A European study indicates that laser lipolysis (LAL) is safe and effective for submental and neck remodeling.
The authors — led by Franck Marie Leclère, M.D., of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris — note that LAL is on the rise due to the advantages of reduced operator fatigue, excellent patient tolerance, quick recovery time and excellent dermal tightening. With the objective of evaluating LAL for submental and neck remodeling, the team undertook a prospective study involving 30 patients between June 2010 and January 2013.
The patients were treated for Rohrich type I to III aging neck with a 980 nm diode laser (Quanta system, spa model D-plus, Solbate Olona, Italy). Cervicomental angles were measured six months post-operatively and compared with pre-operative measurements. Patients were asked to fill out a satisfaction questionnaire.
The researchers found that with the exception of three patients who developed mild hyperpigmentation — which was gone four months later — there were no complications in the series. Patients said they experienced minimal pain during anaesthesia and little discomfort after the procedure. All patients returned to normal activities in days, and all said they would strongly recommend the treatment.
“LAL is a safe and reproducible technique for remodeling in Rohrich type I to III aging neck,” the authors conclude. “The procedure allows for a reduction in the amount of adipose deposits while providing concurrent skin contraction.”
The study was published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy.
