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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open logoLink to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open
. 2017 Oct 2;5(9 Suppl):74. doi: 10.1097/01.GOX.0000526269.10257.a2

Abstract: Pitfalls of Laser Liposuction

Domingos Q De Paola 1, Domingos De Paola Neto 1
PMCID: PMC5636389

INTRODUCTION: Laser liposuction was developed as an alternative to the manual method used in tumescent and traditional liposuction.

Laser liposuction, which is also known as liposculpture and laser lipolysis is somewhat different than traditional liposuction. In some techniques of laser liposuction, suction is used, while in others no actual suction is used. Instead of using the cannula to remove fatty deposits beneath the skin, the cannula houses a laser and the laser is used to literally melt the fat of the target area away.

The heat of the laser is responsible by contracting the tissues which causes the skin to tighten and become smoother.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work is to present our results in 80 patients using two different laser liposuction devices which different wave lengths in one single probe. One device, the Palomar SlimLipo™ uses 924 nm and 975 nm wavelengths and the second, the Deka SmartLipo™ uses the 1064 nm wavelength, both aiming in the same target: shrink the skin!

METHODS: We evaluated the results obtained in these 80 patients who were treated with the SlimLipo™ and the SmartLipo™ Laser liposuction devices. All patients were operated from November 2010 to March 2013 and evaluated 90 days after the procedure. This is, according with the manufacturers, the “peak” moment of the “shrinking” of the skin.

RESULTS: The main complication of laser liposuction is the burn, which occurs from the inside to outside and is always a third-degree burn. The biggest difficulty is the early diagnosis if an area is being subjected to excessive heat.

In our series of 80 patients we had 4 burns (5,7%), all with the SlimLipo™ liposuction device (total of 42 patients). None with the SmartLipo™ liposuction device (total of 38 patients).

In our opinion the disposable probe of the SlimLipo™ device is responsible for the high risk of burns, once there is no security mechanism to avoid the probe to go through the dermis. The SmartLipo™ optic fiber goes through a non-disposable probe and, if it touches the dermis the tip goes back through the cannula.

CONCLUSION: We can say that both devices can achieve excellent results shrinking the skin, but the disposable probe of the SlimLipo™ device is responsible for a high risk of complications (burns).


Articles from Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open are provided here courtesy of Wolters Kluwer Health

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