RE: Smart Lipo vs. Smart Lipo MPX

  The MPX is a substantial leap forward in laser assisted liposuction.  The two main differences between the older SmartLipo and the MPX are power and laser wavelength.  The MPX goes up to 30 Watts (the max power of the older SmartLipo machines was 12 Watts) which allows it to break up fat much quicker than the older model.  This enables your physician to take away more total fat in the same amount of time. The older SmartLipo procedures would take excessively long to achieve the same results as a traditional lipo procedure. The other major difference is that the older version only has a 1064nm wavelength laser.  This wavelength is good at taking down fat and coagulating blood vessels but again it takes a lot of time to get the same amount of fat removal as you would with traditional liposuction.  The newer MPX has both a 1064nm and a 1320nm laser.  The addition of the 1320nm laser makes the laser much more efficient in breaking down the membrane of the fat cell. The 1320 wavelength has very high affinity for both fat and water which is exactly what makes up the membranes around fat cells. Thus the 1320nm laser is extremely efficient at destroying fat cells.  The MPX can achieve the same results as traditional lipo in about the same amount of time with less tissue trauma and in many offices at a little lower cost. While I agree with doctor Rand that there is poor data that SmartLipo causes any more tissue contraction than traditional liposuction (especially if your provider does a subdermal release) it does tend to cause less tissue trauma and thus heals faster.  The MPX is proabably your best bet.  But all in all, the most important thing is that your provider knows how to use his equipment well and that you understand the risk and benefits of the procedure that they are going to provide for you.  

Smartlipo, Coolipo, Slimlipo, Vaser lipo, Power assisted lipo and the many others are tools physicians use toward a goal. They are tools for the physican and not so much for the patient. To imply that any one tool is far superior to the others is indeed misleading. We're not yet at a point where these tools will be the sole determinant of the outcomes. Practitioner expertise and skill are still very important. In other words two physicians of equal skill will most likely give you similar results for liposuction no matter what tools they use. The one using Smartlipo will probably do the procedure faster and with less fatigue than the one doing traditional liposuction. Why should that matter to the patient? Is it because a brilliant MBA with savvy marketing skills tells the patient to? To answer your question directly, Smartlipo MPX is an improvement on Smartlipo technology. A Smartlipo physician will find the MPX more efficient than the original Smartlipo at laser lipolysis. Again this is a physician tool which should not affect outcomes, all things being equal. I'd probably not travel the long distance just for the technology.  

What the previous doctor is missing is that the "breakthrough" aspect of the Laser modality is the ability of well trained surgeons to use it in the "superficial fat" for the first time. For years, Plastic Surgeons have called this "superficial fat" the sacred centimeter, ie don't touch it... or you get poor skin healing, lumpiness, and irregularities post lipo. Here's what is NEW: The tiny laser fiber used in Smart Lipo is used quite aggressively directly in this area for the following reason : Fat cells are the most fragile and pop open quickly when they come in contact with the laser light. However, the firmer underlying structures here like nerves, connective tissue, ansd blood vessels are left pretty much intact...therefore a smooth sculpted contour results. *I often remove nearly as much fat superficially as I do in the deeper areas. THIS IS THE BREAKTHROUGH and that's why it's here to stay. Smart Lipo laser is not only effective at sculpting these areas beautifully, providing improved contours, but it promotes faster healing as well. There will certainly be future improvements and upgrades of course, but this current incantation is superb ! As for your question re: MPX v.SL, I would say that the SL yag works fine in all areas, but may take a bit longer. The MPX is hotter, faster, and definitely provides better skin tighening (important in arms, abdomens and inner thighs mostly) than SL.

If so, how good is it, and does the traditional way give better results?

Why is the difference in SmartLipo MPX better than Smartlipo? I don't know if any of the drs answered what is SmartLipo MPX or how it is different than SmartLipo. Does anyone understand the difference and why that might be an advantage?