Is laser lipo the same as Smart Lipo or any other type of laser lipo? Or are they all different?

Smartlipo is a brand name of a laser assisted liposuction procedure.  It does tighten skin to some degree, but it is certainly no miracle.  The fat cells that are removed during liposuction definitely do not return, but the remaining fat cells can always increase in size if the patient does not make appropriate lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet and exercise.

We have been performing laser liposuction for over 12 years and have had consistent skin tightening with our laser liposuction procedure. When the laser is used under the skin, it superheats the collagen layer creating a shrinking effect which tightens the skin. The results can be excellent.
A number of manufacturers came up with names for their laser liposuction devices (SmartLipo is one of them).
If you gain weight after laser liposuction, fat pads in the body in different areas may enlarge to "store" the new weight. If you gain 50+ pounds, your body can make new fat cells anywhere in the body. The placement of those new fat cells is unpredictable.

Most times the terms describe the same procedure though some doctors say they have laser lipo and it is not SMART.  It is very effective for tightening the skin though every procedure has it's limitations such as the need for skin removal with a tummy tuck for some patients.  SMART lipo removes fat cells permanently and most studies suggest that new fat cells are not made in adulthood.  However, if you ingest more calories than you burn you will gain weight though it certainly is harder to gain the volume back in areas that have had lipo.Best wishes and good luck

As mentioned, Smart Lipo is a particular brand of laser from Cynosure.       There are even different versions of Smart Lipo, the latest offering different wavelengths of laser and higher energy than the original.   There are several other laser for liposuction.    You will find varying opinions as to whether laser tightens significantly or offers benefits over risk.      The most important choice is your surgeon, not the device.   Many respected liposuction surgeons prefer other methods of liposuction. 
Generally, the number of fat cells after liposuction are reduced and do not return. 

Laser lipo or smart lipo was developed to give more skin tightening but after using the laser in addition to lipo did seem to give better results than just tumescent lipo using a power assisted cannula. Burns from the laser were possible although rare.

When we talk about liposuction, it can be really confusing because there are a lot of good systems out there, and nearly every doctor has 1 or 2 favorites. Here are the types of liposuction:Traditional Liposuction - performed with a larger cannula, must be performed under general anesthesia due to aggressiveness, not as popular these days because there's no real advantage to it, typically seen used by "old school" plastic surgeonsMicroAire PAL (Power-Assisted Liposuction) - Vibrating, powered suction liposuction that can be done under local or general anesthesiaSAFE Lipo is a branded technique that uses PAL to encourage skin tighteningLaser LipoSmartlipo is the most brand of laser lipo right now - Newest version called Triplex has 3 different laser wavelengths and a safety control to prevent too much heat in any one area (older versions had less safety measures and that's why the system didn't gain popularity until more recently)SlimLipo was one of the best versions for a long time - was the first to really provide skin tightening, but is somewhat inferior to what the newest Smartlipo Triplex can achieve in terms of skin tighteningVaser Lipo - sometimes this is miscategorized as laser lipo, but really it's ultrasonic lipo; the ultrasound helps break up the fat prior to removal for more complete removal of fat, but there is no skin tightening componentYou can also create the same type of skin tightening and fat removing procedure as Smartlipo by combining ThermiTight, which is a surgical skin tightening procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) heat instead of laser, with a liposuction procedure. I'm linking to our liposuction page below with more info on the different types of liposuction.In regards to whether laser lipo actually tightens the skin: Yes, for the right candidates it works really well, but not everyone is candidate. During the skin tightening portion of the procedure, whether you use a laser or RF, you're basically heating the skin from underneath. You run the wand under the skin and use heat-sensing cameras to ensure you're heating up the collagen enough to create a shrink-wrap effect while not reaching a too-high temperature or injuring the patient. But the ideal candidate needs to have good collagen structure within their skin in order to create significant results with a smooth, even outcome. Stretch marks are indications that the skin has been stretched so rapidly that the collagen structure below has ripped in two. So those with stretch marks really aren't going to see a good result. Anywhere there is lots of loose hanging skin, we know the collagen below has been significantly damaged, and likely won't respond well, either. So the patients who really see a good result from this have only mild to moderate loose skin. Which is why a tummy tuck or other body lift surgery is indicated for those with significant loose skin and/or stretch marks.Finally, the idea that fat will never return to any area on your body is pure myth. To understand why people mistakenly believe that, you need to understand a little bit about the way fat cells store fat and multiply. Everyone has a set number of fat cells. If you were to start gaining weight, those fat cells would start filling up their storage areas, and when you gained so much weight that you had maxed out the storage of your current fat cells, your body would build more fat cells with more storage space. At any given time, you do have fat cells with some extra storage space. So if we remove a bunch of full fat cells from your stomach, and you gain a little weight, your body will first max out storage in the fat cells in other parts of your body. But if you gain a lot of weight, your body will have to make new fat cells, and some of them will be in your belly again. Most patients don't regain so much weight after lipo that they start to build new fat cells, but if you do, this is a possibility.  

Great questions! LaserLipo is the generic name for the procedure. SmartLipo was the first LaserLipo device which was FDA approved in late 2006, so that is why you still see the brand name used. I tell patients that it is like calling a box of facial tissues "Kleenex" even though there may be a different brand name such as "Puffs" on the box. LaserLipo is a game changer in permanent fat removal treatments since the laser uses heat to melt the fat cells, but this heat also stimulates collagen production which causes skin tightening. I have had patients with tattoos notice that their tattoos shrunk after having LaserLipo since the skin tightened up. For some patients, the amount of tightening can be enough to allow them to avoid tummy tuck surgery. Since fat cells are primarily made when we are children, you will not make new fat cells in the treated area after the old ones have been destroyed. However, it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle with good diet and exercise. If more calories are consumed than burned up, your body is programmed to store those extra calories as fat so you will either get fatter somewhere else on the body or the remaining cells in the treated area could enlarge. This is true of any permanent fat removal method. I would suggest that you seek consultation with a physician who is experienced with LaserLipo who can assess your areas of concern to predict how your skin will react. This physician can also show you photos of treated patients so you can see if the amount of tightening will be acceptable to you. Best wishes, Mary Beth Mudd

i think they have fantastic equipment and I have done almost 900 Smartlipo cases in my office under local, usually with oral sedation. they return to work the next day in over 90% of cases. of course there are always going to be knock offs which have less power and are less expensive with less safety measures. i would strongly recommend that you look for a board certified PS who has a lot of experience with Smartlipo. i don't believe claims that you can never get fat in a particular area again. there are fat cells left behind and if you eat poorly and put on a lot of weight, you will look fat. david berman md

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Smart liposuction is a brand name for a laser device which delivers light energy to the fatty tissues, resulting in lipolysis of fat, making extraction less difficult. Vaser liposuction (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) utilizes ultrasound to break down fat cells, again to facilitate extraction. Traditional liposuction is accomplished with mechanical force. Each of these techniques will offer improvement of contour. The experience of the surgeon is more important than the type of liposuction utilized.  Although a degree skin shrinkage is noted, it is not sufficient if there is significant redundant skin or muscle stretching resulting from previous pregnancy. 
I recommend an evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon to determine the best option of treatment for you.