PITTSBURGH -- On a recent episode of "The Doctors" on Channel 11, a new fat removal laser was shown. It generated a lot of local interest from Channel 11 viewers.

Channel 11's Jennifer Abney went in search of a local doctor to get the real deal on this procedure.

"Anytime new technology is released or given press, everyone wants to find out about it," said Dr. Brian Heil, a board-certified plastic surgeon. "It is a great way to pique people's interest and it can be dangerous if people self-prescribe treatments."

Heil has been performing a similar procedure for about a year and a half.

"It is a laser lipolisis treatment, which liquefies the fat before it is removed from the body," he said. "Standard lipo basically removes the fat in its normal state."

The procedure has some definite benefits. It can help tighten the skin and most patients have less swelling and pain than with regular liposuction.

Even though this is an outpatient procedure for most, Heil said the average patient should take a couple of days to recover.

But, how does the laser literally melt the fat away?

"It doesn't emit heat; it emits light. When it is received into the skin, it then becomes heat," he said.

Heil said the light at the end of the laser lets a doctor track it under the skin, so the probe can be seen moving under the skin.

Heil also said it's important to match the right patient to the right procedure. "The best candidates are people who have small areas to treat," he said," This would be used to contour those small unwanted trouble spots that diet and exercise seem to still leave us with."

And, one more bonus is the lack of scarring. "So this is the lipo scar that fools the other people who have had lipo," said Heil.

Heil said general pricing is around $2,800 to $4,000 for the first region.

This is still surgery, and like any surgery there is the risk of infection. But, according to Heil the risks are minimal if it is performed correctly.