Laser Liposuction Risks

Much of the marketing for laser liposuction, liposculpture and body sculpting give the impression that the new procedure is a safe, risk free, painless and quick procedure. I have read and heard claims that you can have your procedure done under local anesthesia, lose your fat, tighten your skin, and go on with your life, even back to work, the same day. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is-we all know that.

The perception that laser liposuction is easy to do has also encouraged some professionals without surgical training or no formal training in aesthetic surgery to offer this this new procedure to patients in their practice or Spa.

While I enthusiastically support laser liposuction as a revolutionary new advance in plastic surgery, it is still a surgical procedure. All surgical procedures have risks and the potential for complications.

Many of the risks of laser liposuction are those associated with any traditional suction procedure. However, the introduction of heat by the laser during liposuction poses some newer potential complications. If the fiber is placed too close to the skin for too long, or one area is treated to aggressively, there is risk of thermal injury, a burn can occur.



Risks of Laser Liposuction



o Skin Burns-Laser liposuction utilizes laser energy to heat fat and liquefy fat. This makes fat removal easier. In my experience with laser liposuction skin burns are very rare and are easily avoided by proper technique.

o Skin Loss-Too aggressive use of the laser too near the skin can create a burn and the overlying skin can be damaged and lost. Again, technique and experience are key to avoiding this complication.

o Bleeding-In my experience bleeding is less with new laser liposuction procedure than with standard liposuction. But bleeding can occur as with any surgical procedure.



o Infection-Infection can occur with any invasive procedure. Since the laser fiber is inserted underneath the skin, sterile operating room precautions and antibiotic coverage are necessary.

o Anesthetic Risks-Several well publicized deaths after liposculpture and suction body contouring were caused by overdose of lidocaine, the anesthetic used to control pain during the procedure. Training and experience are keys to avoiding this.



o Contour Deformities-Wavy lines, depressions and lumps or bumps in the skin occur in 20% of standard liposuction patients. These contour deformities are caused by irregular fat removal and fat removal too close to the surface of the skin. In my experience contour deformities are much less common with new laser assisted procedure. I believe this is because fat is dissolved by the laser and fat removal is less traumatic.

o Loose Skin-Loose skin after liposculpture or body contouring and fat removal has always been the major drawback to high volume fat removal in older patients with poor skin elasticity. The major advance with the new laser assisted procedure is that the heat from the laser tightens the skin. In my experience loose skin is very uncommon with the new procedure. However, technique and experience are important to avoid loose skin after fat removal.



o Inexperienced or untrained Doctor-Specialized surgical training, technical skill, aesthetic knowledge and judgment, and experience are necessary to achieve a good result in any type of surgery. This is especially true in an aesthetic procedure like liposculpture where results are visible and the surgery is purely elective. Only a medical license is required to perform cosmetic surgery in this country. If you are considering liposculpture or body contouring surgery, do your homework and check out the credentials of your surgeon.

Major Benefits

I do enthusiastically endorse the new laser assisted technique as a revolutionary advance in technology. The laser technique is the only one I now use in my practice. The advantages are very clear in my anecdotal experience and are:

o Skin Tightening

o Smoother skin

o Less bleeding

o Less trauma

o Quicker recovery

I predict that this new technique will set the standard for liposculpture and body contouring results in the future.

How to Choose a Surgeon

I admit up front that I am prejudiced in my opinion because I am a board certified plastic surgeon. Liposculpture with or without the laser is a surgical procedure and as with heart surgery, brain surgery or any other type of surgery, if I am having surgery I am going to do my homework and find the best board certified surgeon I can find to perform my operation.

Board certified plastic surgeons spend many years in training and have to have several years of experience and have to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skill to pass their board examinations. Surgery is a technical, manual as well as intellectual task, and most doctors that possess these fine motor qualities are drawn to surgical training and specialty.

There are also doctors who are not board certified plastic surgeons that are skilled and experienced at this technique, most commonly board certified dermatologists trained in dermatologic surgery. Just do your homework and make certain your doctor is trained and experienced.

I always recommend that patients do the following when considering plastic surgery:

o Consult 2 board certified surgeons

o Ask the doctor how experienced he/she is at the procedure you are considering

o Ask to see photos of their surgical results

o Ask to speak to one of their patients who have had the surgery

o Go online and check the doctors credentials

o Ask your family doctor about the reputation and skill of the doctor you are considering

o Ask your friends about the reputation of the doctor

o Read about the procedure you are considering-an excellent resource is The plasticsurgery.org American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Plastic surgery can create very beautiful results when the proper procedure is done on a properly selected appropriate patient. If you are considering any type of plastic surgery do your homework. Read more about the procedure you are interested in. Study the bio and credentials of the board certified plastic surgeons in your area. Be an informed consumer.

An educated patient has the best chance of obtaining a happy and satisfying result. The websites of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) have excellent, honest information. By visiting these websites you can learn about the various procedures and find board certified plastic surgeons in your area.

drseckel.com/laser-liposculpture/laser-liposculpture-why-laser-liposuction-is-better-for-body-sculpting See photos of laser liposuction results. Learn more about result oriented plastic surgery.