How is Laser Lipolysis performed?

Consultation, planning and consent

Your doctor will see you at a consultation and will decide with you if you are suitable to have laser lipolysis and whether your problem areas are suitable for laser lipolysis treatment. If you are happy with what your doctor thinks is possible, you will go through a consent form with your doctor.

At this time you will be warned of the risks and the benefits again - they are listed later here for you to go through. You will then be measured for your compression garment as you will need to wear compression over the treated area for 5 - 9 days - depending on where it is and how much has been done.

Your procedure

On the day of your procedure, you will be checked by one of our health care staff and the doctor performing your laser lipolysis. You will be taken to the changing room and asked to change into a surgical gown. You will then be taken to the operating theatre and in the standing position, the areas for laser lipolysis treatment will be marked with the skin marking pen.

You will then be asked to lie on the operating table, in a position suitable for your doctor to be able to perform the laser lipolysis procedure. The area or areas to be treated will be washed with an antibacterial skin preparation solution and sterile sheets will be placed over you. Local anaesthetic will be injected into the area using special needles through tiny 1-2 mm holes and the laser is put through the same incision. The laser is moved backwards and forwards, destroying the fat cells releasing the fat.

Once the fat has been released, we insert a suction (aspiration) catheter through the same 1-2 mm hole and the liquid fat and dead cells are removed.

Treatments last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours. At the end of the treatment, the area will be swollen due to the local anaesthetic that has been injected. There should be no bruising as the laser closes blood vessels as it treats the fat cells. Plasters will be put on the tiny holes and you will be fitted with your compression garment.

You will then be allowed to go home but are advised to have someone to take you home.