SmartLipo . . . not so smart?

January 21st, 2009 | Posted in: Plastic Surgery |

Much has been made about Smartlipo offering better results and faster recovery than other liposuction/liposculpture techniques. For the record, liposuction and liposculpture are essentially the same surgery… one just sounds fancier. Many doctors would say the same about Smartlipo. This has been a topic of much debate, even among plastic surgeons!

Liposuction remains one of the most popular plastic surgeries and is one of the few procedures you can choose from when undergoing a mommy makeover. In an effort to improve the results, various modalities have been developed to help the surgeon. Smartlipo was introduced to the U.S. in early 2007. It uses a low energy laser on the tip of a long, thin rod to melt excess fat, making it easier to aspirate and remove the emulsified fat from the body with a traditional liposuction cannula. If your surgeon does not use some type of liposuction technique (traditional tumescent or power-assisted), you can potentially reabsorb the fat to be deposited elsewhere on your body. Logistically, Smartlipo should take longer to properly perform, since you have to pass through the liposuction areas twice. So if you are under general anesthesia, you are increasing your surgical risks associated with anesthesia.

Some doctors who use Smartlipo argue that their patients benefit from a skin-tightening effect caused by thermal heating just under the skin. This has not been proven to occur more with Smartlipo than with other, more conventional techniques like standard tumescent, power-assisted, or ultrasound-assisted liposuction. One of the doctors who was paid by the maker of Smartlipo (Cynosure) to participate in its FDA tests even stated that there was no evidence of skin tightening! She tested it on the knees of 15 patients by performing tumescent liposuction on both knees while using Smartlipo on only one side. Comparison of before and after photos  taken months later didn’t show any improvement for the laser treated side.

So it appears that the biggest difference you will see with Smartlipo is a reduction in your checkbook, since it can add up to two thousand dollars to the cost of traditional tumescent liposuction. As with any surgery, the most important thing is to see before and after photos of many different patients so that you can properly judge the skill and technique of your surgeon. Don’t settle for multiple views of the same patient! Also, it is very important to find a plastic surgeon who can develop a rapport with you and gains your trust and confidence. (Remember: there is a difference between a plastic and cosmetic surgeon!)

Finding a caring plastic surgeon who understands your goals will help ensure that you have a good experience, not only with surgery, but with your post-operative care as well!