Smart Lipo
Posted on April 16, 2010 by drsu
Smart Lipo by Cynosure is a laser used to assist in liposculpture or perform small areas of liposculpture independently. This laser device using a fiber optic cable housed in an extremely thin cannula effectively melts fat and has a diameter similar to a strand of angel hair pasta. The Smart Lipo laser can be used in a fashion similar to the VASER system to melt fat prior to suctioning it out. It also preserves the wanted tissues (blood vessels, nerves, connective tissue) very well. Due to the slower nature of the melting with this laser, it is not well suited to doing liposuction independently on large areas of fat. The major benefits of the Smart Lipo laser are that it provides the ability to tighten and firm skin which has not been available to traditional techniques or to VASER.
The tightening effect on skin is a result of collagen contracture and more importantly to new collagen formation (neocollagenesis) which is a response of the skin to the heating from the laser.
The tightening effect is a gradual process over the next of 3-6 months. Other benefits that can be quite significant are improvements in cellulite and stretch marks, which typically are unresponsive to most treatments. In most cases Dr. Su uses the Smart lipo laser as a final step for tightening only in select areas that require skin tightening.