Throughout the years like laser surgery has become an accepted and widely used cosmetic procedure for the removal of unwanted fat tissue in both the body and face. This lipo-related surgery is also known as lipo-excision and lipo-retention surgery. This procedure is done by injecting a special tumescent fluid into the fatty layers of the body which causes them to breakdown, which in turn leads to the liquefying of the fatty tissues.
Lipo lasers are used to perform this lipo-type procedure on patients with a body mass index (BMI) of about 28 or more. Body fat deposits can be removed through ultrasound guided liposuction. Lipo-laser treatments have also been approved by the FDA for use on patients with a skin thickness ranging from extremely light to heavy. For both men and women these lipo lasers are now being employed in a wide variety of cosmetic procedures.
Lipo lasers are either conducted using one or two types of micro-beaded cannulas that are inserted into the targeted areas. One type of lipo laser is a Teflon coated micro-bead that contains tumescent fluid and a carbon dioxide Laser Assisted Lipolysis (LAL) laser that produce a chemical reaction in the fat causing it to break down into liquid and then drained off into the coagulated blood vessels. The other type of lipo laser is a coated micro-bead similar to a liposculpture needle that releases a continuous flow of tumescent fluid. A Teflon coated micro-bead is also used in conjunction with a low energy laser beam that causes the fat to break down into fat droplets much like when a liposculpture needle is used. These lipo lasers can be used to contour, slim and reshape the body without excessive trauma to the body’s own tissue as in the case of a traditional liposuction procedure.
The procedure is usually performed under anesthesia because it is not considered a major surgical procedure. Before a line laser is used on a patient, an impression of the uppermost layer of the skin is taken to help determine the ideal depth of the puncture. This information is necessary for the laser fiber to correctly deliver its energy. It also helps the technicians to design a custom-made cannula that will be the most effective for each individual patient. Other than a small temporary numbing effect, there is no pain involved with either non-surgical lipo-lasers or liposculptures.
Lipo lasers come in many varieties, each targeting a specific area of the body. There are several types of lipo lasers, including wet and dry lipo lasers and the Diode/ Alexandrite type. With a dry lipo laser, the fat content is directly affected; however, wet lipo lasers will inject a local anesthetic to help minimize any pain that may occur. The skin must be pulled tightly at the cannula so that only enough of the epidermis to hold the laser is exposed. The epidermis will then contract as it absorbs energy from the laser.
Another technique in lipo-laser treatment is the tumescent liposuction technique, which involves using a solution of diluted local anesthetic. This technique is less invasive than traditional lipo-packing methods, since only small amounts of anesthesia are used. The most common areas in the body treated by like lasers are the thighs, stomach, hips, buttocks, and waist. Many liposuction patients undergo both wet and dry liposuction techniques to achieve a weight loss of up to three hundred pounds, or a reduction of one inch in overall body size.