"If all you have is a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail"! If a surgeon only does traditional or tumescent liposuction, then oftentimes he/she is prejudiced toward that procedure and will negate any references to other techniques as "not proven" or unsubstantiated, or the other surgeon has a "vested" interest.
I have no financial stakes in any complany providing laser assisted lipo equipment. I do not take honorariums from such companies. I do, however, evaluate newer techniques and technologies and will apply them if I can see an advantage to the patient. Any new technology must be compared to the "gold standard" - in this case traditional or tumescent liposuction. I do perform these techniques when necessary. I have used SmartLipo extensively, and have evaluated SlimLipo and ProLipo (these are all laser assisted liposuction/liposculpture technologies). These technologies do have a role.
They are just tools in the armamentariuum of the plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring. The more tools that one has, the surgeon can apply the one that is best for his patient. Traditional and laser assisted techniques each have their roles. If a patient has a limited area of lipodystrophy (abnormal distribution of fat in an area that is resistant to change with dieting and exercise), and if the patient is close to their ideal weight, then I would recommend the laser assisted techniques.
They can be done under local anesthesia, with minimal sedation, and they do work! There definitely is some tightening of the skin as well. This has been especially demonstrated by patients of mine that have had excess skin of the neck and very little fat, but with laserassisted techniques the skin has been tightened. The down time is less, there is less pain and swelling than traditional techniques.
In the final analysis, you want the surgeon to do what he/she feels comfortable in doing and that achieve your desired results. Laser assisted liposculpture is NOT for everyone or every case and it needs to be individualized. Get a second por even third opinion, but fo with the surgeon with whom your gut tells you is best for you. There is a lot of hype with newer technologies, lasers included. Go to a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in body contouring and mulktiple modalities of treatment.
