What are the best alternatives to liposuction?
Have zilch interest in undergoing full liposcution procedure. The cost, pain, recovery etc are not appealing. i read about lots of lipo alternatives that dont require so much of investment in money and risk. Can someone explain these, pros/cons.
Answers (6)
Laser Liposuction is Still Liposuction
Many patients are confused about the term "Laser Liposuction" or "Laser-assisted Liposuction". It should be understood that these procedures are not really liposuction alternatives- they are liposuction. The laser is used to help melt the fat prior to performing a traditional-type liposuction procedure. It does make the fat removal easier and more consistent. There are claims that the laser helps to tighten skin, and this may be true but is unproven thus far.
Patients come to my office asking for laser liposuction with the notion that it is a non-invasive procedure. This is a misconception. I frequently perform laser-assisted liposuction with the 1320 nm laser (CoolLipo) but I clearly explain that this is simply an improvement to traditional tumescent liposuction surgery, not an alternative.With an experienced physician, laser-assisted liposuction produces excellent results and may in fact lead to easier recovery.
There are some procedres that are "coming down the pipe," but they are not FDA approved in the US. As the previous person answered, Ultrashape is one, and Lysonix has a similar product. Thes are external ultrasound devices that may perform some fat reduction. It will not do the same as lipsocution in one setting, and probably will require several treatments. Avoid mesotherapy of injection lipolysis because these products are not FDA approved either, and the scientific research on this topic is very thin to say the least.
Liposuction alternatives - UltraShape
The new Ultrashape treatments are completely non-invasive, do not require incisions, surgery or anesthesia and have no pain or downtime associated with them. Ultrashape is meant to treat problem areas like the lower belly or thighs and is not meant to replace large volume liposuction or to be used as a weight loss tool.
Ultrashape is pending FDA approval and therefore is not yet available in the USA. It does have Health Canada approval and is available in Canada as well as Mexico and many places in Europe.
Liposuction is not a cure-all
This reply supposes that you have a reasonable diet and exercise regimen in place, and that your shape is "genetic" in origin. Liposuction is for healthy individuals who are weight appropriate, but continue to have problem areas. If this is not your description, you should consider other options first.
SmartLipo is a good alternative to liposuction
The best alternative to traditional liposuction is SmartLipo. This laser can be used on ALL areas prior to power-assisted liposuction. The results are much smoother than traditional liposuction with less risks and downtime. SmartLipo uses a laser to rupture the cell membranes of the fat cells, coagulate small blood vessels and tighten the skin. It uses a very tiny cannula that can reach places traditional liposuction couldn't safely treat. SmartLipo also has much fewer risks than VASER. VASER has a lot of complications (burns, uneven skin, dimpling) that aren't seen with SmartLipo. CoolLipo is another laser used for laser lipolysis but a huge patent infringement lawsuit has just been lodged against them by Cynosure. I don't know if they will be around very long. . .
VASER Liposelection and SmartLipo
Body contouring has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, and procedures are now not only more effective but also much safer. In addition, more and more patients are seeking procedures which will help them achieve their ideal body contour but with minimal downtime.
Liposuction itself has evolved from the use of large-bore cannulas connected to a vacuum source to the current use of lasers and VASER’s.
While the VASER is simply a refinement of earlier Ultrasonic liposuction, it represents a huge step forward in that it safely and effectively melts fat and reshapes contour with less downtime and more control than conventional liposuction.
Instead of relying on mechanical disruption to break up and remove fat cells, fat is emulsified using small, thin solid cannulas and then gently extracted. The result is not only more effective contouring but also smoother, more comfortable healing period.
Another recent breakthrough is SmartLipo. This procedure is performed by threading a very thin laser cannula beneath the skin to melt fat. The result is less traumatic than conventional contouring and is also often associated with a much smoother recovery.
- For patients requiring more comprehensive contouring, LipoSelection is probably a better choice.
- SmartLipo is an excellent way to address small collections of fat or touchup previously treated areas without a trip to the OR.
As with all elective procedures, research the background, training, and experience of whomever you plan to have perform any of these treatments.



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