Comparing AirSculpt® With Laser Lipo Techniques

Many people ask about the difference between AirSculpt and laser-based liposuction approaches, also commonly called SmartLipo. 

To best understand the answer, let's first take a look at what each fat removal procedure does. 

How Does AirSculpt® Work?

AirSculpt® is a patented fat removal process that removes fat, cell-by-cell, through a freckle-sized opening in the skin to deliver permanent results with unmatched finesse.

First, a surgeon numbs the skin of the target area using a tool called an AirPen. An AirPen uses air pressure differentials to distribute topical numbing solutions without needle injections.

The surgeon then replaces the need for a scalpel by using a biopsy punch tool to create an entryway. The entryway is perfectly symmetrical and only two millimeters wide. In the long term, this means you will heal with just a scar the size of a freckle, if it even forms.

After the surgeon creates the entryway, they apply a local anesthetic to the targeted body part. They then simultaneously prepare the fat for extraction while also tightening the skin.

Next, the surgeon will use the unique AirSculpt® cannula to pluck individual fat cells from the target area gently. Instead of stitches, the surgeon uses dissolvable sutures. The downtime for AirSculpt® is only twenty-four hours. AirSculpt® differs from traditional liposuction in quicker recovery, satisfying results, and increased accuracy. Patients return to work or their daily routines within one to two days thanks to the delicate fat removal mechanism, which enhances accuracy while minimizing bruising and swelling. 

Common regions for AirSculpt® include the abdomen, chin, arms, breast, and buttocks. The length of each procedure depends on the individual's needs; however, most are between 45 minutes to two hours. While it is not designed to be a weight-loss procedure, AirSculpt® can eliminate up to five liters of fat per treatment, a significant amount of mass. Unlike most fat removal procedures, this procedure does not require general anesthesia. 

Even more, because AirSculpt does not use a laser to melt fat, it can be used to enhance select areas like the hands, hips, buttocks, and breasts. Fat transfer procedures are not always possible with laser-based fat removal because the heat energy can damage the fat cells, affecting their ability to survive in their new location. 

What is SmartLipo? 

Also known as Laser Lipo, SmartLipo is a laser-assisted form of liposuction. Despite claims, SmartLipo does not dramatically tighten the candidates' skin. This technique is not any safer than traditional types of liposuction, and there is no difference in recovery times. Often confused with noninvasive laser liposuction, SmartLipo is still a surgical procedure that punctures the skin. Common risks of SmartLipo include infection, scarring, bruising, and blood pooling beneath the skin. 

Using a laser may make removing fat easier, but it decreases the viability of a fat transfer afterward due to the damage fat cells experience. AirSculpt® avoids such lasers or other types of energy and uses a rapidly spinning tool that eliminates fat with a delicate plucking motion, reducing the shearing cells experience during removal. This improves the quality of material harvested and maximizes the fat survival rate during a graft. Some fat will always be naturally reabsorbed following a transfer, but this percentage can vary drastically depending on the technique used. 

Does AirSculpt® Use Laser?

Is AirSculpt Laser Lipo? No! Many websites claim that AirSculpt® is the same as laser liposuction, but this could not be further from the truth. As cosmetic surgeon Dr. Tabasum Mir describes above, AirSculpt® never uses laser energy, which can cause side effects like internal burns while damaging fall cells, decreasing their viability for a fat transfer. 

Once the treatment site is numbed with a local tumescent solution, the proprietary AirSculpt® technique allows patients to remain fully awake as fat is removed or transferred with automated precision. The mechanical speed at which the AirSculpt® cannula operates generates frictional heating, tightening the treated areas' skin as the fat is permanently removed. While laser liposuction may offer some skin tightening due to collagen production being stimulated by heat energy, the skin tightening benefits AirSculpt® offers are unique to this technique. 

For patients with loose skin before treatment or those who remove vast amounts of fat, the AirSculpt® + procedure offers dramatic skin tightening far superior to any laser technique. 

AirSculpt® vs. SmartLipo & Laser Lipo: What's the Difference?

AirSculpt®	Laser Lipo
48-hour downtime	Downtime may last weeks
No needles or scalpels	Often uses antiquated techniques
One treatment only	Several sessions required
All-natural fat transfers are provided	Lasers prevent fat transfers
Enhanced precision	Minimal finesse
No thermal burn risk	Lasers can burn the skin

AirSculpt® differs from SmartLipo thanks to its accuracy. SmartLipo uses imprecise laser-equipped tools to burn fat, indiscriminately hitting any organic material that serves as an obstacle, whether that be tissue or muscle. Compared with laser liposuction, AirSculpt® is a much more precise procedure thanks to the automated technology our surgeons use. They merely point the patented AirSculpt® cannula at the trouble area, targeting only stubborn fat and avoiding anything and everything else. The technology will stop if it hits any nonfat compound, allowing the surgeon to precisely and carefully pluck away each fat cell.

For Southern California residents looking to contour their bodies without the invasive approach of liposuction, AirSculpt® is the perfect choice. The highly accurate results and shorter downtime following this procedure are sure to satisfy. Call the AirSculpt® body contouring experts in Beverly Hills or any of the over 27 AirSculpt locations worldwide to begin a free consultation and learn more.