Smart Lipo
Smart Lipo is laser-assisted liposuction performed in our office. A spaghetti-thin fiber-optic laser slips through a tiny skin puncture and melts the targeted fat, which is then gently suctioned out or absorbed by the body. The laser's heat also stimulates collagen, so the skin tightens as the fat leaves. It shines in small and delicate areas, especially the face and neck.
What isSmart Lipo?
Smart Lipo threads a fiber-optic laser through a very thin cannula and into the fat through a tiny puncture. The laser's heat melts the fat cells, which are either gently suctioned out or left for the body to absorb, depending on the extent of the procedure. Because that same heat encourages collagen formation, the skin over the treated area firms up as it heals.
That gentleness is the point. Traditional liposuction has to loosen fat with a degree of force, which means more trauma to surrounding tissue, more soreness, and more bruising, and it does nothing to tighten skin. Smart Lipo's tools are smaller, the incisions are tiny, no stitches are used, and scarring is usually minute.
Smart Lipo is the name of the device, made by Cynosure and FDA cleared in 2006; laser lipo is the umbrella term it belongs to. The system's wattage can be adjusted to your fat content and skin condition, so a patient who needs more skin rejuvenation gets a different setting than one who does not. We perform it under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, and often pair it with Vaser liposuction when a case calls for both.
Who is Smart Lipo for?
Smart Lipo is for people with a small, stubborn area who want the skin tightened along with the fat removed.
The honest answer comes from a consultation. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Balvant Arora, looks at the area, your skin, and your goals, and tells you whether Smart Lipo alone, Vaser, or a combination will actually get you there.
You are near your goal weight
Most Smart Lipo patients are within 20 to 30 pounds of their goal weight. It sculpts trouble spots; it is not a weight-loss treatment.
The area is small or delicate
Smart Lipo is ideal where a relatively small amount of excess fat needs reshaping, and for sensitive areas like the face and neck where bigger procedures are impractical.
You want skin tightening too
The laser's heat induces collagen, so it is the right choice where extra tightening is sought. Traditional lipo offers none.
You are in good overall health
Good physical and mental health matters. Pregnancy or a pacemaker may rule Smart Lipo out; your history is reviewed at consultation.
Your skin has reasonable elasticity
Elastic skin conforms to the new contour more smoothly after the fat is gone.
Where Smart Lipoworks
Smart Lipo works effectively all over the body, from the ankles to the neck, but it earns its keep on small pockets of fat and in sensitive areas where traditional liposuction is not practical. The face and neck are where we reach for it most.
Select an area on the figure to see what Smart Lipo does there.
See Smart Lipo at our office
These are the videos that were embedded on our Smart Lipo page.
If you would rather talk it through, a consultation covers everything you see here, for your body.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationSmart Lipo is priced by the size and number of areas treated, so we give a personalized quote at your consultation.
Performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, with sedation available to help you relax. You stay awake and go home the same day.
Most patients are back at work and their regular schedules within a couple of days, wearing a compression garment for about two weeks.
A change in shape shows almost immediately and keeps developing over the following weeks; full results usually take about six months. Removed fat cells do not come back.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smart Lipo the same as laser lipo?
Laser lipo is the umbrella term for every device that removes fat with laser energy. Smart Lipo is the specific device we use, made by Cynosure and FDA cleared in 2006.
How does Smart Lipo work?
A fiber-optic laser inside a very thin cannula enters the fat through a tiny puncture. The laser's heat melts the fat cells; the liquefied fat is gently suctioned out or absorbed by the body, and the same heat stimulates collagen so the skin tightens.
Does Smart Lipo really work?
Yes. It removes enough fat to reshape a stubborn trouble spot, though it is not designed for large volumes. It is a sculpting tool, not a weight-loss procedure.
How much weight will I lose?
Possibly a couple of pounds. The real benefit is getting rid of stubborn spots and refining your shape, not moving the number on the scale.
Is the fat gone permanently?
Yes, the treated fat cells are removed for good. Future weight gain can still enlarge the fat cells that remain, so a stable weight preserves the result.
Does it hurt?
No. The area is fully numbed with local anesthetic and you stay awake throughout. Sedation is available to help you relax.
How long does the treatment take?
About two hours, performed on an outpatient basis in our office.
What is recovery like?
Most patients return to work within a couple of days and wear a compression garment for about two weeks. Because the tools are so small, soreness and bruising are far milder than with traditional liposuction.
Will I have scars or stitches?
No stitches are used to close the puncture points, and scarring is usually minute.
Will my skin tighten?
Yes. The laser's heat stimulates collagen formation, firming the skin over the treated area, an effect traditional liposuction does not offer.
Where can Smart Lipo be used?
Almost anywhere from the ankles to the neck: the abdomen, arms, back, bra region, chin, jawline, male chest, neck, knees, sides, and inner and outer thighs. It is especially good around the face and neck.
Can it be combined with other liposuction?
Yes. We often use Smart Lipo together with Vaser liposuction when a case calls for both, letting each technology do what it does best.
Where to next
Related treatment
Liposuction
Remove stubborn fat for good.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Stubborn Fat
Pockets that diet and exercise will not move
Start from the concernWorth reading
How Much Weight Can You Lose With Smart Lipo?
You may lose a couple of pounds, but the real benefit of this type of liposuction is its ability to get rid of stubborn trouble spots.
Read the answerAsk about body contouring.
Tell us the area you have in mind and what you have tried. We will come back with which treatments make sense, what they cost, and when you could start.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.