You’re cranky and lumpy, worried about those stubborn pockets of fat that refuse to budge despite your diligent workouts and nutritious eating habits. Then advertising on the car radio grabs your attention. Why not simply blast that fat out of your life with a laser, quickly and painlessly?
SmartLipo, the first laser liposuction — or, to be more precise, laser-assisted liposuction — was released in 2007. Other companies have since joined SmartLipo, including Slim Lipo, Cool Lipo, and ProLipo Plus.
What Is Laser Liposuction and How Does It Work?
Liposuction surgery is one of the most widely done cosmetic surgical operations in the United States and many other countries, and laser liposuction is one of the numerous advancements in this field. Water-assisted liposuction (Body-Jet) & ultrasound-assisted liposuction procedures like Vaser-assisted liposuction are two further advancements.
Laser energy is used in laser-assisted liposuction. Depending on the amount of fat to be removed, the treatment is usually done as an outpatient procedure under local or sedative anesthesia.
The idea is simple: lasers heat the fat, making it semi-soft and easier to remove with liposuction.
Fluid is injected under the skin in the region where fat is to be removed, just like in standard liposuction. A blend of saline, local anesthetic, and epinephrine is used in this fluid (which constricts blood vessels and minimizes blood loss).
Are you a good candidate for laser lipo?
Laser lipo may be an option for you if you have modest to moderate quantities of extra fat and skin laxity. After the age of 35, the skin begins to loosen.
You are an excellent candidate for liposuction of the face, belly, or other body areas if you are 20 percent overweight or less. Obesity cannot be treated with this technique. Because your muscles give underlying support for the tissues, you will likely respond well to laser liposuction if you are in good physical shape and have adequate muscular tone.
The thighs, abdomen, arms, knees, cheeks, and neck, as well as back fat rolls, can all benefit from laser lipo. It can also help with gynecomastia (excess male breast tissue), popularly known as “man breasts.”
Preparation for Laser Liposuction
Before your operation, you should ask your doctor about specific instructions, such as whether you should stop taking particular medications. If you smoke, you should quit before undergoing laser liposuction and any surgical procedure. Smoking affects the healing process, in addition to all of its other harmful health impacts.
Risks of Laser Liposuction
Some of the hazards of laser liposuction are the same as those of traditional liposuction, such as possible irregularities in your skin shape. Fluid can gather beneath the skin. Other possibilities include infection, scarring, blisters, and burns. When a laser is utilized, there is also the risk of fat necrosis (fat cell death). Furthermore, the amount of fat removed may not be to your liking, as well as the improvement in your skin’s appearance may not be as dramatic as you had planned. Before opting to have liposuction, make sure you’ve properly considered all of the risks.
Laser liposuction is not without its detractors. Many board-certified plastic surgeons would tell you that it’s nothing more than a gimmick that doesn’t improve the results of standard liposuction while raising the cost. Skeptics point out there is no scientific proof that laser lipo improves outcomes, tightens skin, or accelerates healing.
