SMART LIPO (LASER LIPOSUCTION)
June/July 2007

New devices and procedures are constantly being introduced and promoted in plastic surgery. Eventually, controlled clinical studies are done. Then, most of these devices and procedures are discarded and a very few become accepted treatments.

Laser liposuction or laser lipoplasty (popularly known by the trade name Smart Lipo) is used in Europe and Latin America and has recently been introduced in the United States. The idea is that laser energy is used to break up the fat cells. The claim is that Smart Lipo causes less bleeding and better skin tightening. But there is no good research supporting these claims.

Bleeding is really minimal with any well-performed liposuction technique using tiny cannulas, so the alleged benefit of minimizing bleeding is irrelevant. And I can get nice skin contracture and tightening with superficial subdermal microtunneling without lasers.

Any new source of energy introduced into the body can cause side effects and complications. For example, ultrasound-assisted liposuction can cause skin burns and fluid collections and, therefore, I use it in selected cases only. So laser lipoplasty should be approached cautiously.

In summary, Smart Lipo is a new technique under development. It may have a role in the future but for now it should be considered experimental. I use only proven techniques. I achieve consistently excellent results with tumescent and power-assisted liposuction using very fine cannulas with minimal risk.