Traditional liposuction involves a vacuum pump attached to a cannula, a long hollow tube used for fat extraction. With laser liposuction, the low energy waves of the concentrated laser beam light, make their way into your fatty tissue. The result is melted fat. The head of the laser breaks down the fat cells so that they are able to be extracted easier than in traditional liposuction. Since there are no major incisions, small holes are made on the skin’s surface and the laser begins to travel in-and-out of the patient’s fatty tissue delivering tumescent fluid (with lidocaine) and producing less inflammation and scarring than other liposuction and body contouring procedures.

Most commonly used on the abdomen, love handles, hips, thighs, knees, neck, arms and male breasts (gynecomastia,) the procedure can also be used to remove sweat glands from the armpit, lessening the propensity to sweat for some people with excessive sweating issues. There are some advantages to using Laser Assisted Liposuction over non-laser techniques; these benefits include less bleeding and swelling, less bruising, rarely do patients get prescriptions for post-op pain medications and you can return to your normal activities in less than a week.

The Skinny on SmartLipo

If you are a candidate for liposuction, chances are you’re a candidate for SmartLipo. As long as you are in good health, within 25 pounds of your ideal weight (within your BMI) and have areas resistant to exercise and diet, then you can consider SmartLipo. With little recovery time, bandages are usually removed within the first two weeks. You can feel comfortable enough to return to work within a few days of surgery and can see results immediately.

Using a small, calibrated laser to liquefy fatty deposits in your body, your plastic surgeon can seal blood vessels as it melts fat to lessen your bleeding. After the procedure, little fat gets reabsorbed back into your body and you will find less bruising and swelling than traditional liposuction. The cannula is 1 - 2 mm in diameter and gets inserted into your skin. With a back-and-forth motion the cannula delivers the laser’s energy into your fatty tissue and cells, rupturing the fat in the body so that it can easily be extracted. Not only will fat be reduced, but you can see an improvement in cellulite and sagging skin may also appear tighter.

The Skinny on CoolLipo

CoolLipo is another laser-assisted liposuction technique that is minimally invasive. Used in smaller areas of the body, such as: chin, neck, jowls, and even your abdomen or saddlebags. CoolLipo contracts collagen and will tighten your skin, benefits hard to achieve with standard liposuction. This gentle fat removal proves to be much less invasive than a face lift or a neck lift, which you can read more about on FaceForum.

The CoolLipo Trio

Now, you are able to get three procedures with CoolTouch’s CoolLipo Trio. This all-in-one laser system rejuvenates your skin, reduces fat in small areas of the body, tightens the skin and removes varicose veins. To smooth skin and eradicate fine lines, a non-puncturing skin rejuvenation (CoolBreeze) treatment penetrates your skin’s tissue to generate collagen and stimulate without causing any surface damage. Because of the technology of CoolTouch’s signature system, the CoolBlue Duet can be used on larger parts of the body cutting procedure time and tightening skin.

The Skinny on ProLipo

With this minimally invasive laser procedure, laser energy melts the fatty tissue in your body, extracting several liters. Used with other liposuction treatments, including tumescent liposuction (tumescent liquid) you do not need IV sedation or a general anesthesia. There is little downtime and with a quick recovery, you could be back to work with tighter skin and less fat in a few days. ProLipo is known for restructuring collagen and tightening the skin. This procedure can be used on various body parts including the face, neck, arms, back, abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, knees and to treat gynecomastia (male breast growth.) The entire procedure takes 1-4 hours depending on which part of body is treated and whether or not fat is actually suctioned out as well.