There will be and always have been situations where the removal of unwanted body fat does not warrant a full scale surgery such as liposuction. Fortunately for many people there are liposuction alternatives available that offer nonsurgical liposuction-like results without the complications often associated with plastic surgery. These alternatives to liposuction come in various forms and utilize different technologies but the goals are often the same or at least very similar. They all attempt to offer effective body fat reduction with minimally invasive treatments, little downtime and significantly reduced risks.
When it comes to non surgical liposuction procedures, there are a handful of techniques to choose from. The first is a chemical injection which uses a compound consisting of enzymes and other ingredients designed to target and breakdown fat while leaving other tissue relatively unharmed. The other systems use radiofrequency, laser or ultrasonic energy waves to target areas of unwanted fat. Additionally, some treatments attempt to reduce fat deposits with massage therapy.
Fat Reduction Injections
The most popular injections are Lipodissolve, Mesotherapy and Lipotherapy. This type of technique uses a chemical injection to either breakdown fat cells or cause fat to be released from the cells. The fat is removed by the body’s natural cleansing system so there is no incision required to remove the fat. These solutions are only good for small treatment areas and are particularly popular for removing trace amounts of fat in the face.
All of these injection treatments are also often used as a solution for cellulite as well as an alternative for minor facelifts. A common side effect is tightening and toning of the skin since these injections cause the skin to contract over the removed fat in the area. Mesotherapy in particular is among the safest of effective non surgical fat removal systems.
Non Invasive RadioFrequency
The other non surgical alternative to liposuction is known by its trade name Thermage which is a technique using radiofrequency energy generated by a laser to literally heat and melt fat. Thermage is used for many other purposes such as skin treatments and lifts because the heat of the laser causes collagen beneath the skin to contract which results in tighter, firmer skin.
Lipo-Ex is another non surgical liposuction system that uses radiofrequency technology to reduce circumference of areas of the body. This is the least invasive method of fat removal since it not only is a non surgical treatment but there are no needles like the injections discussed above.
Not only are radiofrequency treatments like Thermage and Lipo-Ex useful in tightening the skin and removing fat from the treated area of the body, it offers a solution to those that want small amounts of fat removed but have a dislike for needles. The experience is often described as a warm soothing sensation during the treatment.
Laser Fat Reduction
The category of laser based treatments contains a variety of fat reduction strategies. LipoLite for example, is not truly a non surgical treatment because it does use a cannula to remove fat that has been liquefied by the laser. LipoLaser, on the other hand, inserts a small fiber to deliver the laser to destroy fat cells. It is actually a cold laser which freezes the cells so they can be removed naturally along with other toxins and waste in the body.
The really non invasive laser fat removal treatments such as Zerona uses a low level cold laser to pass harmlessly through the surface of the skin. The cold laser causes the cell membranes to open which releases fat so it can be metabolized and removed naturally by the body. This is a similar strategy to other cold laser systems like Accent XL and CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.
Ultrasound Fat Removal
The two most popular systems that use ultrasound energy waves to remove unwanted fat are Ultrashape and Liposonix. Neither of these treatments are available in the United States at the time of this writing but be sure to check back for updates as soon as there is any news from the FDA regarding the approval of ultrasonic technology for the purpose of body sculpting. Currently available in Canada and Europe, the use of ultrasound for fat removal offers a painless solution with no incision and no anesthesia.
Massage Therapy
Both Lipomassage and VelaShape can be considered fat reduction techniques that use massage as the primary catalyst toward the desired goal of body contouring. It is probably one of the more pleasant techniques since it feels like a soothing massage at a spa. These treatments often require multiple sessions and are often quick treatments lasting under an hour in most cases.
Not only are these different alternatives to liposuction free from surgical risks, they are often quicker treatments in almost every aspect. The preparatory time is not as long since an injection is nowhere near as complicated as a surgery. The treatment itself is much more simple than surgery, and the recovery time is also much quicker since there is no incision that needs to heal. This means little to no risk of infection to the treated area among other common surgical complications. Most patients of these liposuction alternative treatments are able to resume normal daily activities after just a day of resting and sometimes less as long as the patient is careful to avoid excessively strenuous activity.
There are other non surgical liposuction treatments that can offer effective body shaping, fat and circumferential reduction that has not yet been mentioned. The effectiveness of each type of treatment will vary considerably between individuals and results are not guaranteed. If you have an experience you would like to share or advice for those who might be considering any type of treatment, feel free to use the comment area below.
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