Liposuction is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK. Tens of thousands of satisfied patients benefit from this highly effective technique of permanent fat removal. Many more show significant interest but are not yet at the stage of booking a consultation before learning more about the procedure.
Laser liposuction, also known as SmartLipo or laser lipolysis, differs from surgical liposuction in that it is a minimally invasive technique for patients seeking only minor improvements in removing stubborn fat deposits. Here we discuss what laser liposuction is, how it differs from the type of liposuction we routinely carry out at Centre for Surgery, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.
What does laser liposuction involve?
Laser liposuction has been available in the UK for over 15 years and has been marketed under the name Smart Lipo. Laser liposuction is a type of laser-assisted liposuction involving specialised laser fibres to melt fat. The procedure involves making small incisions where fat is to be removed, followed by the injection of local anaesthesia to numb the area. A small laser fibre is inserted beneath the skin to deliver thermal energy to the fat cells, resulting in localised fat cell destruction. Smart Lipo can be performed on its own; in this case, the body will naturally absorb the fat cells. Most commonly, Smart Lipo is combined with suction-assisted extraction to remove the fat cells destroyed by the laser. The procedure is designed to improve body contour and enhance skin tightening.
Which areas of the body can laser liposuction be used?
Laser liposuction is designed to remove areas of fat that have proven resistant to diet and exercise in people who are otherwise at a healthy body weight. The treated body areas will differ as people will accumulate fat in different places. However, the most common areas for laser liposuction include the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, chin and love handles. Laser liposuction is used to remove small localised areas of body fat with local anaesthesia only.
Am I suitable for laser liposuction?
Ideal patients for laser liposuction are those who are keen to get rid of stubborn areas of body fat which have not shifted with diet and exercise alone. Similar to traditional liposuction, laser liposuction can be used to target localised pockets of fat in areas such as the lower abdomen, outer thighs, upper arms, or chin fat.
It should be noted that liposuction is not a suitable treatment for patients seeking to lose significant weight. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. Patients should be at or near their ideal body weight and have tried diet and exercise without success.
Deciding between laser liposuction and standard liposuction depends on how much fat you want to remove. Many patients are interested in laser liposuction for removing small amounts of fat; however, the technique is unsuitable for people with more than mild fat deposits.
If you would like to know which technique would be suitable for you, we recommend booking a consultation with Centre for Surgery. During this consultation, you will be assessed by an expert liposuction surgeon and discuss customised treatment options to help you reach your goals.
What are the pros and cons of laser liposuction?
Laser Lipo suction, as with any surgical treatment, has pros and cons that should be considered before deciding on the best treatment to remove fat.
Laser liposuction benefits
- The procedure is claimed to be less invasive, although small incisions will still be required to provide access to the laser fibres.
- Only small volumes of fat can be removed with laser liposuction, so the recovery time is inherently shorter compared with Liposuction for the removal of larger quantities of fat
- Laser liposuction is performed under local anaesthesia, eliminating the risks of general anaesthesia.
Laser liposuction cons
- The procedure is not suitable for removing larger amounts of fat. Power-assisted liposuction is the best technique for removing any amount of fat.
- Laser liposuction has a significant risk of causing skin dimpling, rippling, lumpy or wavy skin due to the substantial amount of heat produced.
- Excessive heat applied to tissues substantially increases the risk of skin burns. Our surgeons commonly see patients who have had laser liposuction elsewhere and have developed severe complications, including full-thickness skin loss.
Why do we not recommend laser liposuction?
Both procedures use power-assisted liposuction to remove fat from the same body areas, effectively removing even the most fibrous fat from stubborn areas such as the male chest, back, and flanks. Despite being carried out under local anaesthetic, laser liposuction can cause significant discomfort, particularly towards the end of the procedure when the anaesthetic may start to wear off. Power-assisted liposuction is routinely performed under total intravenous anaesthesia at our Baker Street practice. It is regarded as the gold standard for minimally invasive body contouring, as it eliminates the risk of pain and discomfort during the procedure.
SEE ALSO: What is Lipo 360?
Although the two techniques are similar in that they both involve inserting a cannula beneath the skin to disrupt fat cells, laser liposuction is a type of thermal liposuction, identical to VASER lipo. These are heat-based liposuction methods that involve breaking up fat cells by applying significant thermal energy. Thermal liposuction techniques can only be used for a short period to avoid the risk of burns. Sadly, our surgeons continue to see patients who have suffered the effects of laser liposuction and, in many cases, are unable to offer them an effective treatment.
SEE ALSO: Liposuction recovery top tips
Why choose us for liposuction?
- Our body contouring and fat removal surgeons are on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery.
- Full membership of the UK and the European Association of Plastic Surgery
- Aesthetic fellowships in body contouring surgery
- A strong background in reconstructive surgery
- Centre for Surgery only works with highly skilled plastic surgeons who specialise in aesthetic surgery of the breast and body.
Our Board-certified plastic surgeons have many years of experience performing expert liposuction. They have used all the liposuction techniques over the years, including SmartLipo, VASER lipo, BodyJet lipo and Tickle Lipo. All our surgeons agree that PAL lipo is the GOLD standard for liposuction, with the best long-term overall results.
If you are strongly considering liposuction, schedule a consultation with one of our expert surgeons. Our surgeons will use the consultation process to thoroughly assess you and explain the different liposuction techniques and which one would be best for you. Your surgeon will review your medical history and physically examine you. Your ideas, concerns, and expectations will be addressed, and before-and-after photos can be shown to give you an idea of what can be achieved with liposuction. The surgeon will answer any questions you may have in detail.
Once an assessment has been made, your surgeon will determine if liposuction is the correct procedure for you. In many cases, the surgeon may not recommend any surgical procedure, a testament to their high ethical and professional standards. You will receive a procedure quotation from your patient coordinator on the next working day. It is highly recommended that you take time to reflect on all the information and advice your surgeon provided; the ‘2-week cool-off period’ is ideal for this. After your initial consultation, you can come in to see your surgeon as many times as you like to make sure liposuction is right for you.
Schedule a London liposuction consultation.
If you would like to learn more about power-assisted liposuction and its benefits, please get in touch with us to book a consultation with a body contouring surgeon at our Baker Street clinic in Marylebone. Our patients appreciate the skills and extensive experience our surgeons have, with over 97% of patients very happy with the outcome of their treatment.
SEE ALSO: Liposuction Before And After Photos
[contact-form-7 id=”256″ title=”Treatments form”]
