Smart Lipo Vs. Vaser

Smart Lipo is a kind of laser liposuction, a surgical method of removing excess fat from parts of the body. Vaser liposuction, on the other hand, is an alternative to traditional fat-extracting methods in which ultrasound technology breaks up fat cells. Both procedures are considered advances from traditional liposuction, a more invasive procedure with a longer period of recovery. But significant differences remain.

Function

• Smart Lipo, patented by Cynosure Corp., has been on the market since 2006. It uses lasers to remove fat, as opposed to traditional liposuction, which uses a vacuum procedure. Lasers deliver waves of high energy to fat cells, which then break up and can be removed through minimal incisions in the body. Vaser Lipo System was created by Sound Surgical Technologies and received FDA approval in 2002. Vaser, which is short for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance, employs a similar procedure but uses ultrasonic waves instead of laser energy.

Effects

• Both Smart Lipo and Vaser have similar effects. Both can be used on the same areas of the body--most commonly the hips, buttocks, abdomen and thighs. Results are evident immediately in both procedures, although with both Vaser and Smart Liposuction, many patients need a second or third treatment six months after the first surgery in order to achieve and maintain desired results.

  The incisions left behind by both procedures are also the same, because both break up fat cells before the fat cells are removed. Bruising, swelling and fat drainage are common side effects of both procedures.

  Finally, in both cases, if you don't take care of yourself with proper diet and exercise after the procedure, you will gain back the fat.

Benefits

• Because both procedures are similar, it can be difficult to determine the better of the two. Vaser technology claims that patients can recover faster than with Smart Lipo and that the pain is reduced, no conclusive medical studies prove this statement. Both Smart Lipo and Vaser may be better than traditional liposuction due to the advances in the technology, enabling smaller incisions, but again, this has not yet been conclusively proved within the medical community.

Warning

• Both Vaser and Smart Lipo have become popular plastic surgery tools. However, they are still surgeries. Many doctors who are inexperienced with liposuction are using these procedures, as they seem relatively non-invasive. However, serious risks remain with both procedures. Before undergoing either Vaser or Smart Lipo, ensure you are working with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience performing the particular technique you are interested in.

Expert Insight

• Dr. Michael Law, a plastic surgeon from Raliegh-Durham, N.C., suggests that Vaser may be most useful for more fibrous areas of the body, such as the back or for male breasts. Dr. George J. Beraka, M.D., a Manhattan plastic surgeon, suggests that Smart Lipo has a few advantages, but increased potential for complication arises from use of the laser. However, medical opinion is vastly divided on whether Smart Lipo or Vaser is the best treatment. As Dr. Evan Sorokin, M.D., a plastic surgeon from Cherry Hill, N.J., reports--the type of liposuction best for you will depend upon your personal situation. Generally, most experts advise that you consult with a plastic surgeon, discuss your goals and decide on an individualized treatment plan together.

Cost

• Both procedures have similar cost structures as well, though a wide price variation exists depending on geographic area, choice of surgeon and area of the body where fat is being removed. In any case, it is not inexpensive: The average cost to use Vaser liposuction to remove fat from one area of the body can be several thousand dollars. Smart Lipo has a similar pricing structure, with costs ranging from a few thousand dollars to remove fat from a small area to as much as twice that for fat removal from the hips or inner thighs.