Laser Liposuction has become an increasingly popular method of fat removal. Prior to laser liposuction, traditional surgical liposuction procedures were carried out to achieve the same effects. Now, with new laser technology, liposuction procedures have become much safer cosmetic procedures. However, before you make the decision to have laser liposuction performed, let’s go through some of the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure.
Advantage: FDA Approval
One of the greatest advantages of laser liposuction is that it is FDA approved. This essentially means that the procedure has been deemed safe for use in patients who are minimally overweight. This does not mean that laser liposuction is without risks, but it does mean that those risks have been tested and found to be either minimal or inconsequential. FDA approval also means that testing and analysis of laser liposuction procedures have been performed.
Advantage: Reduced Scarring
The main purpose of using laser liposuction is generally cosmetic, so traditional surgical procedures resulting in excessive scarring can often be disappointing to the patient. However, laser liposuction significantly reduces the possibility of scarring. Because the procedure is performed using laser technology, the incision made is only large enough to insert the laser tool. It is not a standard surgical incision. So, even if scarring were to occur, it would not be likely to interfere with cosmetic appearance.
Advantage: Minimally Invasive
Laser liposuction is considered to be a minimally invasive procedure. It is recognized as such because it does not employ standard surgical techniques. Standard surgical procedures often require general anesthesia, which carries risks of its own, but laser liposuction only requires local anesthetic to the area being treated. This removes all risk factors associated with general anesthesia.
Advantage: No Downtime
Traditional liposuction surgeries often consist of general anesthesia, a hospital admission, and limited activity for 2 to 3 weeks following the procedure. With the onset of laser liposuction treatment, however, patients can be back to their normal activities within just 2 or 3 hours. Because local anesthesia is used, patients are awake and alert during the procedure, and no hospital admission is necessary. The procedure is not considered invasive, and therefore, patients are not usually restricted from activities after the procedure.
Disadvantage: Cost
As with any cosmetic procedure, there is a price tag. Laser liposuction treatments are generally cheaper than traditional liposuction surgeries, but they are still somewhat costly and rarely paid for by insurance carriers. On average, laser liposuction usually costs between $1,500 and $6,000, but there are several factors which can increase this amount, such as which area of the body is being treated, the amount of fat removed, any existing health conditions and even geographic location.
The cost for laser liposuction on the upper abdomen, which is the most common, usually costs about $4,500. Combine that with the average of $3,500 for the lower abdomen, and an average abdominal laser liposuction treatment could cost around $8,000.
Disadvantage: Burning
One other disadvantage of laser liposuction to consider is the burning sensation. Because laser technology is used to burn away fat, most patients typically report a burning. While this can be painful, this is a greater concern when laser liposuction is used on large areas of the body. When larger areas of the body are treated, the fat is exposed to the laser for longer periods of time, often resulting in side effects associated with burning and prolonged pain.
