Can smartlipo work without suction?

Question

I'm and athlete and have been in great shape pretty much all my adult life but am about 7-8 pounds up and have a couple of pockets that irritate me, esp with age (late 40s) I do not like the idea of traditional lipo at all (apologies to you docs who perform it). I really just want a little boost while losing the weight I've gained, not anything drastic. I feel like once the fat has liquefied with smart lipo I might be able to metabolize it/pass it without sucking it out. Is this the possible?

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

SmartLipo burns fat cells into an oily residue. The procedure also disrupts the lymphatic channels in the areas that are treated. This means that this fluid will not absorb quickly. It will linger, irritate the tissues and cause inflammation. It will also increase the risk for infection. The lipo that accompanies SmartLipo does not need to be performed with the large cannulas used for traditional liposuction. In fact, most small areas can be reduced efficiently and effectively with microcannulas of similar thickness to the SmartLipo probe through the same tiny incisions.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Trying to melt the fat and then not suction it doesn't really work.. The truth is, that laser lipolysis technology is not advanced enough to really cause significant skin contraction based upon all the studies out there.  You need to suck fat or else it stays put.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Fiona2012,

In answer to your question, Laser
lipolysis is a two-step process.  The
first step is laser liquification of adipose tissue.  This can also be done with radio frequency
assisted energy.  Following the
liquification you have free fatty acids and glycerol in the subcutaneous
space.  Lymphatic channels and lymphatic
drainage are also traumatized during this process and although aspiration does
not need to occur you certainly run the risk of a higher complication rate such
as seroma, prolonged inflammation, edema and the risk of fibrous deposition
[ph] and a permanent fullness that is not easily removed.  As you can see from my answer the gentle
aspiration of the liquefied fat is an essential part of any femoral lipoplasty
technique.  The cannulas are tiny, the
process is relatively atraumatic and a necessary part of ensuring uncomplicated
healing.

I’ve been performing radio frequency
assisted liposuction called BodyTite, SmartLipo and ultrasonic assisted
liposuction for 10-15 years.  It is
exceedingly important that you follow these paradigms or seek other procedures
such as the SculpSure, the BodyTite, UltraShape or if you have enough lax soft
tissue, CoolSculpting to achieve your fat reduction with no surgery.  I have all of these non-surgical fat
reduction techniques as well as every energy-assisted device such as SmartLipo,
Vaser Lipo and BodyTite.  I think it is
important you seek the advice of a very experienced energy assisted lipoplasty
physician then you have a high probability of an excellent outcome with minimal
downtime and a procedure performed under local anesthesia.

To find out more, please visit the
link below. Also revisit the BodyTite and Vaser Lipo sections as well as the
sections on non-surgical liposuction.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Robert L. True, MD, FACOG, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

Most of the time, SmartLipo is accompanied by liposuction but this is usually the more modern benign type of liposuction. You can indeed melt the fat with SmartLipo and, if you have very little fat, liquefy the fat to allow your body to absorb the liquid fat over the next 6-12 months. But why harbor a bunch of grease under your skin? since you can just quickly remove it with a little suction while you're numb during the SmartLipo procedure.

David E. Berman, MD (retired) · Answer

if you are going through the effort to melt the fat with the laser, it makes no sense, not to suck the melted fat out. it is built into the cost of the procedure and there is no reason not to do it.good luckdavid berman md

Sherwood Baxt, MD (retired) · Answer

This was tried many times in the early days of laser liposuction.  Seems pretty reasonable that it would work, problem is it doesn't. Takes a prolonged period of time for that liquefied fat to be processed. I would think if you do a really tiny area that might work but that does not sound like your issue.

Can smartlipo work without suction?

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