Anticipating an industry-sponsored feel-good fest dominated by slide after slide of before and after success stories, I started gathering up my gear to make my escape, when something unexpected happened. One of the panelists, Dr. Simeon Wall of the Wall Center for Plastic Surgery in Shreveport, La., slammed laser-assisted liposuction, which, since its arrival on the scene in 2007, has been touted as being a more effective, more efficient fat removal technology than traditional liposuction, resulting in less bruising and swelling and quicker recovery times, along with improvements in skin tightness and the appearance of cellulite.

In fact, Dr. Wall stated, based on a review of the published literature, these claims "have no scientific basis," even though the technology is FDA-approved and the machines have been on the market for a few years.

Intrigued, I decided to stay put for a few minutes to hear what some of the other panelists had to say, thinking a potentially interesting debate might ensue. I was half right. What followed was interesting, but there was no debate. In fact, the panelists were mostly in agreement with Dr. Wall's assessment.

Dr. Constantino Mendieta, who is in private practice in Miami, referred to the laser liposuction device in his office as a "very expensive dust collector. It just doesn't work." Panel moderator