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Question :
I have awful back fat. They’re actually rolls of fat on my back. Can these be improved with laser liposuction?

Answer :
Laser liposuction can and is used to improve the appearance of back fat.  Laser liposuction can be used almost anywhere on the body to reduce excess fat.  Obviously, the use of laser liposuction has to be measured in a risk to benefit ration prior to undertaking the procedure but, in the back, there is an extremely high level of patient satisfaction and very low risk with laser liposuction.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
How does the laser in laser liposuction help to improve the appearance of the skin?

Answer :
The laser which is used in laser liposuction in my practice is the Palomar Slimlipo laser.  The Slimlipo laser uses two laser wavelengths to perform the laser liposuction procedure. One wavelength is designed to target fat and the other wavelength is used to target skin.  In other words, the laser wavelength for skin actually treats the collagen of the skin from the undersurface of the skin.  Treating the collagen leads to skin tightening and shrinkage as a secondary effect of the Slimlipo laser liposuction procedure.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
What is the purpose of the laser in liposuction? Does it must make the fat easier to remove?

Answer :
Laser liposuction is used just like traditional liposuction only the downtime following the procedure and the discomfort of the procedure is significantly less than traditional liposuction.  The reason for this is that the laser is used to melt the fat prior to removal and then the fat can be gently removed from the locations on the body where it was treated. The trauma to the body enables the remarkable quick recovery from the laser liposuction procedure.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
How is laser liposuction different from water- or ultrasound-assisted techniques or cool lipo? Is it more effective?

Answer :
Each of the modalities of liposuction that you have mentioned differ greatly from one another in terms of the technology with which these machines remove or destroy fat cells.  Prior to purchasing the laser liposuction technology I had the opportunity to review the data, see the results, and even use the different machines that you have mentioned.  I found that the laser liposuction technology gave my patients the best and most reproducible results compared to all of the other technology available.  Laser liposuction uses two laser wavelengths.  One is for fat melting and the other is for skin tightening.  This is one distinct advantage of the laser liposuction technology that the other liposuction modalities you have mentioned do not have.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
Hi, I’m wondering if getting laser liposuction on abdominal fat has any benefits to diabetes.

Answer :
Laser liposuction is extremely effective in the reduction of fat of the torso and is also effective in tightening the skin from where the fat has been removed. There have been no controlled studies with regards to the effectiveness of laser liposuction and the benefits of diabetes.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
I’m 16 and I’d like to get liposuction. I’ve heard this is too young but I’ve been doing my research and it sounds like laser liposuction is less invasive and safer so could it be performed on a patient my age?

Answer :
Your question is really a comment and a question. I would agree that laser liposuction is a less invasive approach to liposuction than the traditional liposuction technique. Laser liposuction is also extremely safe and predictable. I am able to deliver a specific amount of laser energy to a specific area in order to treat excess fat evenly and thoroughly. The issue that I have is that the safety and efficacy of the laser liposuction procedure does not necessarily make it a good procedure for a 16 year old. I feel that 16 is perhaps too young to be seeking liposuction and a rigorous trial of diet and exercise is going to be necessary before any surgical procedure should be attempted.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
I’m interested in getting liposuction on my arms. Are some techniques for liposuction better on the arms than others? Is laser lipo effective here?

Answer :
Laser liposuction is an extremely effective method of treating the upper arms. The upper arm area is fairly sensitive and the laser allows precise destruction of the fat of the upper arms while at the same time tightening the skin of the upper arms. There is not a substitute for surgery on the upper arms in more advanced cases of upper arm laxity, but, the laser liposuction procedure is tremendously effective and provides a very significant improvement in the appearance of upper arm laxity.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question :
Can laser liposuction be performed on the knees? What is the recovery like?

Answer :
Laser liposuction can and is performed on the knees. The laser liposuction procedure is extremely well tolerated. The recovery period for laser liposuction of the knees is relatively easy. Swelling and bruising can last for several days to weeks, but, it is not a particularly painful procedure and you will be able to ambulate the day of surgery. Heavy exercise is not recommended for about two weeks to reduce the chance of prolonged swelling.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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