatment areas almost pain, the abdomen (laser treated) was very painful and are reported as a sensation of "burning." The incorporation of lasers did not increase the amount of fat that can be removed, nor do I see any stretch of the skin. "

"The only difference I can see between the two procedures is increased pain, increased costs and the need for deeper sedation. No doubt it is if not just as invasive as the more traditional liposuction. I investigated this fully and can not find any reason to support any of the claims he is doing lipo laser. Hopefully, these studies are carried out and hopefully the results are favorable for the retraction of the skin. "

Disadvantages of laser liposuction:

The advantages of laser liposuction course not appear to be accurate. There are however some disadvantages of laser liposuction in the authors opinion:

1. Most surgeons (not all) with Laser liposuction are not experienced plastic surgeons. "Cosmetic Surgeon, is not the same and can be a dental surgeon, family doctor practice OB, the radiologist or anyone with a medical degree.
2. The burning is painful
3. The combustion requires a longer procedure more time and risk. Does it make sense to burn the tissue, before removing it?
4. Burning fat makes one more (not less) invasive procedure
5. The procedure is more expensive (the equipment is very expensive)

How does laser liposuction has gotten so popular if it does what it says it does?

Purely marketing genius. Add a laser to anything in medicine and the assumption that should be better. This certainly true in Lasik eye surgery and laser hair removal. The bombardment of billboards, television and print media have become extremely popular. Many of these ads have been misleading and irresponsible. Laser lipolysis Claims sound as a procedure for quick lunch hours. It is simply not the case. Liposuction is one of the most dangerous procedures that plastic surgeons do and all plastic surgeons who take very seriously. The fact that the procedure can be performed with mild sedation and the incisions are small should not be misinterpreted as minimally invasive. Most deaths (though very rarely) in cosmetic liposuction surgery are similar.

Many of the physicians using these devices to learn to do liposuction on a weekend course, an art that takes 6-7 years plastic surgeons. Consumers should be very careful. Find the doctor and together decide what is the best treatment option. The technology behind the doctor is less important when it comes to liposuction.

About the Author

Dr. York Yates is a board certified plastic surgeon in Utah. Offers online and in-office opinions and information about cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery and hand surgery.
Visit http://www.yorkyates.com for additional information about Dr. Yates and the services he provides.
Reproduction allowed only with inclusion of author information.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.