title: Histologic evaluation of the pulsed Nd:YAG laser for laser lipolysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser lipoplasty with pulsed Nd:YAG laser, widely used in Europe and Latin America, has recently been introduced in Japan and the USA. We report histologic analyses of the effects of the laser on human fat tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Freshly excised human skin and subcutaneous fat were irradiated with the pulsed Nd:YAG laser (SmartLipo, DEKA, Italy). A 1,064 nm laser at 40 Hz and 150 mJ and 100 microseconds-long pulses were used. Methods of exposure were the same as in the clinical application. In the control group, the specimens were cannulated by the handpiece without irradiation. The tissue was studied by scanning electron microscopy and hematoxylin eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scanning electron microscopy after irradiation showed greater destruction of human adipocytes than in the control. Degenerated cell membrane, vaporization, liquefaction, carbonization, and heat-coagulated collagen fibers were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that the SmartLipo appeared to be histologically effective for destruction of human fat tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Japan Bohseidai, Isehara-shi, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan. ichikota@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Muneo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyasaka
authors.forename: Rica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Ryuzaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanino
authors.forename: Kana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.forename: Moriaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakaki
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D015187:Lipectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley