PROGRESS REPORT ON MULTICENTER STUDY OF LASER-ASSISTED LIPOSUCTION

Fifty-one patients underwent an FDA-approved study of laser-assisted l iposuction in five plastic surgery centers. The YAG laser fiber is con tained within the cannula and shears off the fat cleanly and coagulate s blood vessels as the fat is drawn into the cannula. The drop in hemo globin was relatively modest after surgery. Patients were able to retu rn to work at six days and to light exercise at seven days. Contralate ral studies showed a slight benefit for the laser side at both one and eight weeks for ecchymosis, pain/discomfort, and edema. Lipocrit stud ies were inconsistent.