Tell Your Friends About HealthandWellnessCentral.com ™ Sign-Up Free  |Member Login  

HealthandWellnessCentral.com
<

Home | Surgery | Cosmetic Surgery

Laser Liposuction

By: Dr Barry Eppley

Laser-assisted liposuction, or the zapping of unwanted fat by directed light energy, is one of the most promising methods of improved fat removal. Traditional liposuction, while effective, is fairly traumatic to the body and can cause a lot of bruising and swelling and usually involves some recovery after surgery.

As opposed to the traditional technique of a hollowed-out cannula insertion, loosening and beating up the fat tissue, and then sucking 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 is the higher costs of using it worth it compared to traditional liposuction? (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. Historically, any treatment associated with the word, laser, always causes mass patient allure. 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 enthusiastic about any potential advancement in liposuction surgery, which in its basic form is still a very traumatic procedure to the body. 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!

Article Source: http://www.healthandwellnesscentral.com

Dr Barry Eppley runs a private plastic surgery practice through his hospital-based medspa locations at Clarian Health in Indianapolis. To learn more about the latest trends in plastic surgery, spa therapies, or skin care, go to his daily blog, www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .


Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated


Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Cosmetic Surgery Articles Via RSS!

Additional Articles From - Home | Surgery | Cosmetic Surgery
Sign Up Free | Learn More
Home
Member Login
Submit Articles
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Article RSS Feeds
New Annoucements
Link to Us
About Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

Check Out:Blessed Herbs

Highly Recommendation:

eBook Recommendation:

i
eBook Recommendation:

Recommendation:

Recommendation:

Recommendation:

Copyright © and All Rights Reserved.
Use of Our Service is subject to Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Powered by Article Dashboard