The side effects of laser body sculpture, or laser lipolysis, are relatively mild compared to liposuction. Laser lipolysis is a cosmetic procedure during which a physician makes a small incision in the skin and then uses a laser to melt fat in a localized area of the body, such as the face. In the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, Dr. Bruce Katz wrote that the overall complication rate for laser body sculpture was .93 percent. In a 2003 study published in Dermatologic Surgery, Dr. Katz reported that the complication rate for liposuction was 1.4 percent.
Swelling
Swelling is a common side effect of laser body sculpture. Doctors advise that a patient undergoing the procedure restrict his physical activity for a week or two following surgery. Depending on the area of the body that the procedure was performed upon, a patient may also be instructed to wear a special garment that compresses the area. The garment helps reduce swelling and speeds healing, too.
Soreness and Bruising
Another common side effect is minor bruising and soreness at the incision site. According to the Association of Advanced Laser Body Sculpture, the soreness is due to the local anesthetic used prior to the procedure and can last up to 10 days. The pain is usually mild, but a physician may prescribe pain medication if necessary. The bruising can last several weeks.
Skin Burns
A rare side effect of the laser body sculpture procedure is skin burning. In the Katz study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 537 laser lipolysis patients were observed. Four skin burns were documented. According to Dr. Katz, the burns were likely caused by a rapid build-up of energy in the laser device.
Infection
All surgical procedures have the possibility of infection. To help combat the risk of infection, doctors routinely prescribe a round of antibiotics to patients who undergo the laser body sculpture procedure. In his book "Non-Surgical Skin Tightening and Lifting," Dr. Murad Alam wrote that of 400 procedures performed at one laser body sculpture facility, just one patient developed an infection.
References
- Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Surgery: Laser-Assisted Lipolysis: A Report on Complications, Bruce Katz, M.D.; January 2008
- Dermatologic Surgery: Power Liposuction: A Report on Complications; Bruce Katz, M.D.; September 2003
- AALBS: Patient's Description
- "Non-Surgical Skin Tightening and Lifting"; Dr. Murad Alam; 2008
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