LipoLite from Syneron is a laser body contouring procedure which is used to remove fat deposits from the body. Like other laser lipo procedures, it uses laser technology to melt the fat before it is removed.
We checked with Dr. Thomas Barnes, a laser lipo surgeon in Newport Beach, CA, and he said, "There are probably 15 different laser lipolysis units and laser lipolysis simply means we're taking a laser... we're putting it through a hole and under the skin and we're melting fat and stimulating the skin to shrink, and we're creating a kind of wounding that's different than liposuction alone.... which might keep you out of work for a week. If you're using laser lipolysis, and a unit like the LipoLite, it actually makes the post-operative course much better. You might be out a day or two."
Traditional liposuction can be used on "any stubborn pocket of fat over the body." Dr. Barnes says that the majority of his patients are, "in pretty good shape, they eat well, but they have stubborn pockets." Ideally, the patient would have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or below, "maybe 15 to 20 pounds overweight, maybe 30 pounds, and they have isolated areas of fat that they really detest. With some patients, he likes to use a combination of liposuction and laser lipo with LipoLite. "I might do some liposuction first, and then I'll come in with my LipoLite laser for laser lipolysis because then I can stimulate the tissue for more shrinkage."
Actual LipoLite Results of Dr. Thomas Barnes
Results photo was taken the next day after this lunchtime lipo procedure
One of the issues with traditional liposuction is the lack of skin tightening. After the fat is removed, the overlying skin is left loose. Laser lipo procedures add the benefit of skin tightening, often times avoiding the need for additional procedures like tummy tuck.
Dr. Barnes likes to use LipoLite to treat male gynecomastia, or male breasts. He says it works well on "more fibrous areas. The back is more fibrous and the heating helps in those areas. There are other areas we like to work on too, the face and the neck... I get a neck lift like result the next day with people working a day or two later." Patients like that there is no cutting involved with LipoLite as there are no scars and very little bruising post-op.
Dr. Barnes is also using the LipoLite to perform a "laser lift facelift. I move up into the face and I can have the jowls tightened. I can do this with the patient awake, we put some numbing fluid in so there's no cutting surgery like a facelift, but you can actually get a facelift like result."
Dr. Thomas Barnes
Dr. Thomas Barnes is a Diplomate of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery in General Cosmetic Surgery and the Board of Certification in Plastic/ Reconstructive Surgery. He has practiced for over 15 years and is the head of the Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center in Newport Beach, CA.
This segment is part of a Laser Lipo Round Table. American Health and Beauty is highlighting these technologies and the physicians who perform laser lipo surgeries. Check back each day to learn more about what each technology has to offer.
Laser lipo discussions will include: Dr. Dwight Reynolds on LipoTherme, Dr. Michael Will on SlimLipo, Dr. Thomas Barnes on LipoLite, Dr. Doohi Lee on ProLipo, Dr. Charles Mok on CoolLipo, and Dr. John Millard on SmartLipo Triplex.
