Evaluation of skin tightening after laser-assisted liposuction.

Background: Lasers have been used to enhance the emulsification of fat and coagulation of small blood vessels in conjunction with lipoaspiration. Although seen anecdotally, documented skin tightening has not been established.

Objective: The authors sought to establish a model and a quantifiable method for documenting changes in skin tightening and skin shrinkage after laser lypolysis.

Methods: Five female patients with focal abdominal adiposity were treated in a prospective evaluation with a sequentially firing 1064-/1320-nm laser. Skin shrinkage was measured from four quadrants of tattoo skin markings and evaluated using a three-dimensional camera. Skin tightening was measured with a skin elasticity device. Measurements were taken at baseline and at one and three months postoperatively.

Results: At three months postoperatively, the average skin tightening index (elasticity) increase indicating skin elasticity improvement was 26%; the average reduction in area or skin shrinkage was 17%. Both the skin tightening index and skin shrinkage at three months postoperatively (P < .01) were higher than baseline.

Conclusions: Our findings represent the first documentation of quantifiable evidence of positive skin changes resulting from the addition of laser treatment to liposuction.