Liposuction has traditionally been a way to remove excess fat from particular areas of the body using suction techniques.  The procedure is very successfull, however due to the nature of the procedure, the recovery period is fairly long and the trauma sustained by the body is substantial. A lot of bruising, swelling and tenderness can be expected after traditional liposcution, of course this fades over time, however a long recovery period isn't always suitable for people. Laser liposuction has the advantage of much less trauma to the body and a much quicker recovery time.

Laser liposuction doesn't require general anesthetic, meaning much quicker recovery times. The scarring and bruising is far less than with traditional liposuction as there is no moving back and forth under the skin which is what causes most of the trauma. This movement can also cause loose skin once the fat has been removed, meaning that although the area is slimmer, the appearance of the skin may not be to your satisfaction. Laser liposuction has the added benefit of actually promoting great skin tone.

It is a relatively new procedure so there are no real studies on the long terms effects of laser liposuction, however as with traditional liposuction, once the fat cells are removed from a certain area they won't return. There are only relatively few clinics offering laser liposuction due to it's newness, however more and more clinics are beginning to offer it and over time the cost should come down. Surgeons will of course perform the technique that they are most comfortable with, so if you are keen to have laser liposuction as opposed to traditional liposuction you will have to choose your clinic carefully. Talk to the surgeon about how long they have been performing the procedure and the type of results they have seen. You may find that it is more expensive than traditional liposuction as it is a new procedure which warrants higher liposuction prices.

It is also worth bearing in mind that laser liposuction is suited to small areas of the body, such as the face and neck. Larger areas requiring fat removal such as hips, thighs, bottom and stomach will have to be done using traditional liposuction techniques as this is the only effective way that is currently known to remove fat from large areas. It may be in time that laser liposuction is developed so that it can be used on larger areas, however until such time it is limited in where it can be used.