Background: The use of the neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser as an auxiliary tool for lipoplasty has refined the traditional technique. The primary limitation of the traditional technique-large volume blood loss-is addressed by the use of the Nd:YAG laser. This report describe's the technique of laser- assisted liposuction, then reviews and compares the histologic and morphometric effects with those of the traditional method.
Methods: The Nd:YAG laser was used to produce the desired injury to the adipose tissue after sufficient contact. Laser lipolysis was performed on the patient's right flank in two different areas, with the application of 1,000 and 3,000 J of accumulated energy (in), respectively. Subsequently, another cannula was introduced to suction the liquid content obtained by laser lipolysis. This tissue product was sent to the pathology laboratory for morphologic and morphometric analysis, and for comparison with material obtained from traditional lipoplasty performed on the left flank of the same patient.
Results: The histopathologic examination of adipose tissue after laser lipolysis showed cell swelling and less bleeding, as compared with the traditional method. The morphometric analysis showed that the mean diameter of the major adipocyte was 95.69 microm with laser lipolysis using 1,000 J (in), 82.63 microm using 3,000 J (in), and 84.54 microm with the traditional method
Conclusions: The traditional method produced less reversible cellular damage (swelling) than laser lipolysis using 1,000 J (in). The area receiving 3,000 J (in) showed major irreversible damage (cytoplasmatic retraction and disruption of membranes). For this reason, the mean diameter of the adipocyte was less.