Overview
Laser Liposuction and Body Contouring
Laser-assisted lipolysis systems are highly effective for disrupting fat cells and delivering heat stimulated collagen production as part of a body contouring procedure. The method of energy delivery, specific wavelength(s), power, and safety features vary across laser lipolysis platforms. Additionally, most laser lipolysis platforms include some form of disposable cost per procedure.
Currently, Cynosure’s Smartlipo and SmartLipo Triplex with PrecisionTx are the market leaders in laser body contouring. Despite a challenging economic environment, laser lipolysis was in the top five procedures performed by plastic surgeons in the USA.4
Laser Body Contouring Overview
- Laser body contouring is a minimally invasive treatment due to the small cannula size and laser technology.
- Some laser platforms provide the option of using local anesthesia and potentially improving procedure efficiency.
- A laser fiber is introduced through an incision as a single laser fiber or through a small cannula and laser fiber combination, delivering energy directly to subcutaneous adipose tissue to disrupt fat cells and coagulate soft tissue.
- Laser contouring results may include less bleeding, swelling, and bruising, as compared to traditional liposuction.
- Patients may experience quicker healing and less recovery time, reducing the required time for follow-up in the office.
- Laser contouring is a great option for patients who desire lower face and neck revitalization without the downtime of a face lift.
- Laser lipolysis is an excellent adjunct to traditional liposuction treatment, which when used alone, may not provide benefits seen with laser energy.
- Typically only one short treatment session is needed per patient.
Wavelength Options
Laser lipolysis workstations may offer one, two or three wavelength options to treat patients. The determination of the wavelength is primarily based on the chosen target’s (or chromophore’s) affinity to absorb laser energy and the desired clinical outcome.
- Targeted Wavelength: Specific wavelengths are selected and designed to coagulate blood vessels during laser lipolysis, resulting in less bleeding and bruising.
- Wavelength Affinity: Depending on the platform, laser-lipolysis wavelength energy may have a high affinity for water in adipose tissue. Platforms delivering energy that targets water in adipose tissue may provide ancillary benefits, such as heat simulated collagen production.
- Wavelength Absorption: Adipose tissue is composed of 75% lipids and 20% water. The absorption properties of all components in tissue should be considered when selecting a wavelength to provide optimal treatment results.

Small Area Laser Contouring
Benefits may include:
- Laser treatment for smaller areas.
- Results that continue to improve5.
- Heat-stimulated new collagen production (one study on 12 patients demonstrated up to 29% increased skin thickness in three months post treatment6).
- Best possible results with least amount of downtime7.
Enhanced Collagen Deposition

Measurements taken from this ultrasound represent enhanced collagen depositions from 1.40 mm pre-treatment to 1.81 mm three months post-treatment, representing an increased thickness of 29%.6
1American Society of Plastic Surgeons.2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, American Society of Plastic Surgeons [PDF].
2Medical Insight Inc. “Global Aesthetic Market Research Report January 2013.” Medical Insight, Inc. 2013.
3ISAPS. ISAPS Global Report—International Survey on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures Performed in 2011 [PDF].
4Cellulaze is indicated for the improvement in the appearance of cellulite as supported by long-term clinical data.
5DiBernardo BE. “Randomized, blinded split abdomen study evaluating skin shrinkage and skin tightening in laser-assisted liposuction versus liposuction control.” Aesth Surg J. 2010;30:593–602.
6Sasaki, Gordon H. MD, FACS, “Clinical experience with the SideLaze800 fiber and the 1440nm wavelength Smartlipo TriPlex workstation for facial contouring.” 2012 White Paper. 12 patient study. Data on file.
7Gentile, R. “Laser-assisted neck lift: high tech contouring and tightening.” Facial Plast Surg. 2011;27:331–345.
Products (1)
The PrecisionTx laser enables minimally invasive treatment of smaller areas. Treatment areas include the neck and jawline as well as… More