What is laser lipolysis?
Laser lipolysis is a form of energy-assisted liposuction. Through an incision a few millimetres wide, a very fine optical fibre is introduced beneath the skin, emitting laser energy with two simultaneous effects: it liquefies the fat so it can be aspirated with less trauma, and it heats the underside of the dermis, stimulating collagen contraction and encouraging the skin to retract over the new contour.
And here is the most important clarification on this page, because it is where patients are most misled in this market: laser lipolysis IS liposuction. It is performed in an operating room, under anaesthesia, and the liquefied fat is aspirated. It is not a "non-surgical" treatment, it is not an alternative to liposuction and it does not slim you without an operation. Anyone selling it as a non-surgical weight-loss procedure is describing something that does not exist.
Laser, VASER or Endolift: which one fits your case
These three are constantly confused and sold as if interchangeable. They are not. The difference lies in which energy is used and whether the fat is aspirated at the end:
- Laser lipolysis (this page): laser energy via a fibre beneath the skin + aspiration. Its strength is skin retraction. Indicated for small to moderate volumes and in areas where skin quality is the main concern — jowl, arms, inner knees and thighs, flanks.
- VASER liposuction (LipoVaser Power X platform): ultrasound energy + aspiration. It is the reference technique when real volume of fat must be removed, and the one that allows the superficial layer to be worked safely for high definition (HD). If your goal is genuine contour and definition, this is the route.
- Endolift (Endolyse 1470 nm endolaser): the same family of fibre-delivered laser energy, but WITHOUT aspiration and without major surgery. It is the preceding step: it tightens and performs some lipolysis, but it does not remove volume. For patients who do not want liposuction and have little fat to remove.
- The practical rule: excess fat in quantity → VASER. Excess skin with little fat → laser or Endolift. A lot of excess skin → none of the three: it has to be removed (abdominoplasty or another dermolipectomy). No laser substitutes for skin that must be cut away.
Dr. Arístides Arellano’s track record in medical-surgical laser
Energy applied to surgery is one of his longest working lines, and in the case of laser lipolysis there is a very specific document — all of them in his credential archive:
- Conference paper: “Laser lipolysis” — 21st Congress of the Spanish Society of Medical-Surgical Laser (SELMQ), 2013. He is not merely a user of the procedure: he went to present on it.
- Full member of SELMQ since 2013, membership renewed (member no. 261).
- World Congress on Liposuction, Chicago (2017) — 16.5 AMA PRA credits, Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
- Member of the Lipoplasty Society of North America (1994) and the American Society of Lipo-Suction Surgery (1990).
How is it performed?
It is performed in an operating room, under local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, depending on the extent. Duration depends on the number of areas. Through millimetric incisions the laser fibre is introduced, the fat and the underside of the skin are treated, and the liquefied contents are aspirated. A compression garment is fitted at the end, and in this technique it matters especially: it is what accompanies the skin retraction the laser energy set out to stimulate.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
- Small or moderate volumes of localized fat — this is not the technique for a full body contour.
- Areas where skin quality and retraction are the main concern: jowl and neck, arms, inner knees and thighs, flanks.
- Stable weight, close to the usual. It is not a weight-loss method, just as no liposuction is.
- Good general health.
- Realistic expectations about retraction: the laser encourages the skin to retract, but it does not replace a dermolipectomy. If you have a lot of excess skin, no laser will take it up, and we will tell you so at the consultation rather than sell you sessions that will not work.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
The compression garment and manual lymphatic drainage are part of the result, not accessories: they accompany skin retraction during the weeks in which the applied energy continues to act. Dr. Arístides may also recommend hyperbaric chamber sessions and radiofrequency. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
The cases below are real patients of Dr. Arístides Arellano, published with their written informed consent. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, only expressly authorised cases are published; at your in-person consultation Dr. Arístides can show you further cases with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
On Dr. Arístides Arellano’s 2025 price list, laser lipolysis is quoted within liposuction —alongside VASER liposelection— with a reference cost of $70,000 MXN. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. The final cost depends on the number of areas and on hospital and anaesthetist fees. See the price list. How much does liposuction cost in Mexico? — the body-contouring price table.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Recovery is that of a liposuction: Liposuction recovery, week by week — part of the informational guide series reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Recovery · step by step
- Days 1–7Compression garment and swelling. Relative rest with gentle walking.
- Week 2Return to office activity; manual lymphatic drainage is recommended.
- Weeks 3–6Progressive exercise. The compression garment continues to accompany skin retraction.
- Months 3–6Skin retraction and the definitive contour settle as deep swelling subsides.
Frequently asked questions
Is laser lipolysis surgery?
Yes. It is a form of energy-assisted liposuction: it is performed in an operating room, under anaesthesia, and the fat liquefied by the laser is aspirated. It is not a "non-surgical" treatment, it is not an alternative to liposuction and it does not slim you without an operation. Anyone selling it as a non-surgical weight-loss procedure is describing something that does not exist.
What is the difference between laser lipolysis, VASER and Endolift?
Laser lipolysis uses laser energy through a fibre beneath the skin and then aspirates the fat; its strength is skin retraction. VASER uses ultrasound energy and also aspirates; it is the reference technique when real volume of fat must be removed and the one that enables high definition. Endolift uses the same family of fibre-delivered laser energy but aspirates nothing: it tightens and performs some lipolysis, without removing volume. The practical rule: excess fat in quantity, VASER; excess skin with little fat, laser or Endolift; a lot of excess skin, none of the three, because it has to be removed surgically.
How much does laser lipolysis cost in Puebla?
On the 2025 price list, laser lipolysis is quoted within liposuction, alongside VASER liposelection, with a reference cost of approximately $70,000 MXN. The exact amount depends on the number of areas treated and on hospital and anaesthetist fees, and is confirmed at your in-person consultation.
Does the laser tighten the skin?
It encourages it. The laser energy heats the underside of the dermis and stimulates collagen contraction, helping the skin to retract over the new contour. But it has a clear and honest limit: it does not replace a dermolipectomy. If you have a lot of excess skin, no laser will take it up, and that is said at the consultation rather than proposing sessions that will not work.
Which areas is laser lipolysis used on?
Mainly areas of small to moderate volume where skin quality is the main concern: jowl and neck, arms, inner knees and thighs, and flanks. It is not the technique for a full body contour, where VASER is superior.
What is Dr. Arístides Arellano’s experience with laser lipolysis?
He presented the paper “Laser lipolysis” at the 21st Congress of the Spanish Society of Medical-Surgical Laser (SELMQ) in 2013, and has been a full member of that society since that year, with renewed membership. He also attended the World Congress on Liposuction in Chicago (2017) and has been a member of the Lipoplasty Society of North America since 1994. The documents are in the credentials section of this site.
Does the fat come back after laser lipolysis?
The fat cells removed do not re-form, but the ones that remain can grow if weight rises significantly. Maintaining the result depends on stable weight and healthy habits. Results may vary.
Before and after
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, oblique and posterior views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. It is assessed in several views because contour is three-dimensional. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, posterior and profile views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. The laser's heat also aims to improve skin retraction after the fat is removed. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, frontal and oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. Laser lipolysis is not a weight-loss method: it removes localized fat and redefines contour. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, frontal and oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. A compression garment is worn continuously during the first weeks. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, profile views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. The definitive contour is usually seen between 3 and 6 months, as swelling subsides. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. How much fat can be safely removed depends on each patient. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, profile and posterior views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. The technique is chosen at the consultation according to the area, the fat and the skin quality. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, frontal and oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. When combined with fat transfer, part of the removed fat is reinjected elsewhere. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, profile and oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. The goal is contour proportion, not the largest possible extraction. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, oblique and frontal views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. Depending on the case, Dr. Arístides may recommend manual lymphatic drainage after surgery. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Real case of laser lipolysis in Puebla, profile and oblique views. Laser lipolysis is not a separate operation: it is a technique used within contouring surgery. A laser fibre liquefies the fat before it is removed and heats the deep surface of the skin to encourage retraction; it is almost always combined in the same surgery with liposuction, VASER or fat transfer. It is surgery: it requires an accredited operating room, an anaesthetist and a prior assessment. All surgery carries risks and requires a prior medical assessment; results may vary from person to person.
Photographs of real patients, published with their written informed consent. Results may vary from person to person; these images are not a promise of outcome.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.