Palomar SlimLipo

SlimLipo is Palomar Medical Technologies' laser-assisted lipolysis system. It runs as a diode laser accessory on the Palomar Aspire laser platform. It has two independently controlled diode wavelengths, 924 nm and 975 nm, which can be used alone or together. A 2008 review of laser lipolysis devices lists the system at up to 30 watts of continuous output. Light reaches fat through a thin optical fiber passed through a cannula. FDA cleared the Aspire platform for laser assisted lipolysis on April 16, 2008 under K080567 and cleared a modification in May 2008. A February 2009 clearance, K083165, added coagulation of soft tissue, including skin and subcutaneous tissue.

The Aspire filings describe a small transportable system made up of a cart, power supply, software, a user interface panel, a footswitch, a cooling system and a handpiece. A Brazilian case series of patients treated between June 2008 and July 2010 used SlimLipo tips in three sizes, chosen for small, medium or large treatment areas. The 2008 review explains the dual design: absorption in fat compared with dermis is highest near 924 nm, while the 970 nm range is absorbed more by water.

The console label reads Aspire, because SlimLipo is the name of the lipolysis application on that platform. A console labeled Aspire with lipolysis fibers and cannulas is the same system. Do not confuse it with Cynosure SmartLipo, which uses Nd:YAG wavelengths of 1064 and 1320 nm.

A buyer will ask which cannulas, tips and fibers come with the system and how many are unopened. Other questions are whether both wavelengths reach their set power on a meter, whether the cooling system runs without faults, and what software version is installed. Recent service records also matter. Photos of the Aspire label, the user interface screen, the footswitch and the accessory set help a dealer identify the configuration.