The Lowdown on Laser Liposuction

Other names it goes by: Laser-assisted Lipo (SmartLipo, CoolLipo) 

Best for: The body and face

How it works: Uses a low-energy laser to purportedly break up fat cells, which some plastic surgeons believe offers the added benefit of slight tightening of loose skin, although these claims are debatable and the effects are unpredictable.

Upside: Purportedly less swelling and bruising than other techniques.

Downside: There’s the possibility of burns.

What the experts say: Many plastic surgeons count laser-assisted liposuction as a way to tighten skin, since it works from the inside out. “Laser-assisted liposuction heats the skin from the bottom-most internal layer up to create a tightening effect,” says Boca Raton, FL, plastic surgeon Jason Pozner, MD. Adds Montclair, NJ, plastic surgeon Barry DiBernardo, MD, “Because the laser energy is delivered from below the skin, the outer skin isn’t subject to any direct energy. This enables us to deliver significantly more energy to target cells for stimulation and to markably decrease the amount of external skin damage.”