Laser Lipolysis (Smart Lipo): Everything You Need to Know

Unlike traditional liposuction, laser lipolysis does not use suction. Instead, the cannula housing the laser is inserted into the area and used to liquefy the fat. Then the liquefied fat is drained from the body through very tiny incisions (1-2mm).

Guidelines for who is a good candidate are generally on par with those of traditional liposuction. Specifically, candidates should be no more than thirty pounds over their ideal weight, and should be in generally good health. The ideal candidate also has maintained a stable weight for more than a year and has good skin elasticity in the areas being treated.

The procedure is performed under local anesthetic.

Although Smart Lipo is less invasive than traditional liposuction, it is still surgery. Therefore, it carries the same risks as most surgeries, and some specific to the procedure itself. The most common risks and complications are bruising, infection, hematoma (pooling of blood underneath the skin), and scarring. Less common risks are excessive bleeding, shock, and burns of the skin or underlying tissues. (These are extremely rare with Smart Lipo.)

Patients can expect low to moderate levels of pain and discomfort for the first 24-48 hours following surgery, and most patients are able to return to work in 24 hours.

Smart Lipo costs can run anywhere from $2000-$4000 per treated area.

Smart Lipo (aka Laser Lipolysis) is a procedure in which localized fat deposits are reduced surgically by means of a special laser housed inside a tiny tube called a cannula. This procedure offers benefits on par with traditional liposuction, although it is generally recommended for smaller areas. In fact, this procedure is gaining popularity for use on the face, especially as a way of re-defining the jaw line, and getting rid of the dreaded “second chin” that creeps up on some of us as we get older.

Smart Lipo has many advantages over traditional liposuction. First, it is gentler and safer, partly due to the much smaller cannulas. Second, the smaller cannulas mean smaller incisions, so there is less scarring. Finally, because of the heat generated by this method, there is another very important benefit: The body’s own healing response causes tissues to contract, leaving skin tighter and smoother in the treated area. This is good news indeed, since the traditional liposuction method of merely “sucking out the fat” can sometimes leave patients with uneven contours and loose, sagging skin.

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transcript of email from Sherwood Baxt, MD receeived on 6-12-07

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