With the use of the Free-Electron Laser at selected wavelengths, the scientists were able to heat the fat up, which then became broken down and excreted from the body.
Professor Rox Anderson, dermatologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, conducted the experiment using pig fat and skin samples about two inches thick and he said the results showed that selective photothermolysis, which means heating tissues with light, could have medical applications in the future, including the treatment of acne.
Cellulite and body fat could also be targeted for removal as well as the fatty plaques that form in arteries, leading to heart attacks, the professor also said.
Researchers say that whilst results look very promising it would be several years before the technique could be tested on humans.
The results of the scientific study were presented to the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
