Smart Lipo ® (and other laser-assisted liposuction)
Smart lipoR - the first
laser-assisted technique for removal (melting) of fat
associated with some tightening of the overlying skin. The technique was first implemented in
Europe and has been used in South America prior to the FDA clearance in
November of 2006 for use in the USA. Laser-assisted liposuction may be used
separately or in conjunction with other, more conventional liposuction
techniques. The potential advantage of laser-assisted liposuction is the
tightening of the overlying skin beyond that achievable in some
patients with conventional liposuction. Laser-assisted liposuction is also useful for removal of
fat in very fibrous areas such as the male flanks or male breast.
As a technique for fat removal (in contrast to overlying skin
tightening), laser liposuction is
currently slower than the conventional method and does not
appear to yield better results than other methods. Laser-assisted
liposuction may be used as a sole method for removal of fat from areas
such the chin, neck, waist, inner & thighs, hips, buttocks, pubic mound
and the upper arms under local (tumescent) anesthesia. However, most
physicians who are familiar and expert in liposuction utilize the
laser-assisted method as an add-on to conventional liposuction in
certain situations where additional soft tissue (skin) tightening is
needed.
Dr. Zemplenyi is very familiar with the current laser-assisted
liposuction technologies including Smart-lipo, Cool-lipo, Lipo-lyte and
others. He is evaluating and comparing the results of the laser
methods to those achieved with conventional, tumescent, power-assisted
liposuction, and he is currently not convinced that the results are in
general superior except in specialized instances. At the Bel-Red
Center for Aesthetic Surgery we are very satisfied with the results of
our technique of power-assisted, tumescent liposuction with patients in
the twilight sleep, and we currently do not perform laser-assisted
liposuction.
|
