The branded procedures such as SmartLipo, CoolLipo, and Vaser are modifications of actual liposuction. They are not less invasive, though this is a common misconception. A laser or ultrasound device is used beneath the skin to melt fat prior to suction. Many physicians do attest that fat removal is easier after it is melted.
It may not be advisable to use a laser or ultrasound on fat that is to be transferred, as it will damage the fat cells and decrease their survivability - meaning that the fat could die before it is placed into another area such as the buttocks. Similarly, melting fat in the area where fat is to be transferred may also damage surrounding fat cells and microvasculature (tiny blood vessels), decreasing the chance that the transferred fat will survive in the new location.
There are currently no studies that examine fat transfer peformed in conjunction with fat-melting procedures, but it makes intuitive sense that these procedures could work against one another.
