Apfelberg first used laser-assisted liposuction in a study in 1991. The laser beam is emitted either before or during liposuction in the fatty tissue. Laser-assisted liposuction leads to a targeted increase in temperature in the fatty tissue. This destroys the fat cells, obliterates the smallest vessels and changes the structure of the collagen fiber bundles. Similar to ultrasound-assisted liposuction, the increase in temperature leads to a slight shrinkage of the skin. Laser-assisted liposuction therefore also carries a risk of burns. The combination of different wavelengths between 900 and 2800 nanometers is intended to improve skin shrinkage and reduce the risk of burns.
Several companies offer such devices as a supplement to liposuction:
SlimLipo (Palomar Medical Technologies GmbH, Hamburg) 924 and 975 nanometers.
SmartLipo (Cynosure Inc., Westford, MA, USA) 1064 and 1320 nanometers.
ProLipo Plus (Sciton, Palo Alto, CA, USA) 1064 and 1319 nanometers.