Dear Dr. Seckel, I live in Jacksonville, Florida and I am considering liposuction surgery and have read about SlimLipo. Can you tell me how laser liposuction is different and if SlimLipo is as effective as regular liposuction? I am fit, 39 years old and have a little loose fat and skin on my tummy after having three children. I do not want the tummy tuck scars. Thank you, Denise, Jacksonville, Florida.
Dear Denise,
Thank you for your email about SlimLipo™.
SlimLipo™ is a new laser liposuction technique which uses a new laser wavelength which is specifically absorbed by fat. As a result fat is melted and more easily removed than with traditional liposuction. In addition, the laser heats the skin from underneath which causes skin tightening. This is another major benefit of laser liposuction.
I have had very nice results in patients like you who are fit and just have a little tummy fat and loose skin after having children-see photo of my patient below:
The SlimLipo™ laser fiber is very small, about the size of a pencil point, thus I have found it is safer to use in thinner people who have localized areas of fat. This I believe, makes this new laser liposuction technique a better choice for laser liposculpture and laser body contouring and laser body sculpting.
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.
The 924nm and combined 924/975nm laser is used by the SlimLipo™ laser liposuction machine made by Palomar Medical™.
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, 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 of my patient below:
Above: Before and After Laser Liposuction of Abdomen.
If you are obese and significantly over weight, you should lose weight first before liposuction.
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