Function

• Both traditional and laser liposuction procedures have the same function: to rid the fat deposits that affect the aesthetic of the body contour and cause the cellulite "dimples" in the skin. The laser method is for mild to moderate fat conditions and skin tightening, however, while the traditional method can rid larger amounts of dis-proportioned fat.
  
  

Invasive Vs. Non-Invasive

• Traditional liposuction is an invasive surgical procedure, meaning that incisions are made into the skin so that the surgeons can work below the surface skin layers. Laser liposuction is a non-invasive or minimally invasive procedure, depending on the amount of fat.
  
  

Technique

• Traditional liposuction involves the removal of fat through the suction of a straw-like tube (canulla). Laser guided liposuction employs high-energy thermal laser beams that penetrate the skin tissue and heat the fat deposits in the skin's lower layers, breaking up and emulsifying these deposits, and also stimulating new collagen and elastin growth in the skin.
  
  

Results

• After a recovery period of seven to 10 days, traditional liposuction patients see dramatic results from the fat removal. Laser lipo patients, however, may not see results for a month or two after the procedure, since the stimulation of collagen and elastin in the skin must work over time to smooth out the skin, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
  
  

Risks and Complications

• Although the traditional method is highly invasive, the laser guided method employs heat, so risks and complications are similar for both procedures, according to the ASAPS. These include scarring, contour irregularities, infection, inadequate fat removal, and continued skin laxity.