Dear Dr. Seckel, I am very fit and not overweight. I have a small amount of fat on the side of my hips in the saddlebag area. I am considering liposuction. Is the new laser liposuction better than regular liposuction, especially for a person who is not overly fat or obese? Thanks, Jane, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Jane, Thank you for your question. In my opinion one of the major advantages of the laser liposuction technique is that laser liposuction, unlike traditional liposuction, can be safely used on smaller fat deposits in thinner people.
The worry with traditional liposuction is that the suction process can take out too much fat near the skin and cause skin irregularities or divots on the skin of thin people.
The laser liposuction technique emulsifies or liquefies the fat first with a tiny laser fiber that is a fraction of the size of a regular liposuction cannula. Then the fat can be removed with a much smaller cannula.
In my experience so far I have removed fat from very fit people and have had no skin irregularities-see photos below:
Above:Before and After Laser Liposculpture Upper Abdomen and Mini Tuck Lower Abdomen.
Above: Before and After Laser Liposuction Neck, Laser Resurfacing Face, and Small Chin Implant.
How Laser Liposuction Works-During laser assisted liposuction, a very small laser fiber is inserted beneath the skin. Heat from the laser melts the fat into a thin liquid. The liquid fat is then more easily removed with very small cannulas usually only2-3 millimeters in diameter. The heat form the laser also tightens the skin, and closes many blood vessels, thus less bleeding.
Advantages of Laser Liposuction
• Skin Tightening!!!!!!!
• Liquefaction of Fat = Fewer Contour Deformities
• Uniform Skin Appearance after Liposuction
• Smaller Cannulae = Tiny Incision
• Much Less Traumatic
• Can Contour Visible Areas in Thinner Patients
• Excellent for Touch Ups after standard Liposuction
Which Laser is best for Liposuction?
There are several different machines available using several different laser wavelengths-the 924nm, combined 924/975nm, the 1064nm, and the 1308nm are the most popular.
I prefer the 924nm and combination 924/975nm laser because the 924nm is very selectively absorbed by fat tissue. The 924nm liquefies 3 times as much fat as some of the other wavelengths and is also more strongly absorbed by blood vessels, which helps reduce bleeding and bruising..
Are You A Candidate for Laser Liposuction?
If you are healthy, do not smoke, and have extra fat beneath your chin, around your tummy, on your hips, thighs, arms or knees, and are relatively fit and not obese, as you said you were not, then you are likely an excellent candidate for laser liposuction. The younger you are the better your skin tightening will be after laser liposuction. I have, however, seen good skin tightening after laser liposuction in a 70 year old person-see photo below:
Above: Before and After Laser Liposuction of Abdomen.
For more information about laser liposuction with SlimLipo™ call 978-369-4499 or contact us by email.
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Dr. Seckel
Concord, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts