Advancements in methods of fat removal by liposuction
continue to change and be improved. One of the most
noteworthy methods that is currently marketed and touted is
laser liposuction, or more accurately, laser-assisted
liposuction.
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. A laser fiber is
inside the liposuction cannula which delivers heat to the
fat cells, thus breaking them down into a more liquid state
making it easier to be sucked up into the cannula. In
theory, the heat from the laser also causes the overlying
skin to tighten.
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 really better than
traditional liposuction...and are their increased costs
over traditional liposuction worth it? (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. Nor has any
large clinical trial been done that even compares two
differently-treated patient groups, no matter how
impossible it really is to 'match' patients from different
groups. So while all laser liposuction devices are FDA
approved, this stamp of approva applies primarily to the
safety of the devices, not necesarily to how effective they
are compared to traditional liposuction techniques.
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. It may offer some improvement in fat
removal efficiency, but I am truly dubious of overall
better outcomes, a much better and faster recovery, and
skin tightening (of which I remain the most skeptical)It
will take some time to separate the marketing claims from
true patient outcomes.
I am all for any form of advancement in liposuction, which
is a fairly traumatic procedure on the tissues. 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!
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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, http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com .
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