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What is Smart Lipo Laser?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Chad K. Wheeler, MD
Question viewed 36,002 times
Tags: candidate, laser, options

Can someone explain what is Smart Lipo? how is smartlipo different from normal liposuction surgery?

32 answers to What is Smart Lipo Laser?

+2

Smartlipo

Smart lipo is done with a laser and traditional lipo is not. The laser promotes skin tightening and it also melts the fat. This allows more fat to be removed and beter sculpting then traditional liposuction that simply tries to pull out solid fat.
David A. Bray, Sr., MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

drbray.com

+13

Now's here the other viewpoint on laser liposuction

I don't care for SmartLipo or laser lipolysis. I don't think it has any advantages over carefully performed liposculpture with the PALS (power assisted liposculpture) technique. It is advertised as "new liposuction" with unsubstantiated claims that it is superior to conventional liposuction. I have not seen one single solid study done in this country showing it is superior to conventional liposuction and has a lower complication rate. And it has dangers that are profound, unique to... more
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+8

What is SmartLipo?

SmartLipo is a machine that has a laser to melt the fat. But that isn't the entire picture. While I perform the SmartLipo procedure, the fat has to be suctioned out in addition to the fat melting part. The devil is in the details here - if the surgeon that is doing the liposuction doesn't do a good job getting the patient numbed up or doesn't do a good job getting the fat out, you can end up with a mess on your hands. While I am very pleased with my laser and feel that the results are good... more
Joel Schlessinger, MD

Omaha Dermatologist

www.LovelySkin.com

+6

What is Smart Lipo?

The explosion in medical aesthetic technology has resulted in a market that is literally flooded with new products, devices and procedures, like Smart Lipo, all claiming to be the ‘latest and greatest’ or the ‘next big thing’. A great deal of dedication (and caution!) is required to sort through all of the new (and often not-so-new) technology which is marketed simultaneously to aesthetic professionals and to the public. I have not seen a single study that shows any... more
Michael Law, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon
+4

The Newest of Smart Lipo -- Smart Lipo MPX

Smart Lipo is Laser-Assisted Lipolysis. What this means is the device actually melts or dissolves fat cells. This is done through a very small fiberoptic laser. Smart Lipo can be performed by itself or in combination with traditional liposuction to maximize the amount of fat that is removed, especially from difficult areas such as male chest/breasts, love handles, upper back. Additionally, the laser provides a method for tightening loose skin. This can also be accomplished with... more
Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+3

SmartLipo is still a surgical procedure

SmartLipo uses a laser to help melt the fat and tighten the skin. Like traditional tumescent liposuction, local anesthesia fluid is first injected. This makes the area numb during the procedure, and makes suctioning of the fat easier. This may be supplemented with sedation anesthesia if the patient desires, depending on the extent of areas being treated. Also, like traditional liposuction, small incisions are used and the fat is suctioned using a small tube or cannula. With SmartLipo, an... more
Arnold S. Breitbart, MD

Long Island Plastic Surgeon
+3

Smartlipo is laser-assisted liposuction

Smartlipo is laser-assisted liposuction. The newest version is Smartlipo MPX. This machine actually has two lasers build in. One is better for melting fat and the other is best for tightening the skin. In most cases, the procedure can be performed while you are awake. The laser portion of the procedure is performed first which melts the fat. The suction portion is then performed to remove the melted fat. Smartlipo is usually best for small areas. If you are looking for total body... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+3

Cynosure Smart Lipo

Cynosure is the manufacturer of Smartlipo. Smartlipo was approved by the FDA in 2006 for its use as a laser liposculpting system. Smartlipo is an NdYAG 1064nm laser system that utilizes an extremely small laser fiber and cannula which is inserted into the fat. The advantages of Smartlipo over traditional liposuction are: The significantly reduced and minimal downtime; most patients can return to work in a day or two versus one to two weeks with traditional liposuction. Smartlipo is done... more
Jennifer S. Landy MD

Tampa Ophthalmologist
+2

Smartlipo combines laser technology to liposuction in order to improve skin tightening as the fat is removed

In traditional liposuction, and more recently with tumescent liposuction, fat is removed from specific areas of the body at the time of surgery. This can be done comfortably with local anesthesia. The patient gets the final result when the skin "tightens" around its new shape with the fat removed, a process that can take months to complete (think of how a woman's abdoman returns to its previous size and shape after giving birth). Smartlipo combines liposcution with placement of... more
Michael H. Rosenberg, MD

White Plains Plastic Surgeon
+2

Smart Lipo is excellent when used properly

Smartlipo is a technique where the fat is melted by a very small fiberoptic cable that is inserted thru a tiny incision. The first step is that local anesthetic and some fluids are infiltrated into the area to have the liposuction. The second step is the insertion of the fiberoptic cable and the third step is the removal of the liquified fat by a small liposuction cannula. The biggest advantages of the Smartlipo is that the procedure can be carried out either under straight local or with... more
David E. Berman, MD

Sterling Plastic Surgeon

bermancosmeticsurgery.com

+2

What is SmartLipo?

SmartLipo is the first laser-assisted liposuction system available meeting this need. It provides a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure for the removal of fat using a high-powered laser to sculpt body contours and tighten skin with less downtime and side-effects. It’s different from traditional liposuction because we use a very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0mm in diameter contains the laser fiber and is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth... more
Bruce Katz, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Current Report on SmartLipo

Smart Lipo Is a Trade name by Cynosure Corp for their device under the Laser Assisted Liposuction (LAL) procedure. This device was FDA approved in Dec 2006 in the United States. Since then, Cynosure has rolled out many upgrades to the origianl machine and there are several other devices out on the market by other trade names such as : "SlimLipo" "CoolLipo" "ProLipo", etc These devices all use very small canulas to deliver the energy which does add time and... more
Barry E. DiBernardo, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon
+2

SmartLipo - New treatment to eliminate fat

SmartLipo is the name of a new fat elimination treatment using a laser made by the Cynosure company. It can zap small pockets of fat or can be combined with liposuction to remove larger fat pockets. SmartLipo is different because it uses a laser delivered with a 1mm fiber optic cable so it can be done through tiny puncture wounds instead of larger cuts. Also, it is easier to do awake (without general anesthesia) and the laser can lessen bruising and swelling, and tighten skin to a... more
Daryl K. Hoffman, MD

Los Gatos Plastic Surgeon

www.dkhoffmanmd.com

+1

Smartlipo?

SmartLipo and all the laser liposuctions (slimlipo, cool lipo, etc) all place a cannula under your skin and heat up the skin and fat to a very high temperature. The cannula is brought up close to the skin in a superficial layer of fat to provide the claimed skin tightening result. This can burn the skin and might cause it to contract or die. The fat in the superficial layer is melted. A cannula is then placed under the skin to suction out the melted fat. The... more
Chad K. Wheeler, MD

Spokane Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smart Lipo Not So Smart

Smart Lipo is a laser-assisted liposuction that is heavily promoted as being less invasive and traumatic that regular liposuction, claiming it selectively targets fat. FALSE! Smart Lipo is causing all the tissues to heat up, not just the fat. There are no compelling, objective scientific studies that support the claims that Smart Lipo is more selective or less traumatic. In fact, a recent report in the Aesthetic Surgical Journal actually states that complications including contour... more
Brad Herman, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

SMART liposuction

SMART liposuction is laser assited liposuction. The laser delivers different wave lengths that assist in breaking down and melting the fat cells. I prefer to use SMART lipsuction in conjuction with traditional liposuction to get the best results. The SMART liposuction assists in melting the fat and tightening the skin, and tradiional liposuction is used to suck the remaining fat out.
Robert Heck, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is SmartLipo smart? the truth behind the hype

Smartlipo is simply a fine canula with a laser on the end that is purported to melt away fat and make liposuction more comfortable and decrease recovery. The reality is that liposuction with a laser is about as useful as the sharks with lasers mounted to their heads in the Autin Powers movie. It is largely marketing. The device haas been well studied and simply does not work as well as traditional liposuction which is the reason you will find very few true plastic surgeons... more
Rian Maercks, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.rianmaercksmd.com

+1

What is Smart Lipo or Slim Lipo

The best predictor for your end result with any liposuction procedure is the surgeon doing the procedure. The advent of many technologies, however, have given trained surgeons the added benefits of causing less injury to surrounding tissues or having additional benefits than volume reduction alone - i.e. skin tightening. SmartLipo and SlimLipo both deliver laser energy to the tissues as a first step prior to the use of traditional liposuction. Both devices aims to melt fat... more
Young R. Cho, MD, PhD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.integratedplasticsurgery.com

+1

Laser Liposuctions are NOT worth the risks of bad results in some cases.

Laser liposuctions are turning up many of the bad results seen in liposuction procedures today causing dimpling, puckered skin and burns. It is becoming less used by lipo experts and getting to be the cheapest liposuctions advertised out there for obvious reasons. Some docs can still do a decent job with laser lipos but it is not the norm. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD
David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

What is Smart Lipo Laser?

I have been performing liposuction since it was invented by Dr. Illouz in the 1980s. During all those years, different Liposuction methods emerged, such as Tumescence, Superficial, Power-assisted, Ultrasonic (VASER) and Laser Liposuction. Initially Laser Liposuction was experimental and not very practical. As the machines got better so did the results. However, it was still time-consuming, potentially dangerous because of burns due to lack of temperature control, and results were not... more
Andrew Kaczynski, MD

Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.drkmd.com

+1

Smart Lipo

Smart Lipo is a laser used to assist in the breakup of the fat cells prior to aspiration. Non laser liposuction just aspirates the fat with no pre-breakup of the fat cells. Both systems use fluid prior to aspiration or laser. see video
Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD

San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elitemdspa.com

+1

Smart Lipo laser is lipo suction with the additional step of lasering

Liposuction can be done with several methods. Traditional suctioning, power suctioning, and water (bodyjet) are some of the techniques of removing the fat cells. Smart Lipo adds an extra step with a laser to melt the fat cells and stimulate collagen for skin tightening. We use a combination of these techniques to taylor to the individual"s needs. For the most part, similar results can be obtained - no matter what instrumentation is used.  More important is the... more
Christopher J. Peers, MD

South Bend Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.peerscosmetic.com

+1

Smartlipo is laser liposuction and it can be a rewarding procedure

Smartlipo is a name for a specific type of laser-assisted liposuction developed and manufactured by Cynosure. Smartlipo is FDA approved and is used for body contouring, evolving over a period of 4 years from a laser with a single wavelength, then a dual wavelength (Smartlipo MPX = Multiplex) and now Smartlipo Triplex, which utilized 3 specific laser wavelengths.  Why the evolution?  It is because Cynosure is committed to developing a laser system for liposuction that will... more
Christine A. Petti, MD

Torrance Plastic Surgeon
+1

How Smartlipo works

These machines use a1064-nm Nd:YAG laser fiber is introduced through a small cannula, delivering energy directly to subcutaneous fat cells-causing them to rupture or separate. The emitted fat melting energy also coagulates tissue, thus inducing collagen retraction and tissue tightening. The laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately—resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising than conventional liposuction, for faster healing and recovery. The subsequent heat... more
Victor Manuel Perez, MD

Kansas City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smartlipo and Smartlipo MPX are types of laser liposuction

Smartlipo MPX (Multiplex) is a revolutionary liposuction technique that utilizes a YAG laser with two separate wavelengths (compared to Smartlipo with just one) to carefully liquefy fat cells and promote skin tightening. In conjunction with Tumesent Liposuction, it offers a smoother contour with more adequate fat removal. It can also be used alone in areas to promote skin tightening. This laser-assisted lipolysis procedure is performed using a small, two millimeter cannula inserted into... more
Steven L. Ringler, MD

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon

www.stevenringlermd.com

+1

Smart Lipo MPX

Smart Lipo was first introduced a few years ago, the MPX version introduced about a year ago, it is different for the following reason: more power - more efficient fat melting/breakdown, hence faster operative time combined wavelength - improved fat breakdown and skin tightening. Compared to traditional liposuction, I believe it is a more refined way of breaking down fat, the traditional lipo (tumescent lipo in itself) mechanically breaks down the fat at the same time suctioning it, more... more
J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is Smartlipo smart? Not really

There is nothing really smart about Smartlipo. It essentially uses a very small fiber about the tip of a pencil lead to deliver a laser energy to the fat. This destroys the fat. Some people leave the dead fat to be absorbed while others then follow up with traditional liposuction to remove the dead fat. Is this really an advantage? It;s users claim superior skin contraction with less pain and bruising. However, this really remains to be proven. When the initial Smartlipo failed to deliver... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Laser-assisted liposuction

Hello, In few words Smart Lipo is laser-assisted liposuction. A laser helps melt some of the fat before it is removed through the suction device. After using it for over a hundred cases in 2008, I basically stopped using it, moving back toward more conventional tumescent liposuction. My assessment is that Smart Lipo adds expense but, for that expense, really adds little in the results department for the vast majority of patients. I consider it a plastic surgery gimmick of sorts. more
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Find out which "Smartlipo" machine and technique is to be used

The changes in both machines and techniques have come so quickly that consumers as well as physicians have difficulty sorting out what is really being done. We tried the original Smartlipo lasers and protocols and found them no different than tumescent liposuction, except it took longer, was more expensive, and had more possibilities of complications. By my count we were through three generations of machines without the company really defining what they or we should doing. However, the new... more
Nathan Mayl, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

SmartLipo is not a substitute for traditional lipo

There are several laser liposuction companies (including Smart Lipo or Cool Lipo). The actual procedure and use of the laser varies from practitioner to practioner. We tend to use the laser (either Smart Lipo or Cool Lipo) in conjunction with our traditional liposuction procedures as the laser can provide some tightening of the skin. By itself, the Smart Lipo or Cool Lipo laser is insufficient for larger areas (such as large abdomens) or multiple areas.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

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