Laser lipolysis versus traditional liposuction for fat removal

Liposuction is second only to breast augmentation as the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the USA. Liposuction removes fat through very small skin incisions, with atraumatic, blunt-tipped cannulas. Simplicity, quality of results and relatively rare complications are but a few benefits that explain its success. Its main limitation is the minimal skin retraction achieved after the procedure. Laser lipolysis is based on a thermal effect. The laser can vaporize, melt tissues and coagulate blood vessels. More importantly, the laser stimulates the formation of collagen in the region, enhancing skin elasticity and promoting skin contraction in the treated areas. This review aims to describe traditional liposuction and laser lipolysis, and discusses the difference between the two techniques.

[1]  D. Apfelberg.  Laser-assisted liposuction may benefit surgeons, patients. , 1992, Clinical laser monthly.

[2]  Mitchel P. Goldman,et al.  Histologic evaluation of interstitial lipolysis comparing a 1064, 1320 and 2100 nm laser in an ex vivo model , 2008, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[3]  F. Grazer,et al.  Fatal outcomes from liposuction: census survey of cosmetic surgeons. , 2000, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[4]  J. Klein,et al.  The tumescent technique. Anesthesia and modified liposuction technique. , 1990, Dermatologic clinics.

[5]  Da Chen,et al.  Laser Lipolysis Used to Treat Localized Adiposis: A Preliminary Report on Experience with Asian Patients , 2009, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

[6]  W. Coleman,et al.  The tumescent technique. , 1998, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[7]  G. Maddern,et al.  Ultrasound‐assisted lipoplasty , 2001, ANZ journal of surgery.

[8]  S. Mordon,et al.  Serum lipid changes following laser lipolysis , 2009, Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology.

[9]  Serge Mordon,et al.  Comparative study of wavelengths for laser lipolysis. , 2010, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[10]  L. Canta,et al.  Laser Lipolysis: Flaccidity Under Control , 2002, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

[11]  A. Goldman.  Submental Nd:Yag laser‐assisted liposuction , 2006, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

[12]  Benjamin Wassmer,et al.  Mathematical modeling of laser lipolysis , 2008, Biomedical engineering online.

[13]  Moriaki Wakaki,et al.  Histologic evaluation of the pulsed Nd:YAG laser for laser lipolysis , 2005, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[14]  A. Goldman,et al.  Cellulite: a new treatment approach combining subdermal Nd: YAG laser lipolysis and autologous fat transplantation. , 2008, Aesthetic surgery journal.

[15]  R. Geronemus,et al.  Laser Lipolysis Using a Novel 1,064 nm Nd: YAG Laser , 2006, Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.].

[16]  P. Andrades,et al.  A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Laser-Assisted Lipoplasty with Suction-Assisted Lipoplasty , 2006, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[17]  Y. Illouz.  Body Contouring by Lipolysis: A 5‐Year Experience with over 3000 Cases , 1983, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[18]  L. Noronha,et al.  Analysis of Laser Lipolysis Effects on Human Tissue Samples Obtained from Liposuction , 2005, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

[19]  S. Mordon,et al.  “Histologic evaluation of interstitial lipolysis comparing a 1064, 1320 and 2100 nm laser in an ex vivo model” by Khoury JG, Saluja R, Keel D, Detwiler S, Goldman MP. Lasers Surg Med 2008 Jul 22;40(6):402–406 , 2008, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[20]  A. Goldman,et al.  Laserlipolysis : Liposuction Using Nd-YAG Laser , 2008 .

[21]  M. Haws,et al.  Ultrasound‐Assisted Lipoplasty , 2003, Plastic surgical nursing : official journal of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses.

[22]  Serge Mordon,et al.  Lipolysis Using a 980-nm Diode Laser: A Retrospective Analysis of 534 Procedures , 2008, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

[23]  Bo Chen,et al.  Evaluation of tissue thermal effects from 1064/1320-nm laser-assisted lipolysis and its clinical implications , 2009, Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology.

[24]  David J Goldberg,et al.  Laser lipolysis of the arm, with and without suction aspiration: Clinical and histologic changes , 2009, Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology.

[25]  B. Katz,et al.  Laser‐assisted lipolysis: A report on complications , 2008, Journal of cosmetic and laser therapy : official publication of the European Society for Laser Dermatology.

[26]  S. Feldman,et al.  The Safety of Liposuction: Results of a National Survey , 2002, Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.].

[27]  Serge Mordon,et al.  Histologic evaluation of laser lipolysis: pulsed 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser versus cw 980-nm diode laser. , 2007, Aesthetic surgery journal.

[28]  Rod J. Rohrich,et al.  The tissue effects of ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty. , 1998, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.