As obesity is reaching an epidemic in the US, more people are becoming obsessed with thinness. With dieting and exercising being the slow path to weight loss and healthy looks, liposuction is the popular get-thin fast way for many and has become the most popular elective surgical procedure to date.

In the past couple of years a new laser assisted lipo procedure for fat removal has come to light. One such procedure is the Smartlipo™ by Cynosure. The procedure involves inserting a very small cannula, or tube, approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter containing a laser into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser’s energy to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. Due to the cannula’s small size, Smartlipo™ is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia.

Some physicians say that Smartlipo™ is no better than the tried-and-true surgical liposuction techniques and that it is little more than a marketing ploy. There is no pain free quick fix for obesity and Liposuction is no such fix. In general, people who eat and exercise well after the procedure are the ones most likely to benefit the most from it. Smartlipo™ is not an un-risky procedure as 20 out of 100,000 people who undergo it die from blood clots or infections. This is a higher risk than dying from a car accident or due to smoking.

The bottom line is: If you are to have such surgical procedure make sure you do it in conjunction with healthy eating and exercising. Also you should fully discuss the procedure with your family physician.

Katy Issa
Senior Aesthetician - Aura Laser Skin Care