Liposuction: Q&A

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Liposuction Alternatives

Have no interest in undergoing full liposuction surgery 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.

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alternative liposuction alternative non surgical

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41 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Liposuction Alternatives

Since all competent surgeons already use tumescent liposuction - please equate the mention of liposuction with tumescent liposuction. Let's address the 800 pound gorilla in the room - Despite everything you read and hear, the painful cold truth, that would save you a lot of money and recurrent disappointment, is that there are currently NO methods / no techniques / no procedures and no treatments whose RESULTS ARE CLOSE OR MUCH LESS EQUIVALENT to those of L. Think about it. For the most... more

Don't waste your money

Liposuction is designed to remove fat from very focal areas. It's an excellent technique and in the right hands is very successful. But because of marketing people that pray on peoples fears other techniques of fat removal have been developed. Other alternative to traditional liposuction include the laser lipos such as cool lipo and smart lipo. Again in this country the fat must be infiltrated and sucked out. In my opinion not an acceptable alternative to traditional lipo. Lipodissolve... more

Liposuction Alternatives

There are basically two alternatives to traditional tumescent liposuction. 1. Invasive "Adjuncts" to Liposuction. 2. Non-invasive Body Contouring Devices. With any of the invasive "adjuncts", the surgeon must still perform true liposuction to get results. These include laser assisted liposuction (Smart Lipo, Cool Lipo), Power assisted liposuction, and Ultrasound assisted liposuction. These methods use cannulas that produce heat, vibration, or ultrasound waves to help break... more

There's a lot of hype about nonsurgical liposuction

Traditional means tumescent liposuction. That involves placing fluid into the fat cell layer. This fluid contains a local anesthetic as well as agents to shrink blood vessels. The fluid is put in is then removed together with fat using hollow cannulas. In order to improve the results there have been several other surgical innovations including laser assisted liposuction and ultrasonic assisted liposuction. Both procedures generate heat that breaks apart the fat cells allowing them to be... more

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... more

Body contouring has changed dramatically in the last 20...

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... more

Alternatives to Liposuction

There are no non-surgical liposuction alternatives that will give you the results that tumescent ("traditional") liposuction will. There are, however, innovations with liposuction which make the surgery easier to recover from. There are laser- and ultrasound-assisted forms of liposuction which disrupt the fat cells essentially with heat but in doing so may increase the complication rate. I believe that there is no comparison between "non-surgical" alternatives such as... more

Liposuction Alternatives

If you have pockets of fat that do not change with diet and exercise, liposuciton is your best option. In my opinion these "alternative" measures which promise no down time and no pain are ltiile more that a great marketing ploy. If you want real results, liposuciton is the best option.

Cheaper "alternatives" to liposuction are either worthless or dangerous.

There are alternatives to liposuction. Endermologie kneads the skin and fat. It hurts a little and doesn't work. Lipodissolve will reduce fat in a region but it is painful, dangerous, and a very poor alternative to liposuction.

More alternatives are becoming available, BUT.....

It is part of the human condition to want a dramatic change, no downtime, and little discomfort all for a great price! The reality, is that we are moving in that direction, but very slowly! We are making great strides in diminshing pain, shortening recovery time, and improving the precision of results. The latest and greatest appears to be the Body Jet, a water assisted liposuction device that patients report is less painful. From my standpoint, there is less fluid distorting the... more

Slim Lipo definitely works best!

This year SlimLipoTM - the newest and most advanced laser liposuction technology thus far – was purchased for use at Northside Hospital. SLIM stands for Selective Laser Induced Melting; this new laser wavelength of 920 nm selectively melts fat three times more effectively the Smart LipoTM and twice as effectively as the CoolLipoTM liposuction technology. It is also 5 times more selectively absorbed by blood. Therefore the SlimLipoTM body sculpting laser dissolves fat and prevents... more

Liposuction alternatives - some work, some don't

Liposuction is still the gold-standard for fat removal. Whether tumescent, ultrasonic, laser assisted etc., liposuction gurantees that, at the end of the procedure, the removed fat is in a container and so can be seen and measured. No non-surgical technique can promise that. There are several non-invasive procedures that claim to reduce unwanted fat. Most of these devices only manipulate the fat cells, not destroy them, and so give a temporary result that... more

The new Ultrashape treatments are completely...

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... more

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.

Alternatives to Liposuction Include CoolSculpting, Endermologie and Zerona

It’s not unusual to see patients who have significant body contour issues, who are reluctant to undergo liposuction. This reluctance occurs for a variety of reasons including surgical risks, pain, time off work and expense. For these reasons, many patients are looking for non invasive low cost alternatives. There are several non surgical alternatives available for the treatment of localized fat accumulations. These include Coolsculpting, Endermologie, and Zerona. ... more

Liposuction Alternatives

As other board certified plastic surgeons have stated, there really is nothing that will approximate the results of liposuction. Here at my Cleveland plastic surgery practice, VASER liposuction has created incredible results for my patients. Compared with the traditional tumescent procedure, there's less blood loss, better skin tightening and faster healing, especially when combined with post-procedure massage on the treated areas. While we all wish it were so, nothing non-surgical will... more

Liposuction alternatives

The availability of alternatives to liposuction is actually based on your expectations and where you have problem areas. In my practice we have had extraordinary success with CoolSculpting, but my patients understand that this procedure will not provide as complete an outcome as liposuction in most instances. I explain that as liposuction can remove about 90% of the fat in a given area, CoolSculpting reduces the bulge in a treated area by about 25% each session. Multiple sessions... more

Liposuction Alternatives

Liposuction is a significant operation. It is expensive and the results are largely the result of the person who is utilizing the cannula. There is a lot of hype of the different technologies involved such as Ultrasonic (Vaser and Liposonix), Laser (Slim Lipo), Water Assisted, and power assisted. At the end of the day, it all involves removing fat through small incisions that are placed in remote, easy to conceal locations. "Non-Surgical" methods to... more

CoolSculpting as a Liposuction Alternative

CoolSculpting is a treatment that can provide wonderful results for the appropriate candidate. But, it in no way eliminates the need for liposuction, not is it an ideal treatment for all people. You may wish to get a consultation from a plastic surgeon in your area offering both liposuction and CoolSculpting so you will get the best advice about which treatment will provide the desired results for you.

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

LIposuction alternatives

Although I am a board certified Plastic Surgeon, I have spent most of my career exploring alternative technology, serving on the board and serving as President of ASLMS. I continue to serve on many advisory boards that bring new lasers and new technology to market. I also continue to speak all over the world on these topics. I do not say this to boast in any way but to simply give you a background for my upcoming comments. When you say you are not interested in... more

Lipo Alternatives: Be careful what you wish for..... Ask Dr Ellen

Hello Anon, I find that most of the time the following simple quote is relevant when it comes to plastic surgery procedures: "If it sounds too good to be true...it is too good to be true." And, there are always at least 2 solid alternatives to liposuction: 1. exercise and diet 2. do nothing In each case you will save yourself the money, pain and recovery. Thanks for asking! Dr Ellen

Liposuction Alternatives

There are many non-invasive techniques to reduce fat. Most of these techniques do NOT work at all and those that do only have very minimal results. These techniques may be beneficial for those people who want to lose a tiny amount of fat. There are no real good alternative other than diet and exercise to the results of invasive traditional liposuction.

Liposuction Alternatives

Liposuction is indicated for removal of excess fatty deposits in the body. It is not to be used as a weight loss tool. The alternatives would be to exercise and eat healthy and try to lose down to ideal weight; however, there are usually some fatty deposits that remain after obtaining ideal body weight. These will respond best to liposuction.

Liposuction Alternatives

Unfortunately, there are no true liposuction alternatives. There are options coming forth with freezing and ultrasonic fat removal/reduction that work in very small, incremental ways. There are no true non-surgical options that are successful in taking the place of liposuction at this time.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Liposucion alternative

If you are not overweight, younger than 40 years, physically fit and interested in body countouring, external ultrasound and tumescent ( infiltration of fluid beneath your skin ) would be an accepbale alternative. Otherwise LIPOSELECTION or VASER is mre cost effective in experienced hands. Side effects are rare and most of my patients are gratified with using ultrasonic liposuction technics.

Liposuction alternatives

Liposuction is probably the best method for permanently getting rid of unwanted fat. By suctioning out the fat cells you eliminate them altogether. Modalities such as endermologie or Velashape simply massage the fat but do not eliminate it. Various cellulite creams may work to some degree while you use the cream but the problem returns once you stop. For awhile, there was some interest in injecting various substances which supposedly "dissolved" fat. ... more

Liposuction Alternatives

The alternatives to liposuction such as zerona may help with minimal improvement. However, for significant improvement you will still do best with liposuction. Don't fall into a marketing trap.

Liposuction Alternative

ZERONA® is an FDA cleared alternative to liposuction, which reduces inches with no pain, no surgery and no downtime. Patients are losing between 3.6 to 5.5 inches and many are seeing even greater results when combined with a sensible diet and exercise program. It's the perfect way to lose stubborn body fat from: neck, love handles, arms, hips, back/bra‐line, thighs, tummy/waistline and knees in this fast pace world we live in. After just six 40 minute treatments you will see... more

Alternative to liposuction

There are alternative to liposuction such as lipodissolve, but the discomfort and post treatment swelling is much worse. Also it will need to be repeated more than once, and it is not as effective. Liposuction with true tumescent infiltration is virtually painless and requires no general or IV anesthesia. Few doctors use this technique as it was originally described. Swelling, pain, and bruising are greatly reduced. Combine this with microcannulas and the procedure is even more... more

Liposuction alternatives

Diet exercise, getting a trainer and nutritionist is a great alternative i recommend...many pts come back after losing their weight and healthier to boot...once pts get to their best weight is when i think i can help best..

Liposuction alternatives

I think if you are talking about something completely non-surgical, where no fat is directly removed form the body, the one I might suggest at this time is one called Cool Sculpting by Zeltiq. It is a process where the fat is frozen in order to get the fat cells to die. It is performed in the office without anesthesia and involves no cutting or needles. It can reduce the layer of fat by about 20-24%. The end result might take a couple of months to see.

CoolSculpting Option for Body Contouring

Much depends on your body habitus and aesthetic needs. The most dramatic results will be achieved with a surgical approach such as liposuction or tummy tuck. A non invasive body contour procedure known as “CoolSculpting” will work but the contour improvement will be less noticeable.

Zeltiq for non-invasive body contouring

There is no 'non-surgical' liposuction technique available. Liposuction is a surgical procedure, and has some of the risks (and benefits) that other surgical procedures have. There are some new technologies available that can contour the body using non-invasive treatments. Zeltiq is not yet FDA approved for body contouring, but does appear to be effective for focal reduction of abdominal and flank fat. It is in use in the US on an 'off-label' manner by physicians... more

Alternatives to Liposuction: Beware

Beware about what you see on TV regarding these "alternatives" to liposuction. Traditional liposuction has been around for quite some time and is the safest, most cost effective, and reliable technique to remove localized areas of unwanted fat if performed by a qualified physician. These cheaper procedures are actually quite risky and actually cost you more money and pain if you develop complications. If it is too good to be true it probably is. If you are asking... more

Basics on lipo

I have some basic info on types of cannulae (the tubes used to do the fat suction) and types of lipo (ultrasonic, tumescent, laser, etc.) in the video link below. Stay away from "easy" answers such as lipodissolve or laser lipo. There are a lot of disasters walking around. See the weblink below about a patient I saw with disfugured skin because of Smart lipo. see video

No good alternatives to tumescent liposuction

Even with disciplined workout routines and diet modification, there are certain deposits of fat that do not seem to shrink much for some individuals. Currently, there is no good alternatives to tumescent liposuction in terms of the relatively instant gratification. With tumescent liposuction under mild sedation, the recovery typically is no more than few days with minimal bruising. If you are absolutely averse to liposuction, wait for Liposonix or Ultraphase (currently investigational, under... more

Liposuction alternatives?

Hi there- This is a complicated question to answer- if what you are looking for is liposuction like results without liposuction, you need to realize that things that sound too good to be true... still are. On the other hand, if what you are saying is that you would be willing to compromise on the outcome in order to avoid the surgical procedure that is liposuction (and it IS a surgical procedure, despite the fact that people do it in their office and some even under local anesthesia), there... more

None of the liposuction alternatives actually work enough to see any significant difference!

The tumescent technique liposculpting with the micro canulas are safe, easy and quick recovery with the most impressive results but it is still liposuction. Most patients go through it just fine and are amazed at how it was so different than what they saw on tv for liposuctions. It is essentially painless and easy to undergo with patients returning to work in just 2 days. All the nonsurgical fat treatments don't produce enough of a result to see any difference and tend... more

David Hansen, MD

19 reviews

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Non surgical fat removal as an alternative to liposuction

Liposuction is a safe procedure with minimal downtime compared to a tummy tuck or body lift procedure. Newer treatments such as Ultrashape are thought to expand the field of nonsurgical fat reduction by using an external device to reduce fat stores. This is still pending approval by the FDA.

There are some procedres that are "coming down the pipe...

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... more