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What's a Good Liposuction Alternative?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Robert E. Zaworski, MD
Question viewed 2,331 times
Tags: alternative

I am fearful of surgery and lipo. Is there a viable alternative to surgery, or is this the only way to get rid of tough to lose fat pockets?

40 answers to What's a Good Liposuction Alternative?

+2

There are no good alternatives to liposuction- only temporary gimmicky ones.

Liposuction is a dramatic true easy way to remove unwanted fat.  It is easy and done under local anesthesia with 1-2 day recovery time.  Everything else tends to be temporary and gimmicky.  sincerely, David Hansen,MD
David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

+6

Liposuction Alternative

The best alternative to liposuction is healthy living including sensible eating and exercise. However, even with healthy living, you may have fatty deposits that you may want help from liposuction. The best alternative to traditional liposuction is laser liposuction including smartlipo.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drkrisreddy.com

+2

Not sure there is any good alternative to liposuction.

Liposuction in the well selected patient is safe, predictable, with minimal convalescence.  "Alternative" techniques arise from time to time but fade due to their inability to stand up to this very successful procedure.  Endermologie, mesotherapy (lipodissolve), external ultrasonic treatment, and others are the product of snake oil salesman.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+2

Liposuction vs. tummy tuck

Liposuction means reducing fat underlying the skin with a cannula. Usually, this takes place in local anesthesia and is low risk. A tummy tuck is an operation in general anesthesia and has a much higher risk of complications. In a tummy tuck skin and subcutanous tissue are cut away with a knife. A tummy tuck can be combined with a liposuction.   Liposuktion und tummy tuck - was ist der Unterschied? Bei einer  Liposuktion wird das überschüssige Fett unter... more
Robert Kasten, MD

Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Exercise and diet.

A very reasonable alternative to liposuction is plenty of exercise and a healthy, balanced diet.  You will need to be dedicated to achieve your results.  If you are still unable to achieve your desired appearance following a good trial of diet and exercise, then consider liposuction.  Good luck!
Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

No shortcuts to liposuction - yet

Liposuction, whether with ultrasound-assist, lasers, or traditional methods is a unique operation for removing fat in areas where it is disproportionate, with almost no visible scars. Alternatives such as mesotherapy are highly touted but completely unproven. And don't be fooled by claims such as laser-lipo procedures that claim to be safer and less invasive; really it should be the opposite, since it is liposuction plus laser. However, early data from HIFU (focused ultrasound) shows that it... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Diet Resistant Fat Areas

If you are at your ideal body weight, liposuction could help you acheive the results that you expect. Liposuction is not weight reduction, but body contouring. Discuss your expectations with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (ASPS). Good communication with your surgeon is the key to obtaining the desired results.
Robert E. Zaworski, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatives to Liposuction?

Liposuction is great for targeting stubborn disproportionate fat that diet and exercise alone while not reduce. While there is really no substitute for well done Liposuction, there is a new non-surgical way to target fat called Liposonix. Liposonix, or high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), recently received FDA approval for non-surgical fat reduction. Liposonix is the first and only non surgical device that I, as a Liposuction specialist, trust to achieve improved body contours non... more
David Amron, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Lose fat pockets

Liposuction is the best way and may be the only way - depending on your problem. Options? Dieting - you lose weight all over. Fat pockets decrease in proportion to the rest of you. You may need to be severely underweight to get rid of them - not good for your health. Exercise can work. For hips and thighs, it seems to take 3-4 hours a week.ballet, yoga, dance ice skating and advanced modern dance are the best in my experience. It won't work for everyone. Surgery... more
Elizabeth Morgan, MD, PhD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.drelizabethmorgan.com

+1

Alternative to Liposuction? Sure, there are a couple....

Diet and exercise are the only tried and true alternatives to liposuction for removal of fat.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction Alternatives: Diet & Exercise plus Coolsculpting

Liposuction is designed to removal fatty areas that does not respond to diet and exercise. The best alternative to liposuction is to maintain a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise and consider Coolsculpting by Zeltiq. When stubborn areas such as love handles and abdomen (tummy) does not respond to diet and exercise, the time honored Liposuction or tummy tuck is not an option for you, consider freezing the fat with Coolsculpting. Cooslculpting is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction.... more
Stanley Okoro, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

+1

A Good Liposuction Alternative

A weight reduction program combined with exercise under supervision if the problem is being over weight. Otherwise Liposuction is a good procedure for localized fat deposit removal providing the skin over the area is tight.
Ivan Thomas, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alternatives

The best alternatives to liposuction are diet and exercise.  Once those have been maximized and you still have deposits of fat that won't respond is an appropriate time to consider liposuction.
Sanjiv Kayastha, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon

www.kplasticsurgery.com

+1

Liposuction is to improve body contour primarily

For what liposuction was originally used there is no alternative that will give you consistent results.There is a lot of technology out there that the promoters say will take care of a lot of problems but some are not sound ideas You should make an appointment with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to determine what your options are.
Walter D. Gracia, MD

Arlington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction Alternatives

Weight loss via exercise and diet are the best alternatives.  In fact, to achieve the ideal surgical result, weight loss and exercise prior to a procedure will optimize the outcome.  There are medical and surgical weight loss alternatives including prescription medications and gastric procedures, but these should be reserved as a last resort. 
Jason R. Hess, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

The best alternative to liposuction is weight loss.

The best alternative to liposuction is weight loss, but losing weight doesn't always guarantee that you lose the weight in the places that bother you. Where your body stores the fat and where your body breaks down fat to use as energy is largely genetically determined. So, lose weight if you can, and if it doesn't come off in the areas that bother you then liposuction is the only proven way to reduce those fat deposits.
Richard H. Fryer, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction works best

Liposuction, which involves inserting cannulas into specific areas in order to remove fat, is the best way to remove disproportionate fatty deposits with good overlying skin tone. Of course, diet and exercise can be similarly effective and is recommended to maintain and improve results. Lasers, injections, external ultrasound, and other non-invasive treatments are not as effective as liposuction, and often times have good ads without true results. Skin tightening surgeries such as tummy... more
Hayley Brown MD

Henderson Plastic Surgeon
+1

There is not a Liposuction Alternative

Currently there is no good alternative for liposuction. Liposuction is a very effective procedure that removes exercise and diet resistant fat deposits. Although, exercise and diet  improve your look and the shape of your body overall ,it will help you very little with localized fat deposits such as love handles.
Jaime Perez MD

Tampa Plastic Surgeon

www.jaimeperezmd.com

+1

Liposuction alternative

It really depends on what you are hoping for and your skin quality.  If your skin qulaity is great and you do not have many stretch marks, then liposuction or ultrasound assisted liposuction or Zeltiq are all very good options.  I persoanlly have not seen many qood results with laser lipo and will not do it myself.  If you have many stretch marks, then a surgical excision will be needed.
Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Noninvasive liposuction alternatives

Ideally the best way to lose fat is by exercise and diet.  However, a noninvasive liposuction alternative for discrete areas Ie:love handles ,abdomen, and back that is gaining popularity is Zeltiq. In my practice  patients have been very happy with their results. It is very important to be evaluated to see if you are the right canidate with the right post procedure expectations. THe Zeltiq works by cooling the fat which ultimately causes cell death. Your body naturally absorbs this... more
Joanne Lopes, MD

Virginia Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Zeltiq is a very good liposuction alternative

I have been using Zeltiq for over 6 months.  I am very impressed with its predictable, consistant, results.  It is a no downtime procedure.  It will remove about 25% of fat from the treated area.  Some people will want to treat the same area more than once, and that is done about 2 months after the first treatment.  Please see the article I've written on Zeltiq on this website and see the other answers about Zeltiq.  I have... more
Steven F. Weiner, MD

Pensacola Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Limited Alternatives to Liposuction

Liposuction is a unique procedure, and there really aren't great alternatives to it.  Keep in mind that liposuction can be done now using local anesthesia only which often allows for fewer potential side effects and a faster recovery. However, if liposuction is not an option, you may want to consider Zeltiq, Zerona, or Thermage.  Zeltiq is currently seeking FDA approval in the US for fat reduction and seems to be the most promising out of the three.  more
Lawrence A. Osman, MD

Woodland Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Alternative to liposuction

The best alternative to liposuction is to lose weight naturally with proper diet and exercise.  If, despite this approach, you still have localized areas that are resistant to diet/exercise, then liposuction can help improve  these small areas. Other methods that claim to "dissolve" the fat with injections (mesotherapy) or through other means, simply do not work in a predictable manner.  These other methods may not be FDA approved and should be avoided. Please... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alternatives

Liposuction is the only quick sure fire way to get the results you are after, however non surgical ways which are very healthy is hiring a fitness trainer, eating healthy and committing to work hard to get your body the way you want it. This is the best and healthiest way to do it. Some doctors will offer Mesotherapy, do NOT take this. It does not work and is a waste of money.
Kimberly A. Henry, MD

Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatives to liposuction

In the strictest sense, there is no good alternative to liposuction that offers the same results. If you are looking to change the shape of your body in a significant way, only liposuction can provide reliable results. If you're not wanting to have surgery there are a couple of reasonable choices that can offer some improvement. Zerona is a non-surgical low level laser treatment that helps your body lose fat using natural processes. there is no downtime, no recovery and no pain. In... more
Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Other alternatives to liposuction...

Non-surgical alternatives to liposuction include a balanced low fat diet & a rigorous exercise program.  Although many options are marketed, these have not been proven to work and can in some cases, be quite dangerous. Even with exercise & a low fat diet patients can have areas of fat that are just stubborn and do not melt off. These areas are perfect for liposuction
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alternatives include Zeltiq

Body contouring with liposuction is safe and very effective when done by experienced surgeons. There are a couple of new devices that can contour the body without the use of anesthesia, incisions, or significant 'downtime. Zeltiq is a non-invasive body contouring procedure that uses controlled tissue cooling to injure fat in an irreversible manner. The skin remains viable because it is protected from the cool temperatures by a special gel pad. The fat that is treated slowly shrinks over... more
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction: Is there an alternative?

No one "wants" to do liposuction. If there is a nonsurgical way to lose fat, we would all prefer it. Of course, there is always diet and exercise. The medical noninvasive ways of fat removal - the noninvasive lasers which melt the fat away and the injections with mesotherapy are not good alternatives yet. Why? They haven't proven they have long lasting results. We doctors like science. When something works, you can prove it. Liposuction needs to have even fat removal. A big... more
Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternatives to Liposuction

If the goal is to rid of pot belly or love handles, there is so much one can do with diet and exercise. Tumescent liposuction allows for relatively quick gratification in minimizing fat deposits in the area treated. However, liposuction does not replace weight loss as most people will not notice significant weight reduction a month after liposuction. There may be procedures that can augment liposuction but not necessarily replace tumescent liposuction in the near future, e.g. Liposonix,... more
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Good liposuction alternative

Easy answer - diet and exercise. Other forms of non invasive treatment or even injections are pure failures. Do not waste your $'s on these. Be careful out there. Regards.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is there a good alternative to liposuction?

Hi there- There is no reliable and safe alternative to liposuction. The manufacturers of "non-invasive" fat reduction devices that promise to melt your fat by shining a "laser" or ultrasound on your skin have been disappointments and most patients feel they were a waste of their time and money (checkout the reviews here on RealSelf). The good news is that for healthy patients, liposuction WORKS. In the hands of a well-trained surgeon certified by The American... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alternative

There really is no good alternative to liposuction.  I see patients at their goal weight who have isolated stubborn areas that never go away with diet and exercise.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Alternative to Liposuction

Nothing better than a healthy diet and excercise. It is a good alternative to liposuction, good for your lifestyle, good for your heart, good for your health in general and you will feel good about yourself.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

There is no good alternative to liposuction

Liposuction is about body contouring, not weight loss. There is absolutely no way to spot reduce. And mesotherapy is a complete waste of money as it certainly does not work.
Howard T. Bellin, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

No alternative to liposuction at this time

Other than diet and exercise, there is no good alternative to liposuction at this point. There are many variations of standard liposuction, but what they all have in common is safe and reproducible results. The new, non-invasive treatments like mesotherapy and externally-applied energy cannot make this claim. Many technologies hold promise for the future, so stay tuned!
Jeffrey Horowitz, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction alternatives

Start with diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. We are currently seeing a tremendous amount of investigation in non-surgical fat contouring. Devices such as Zerona, Zeltiq are available now for appropriate patients. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a candidate for these nonsurgical approaches. I would expect to see a number of these types of devices in the next couple of years. Remember, they are not a replacement for liposuction!
Jeffrey Kenkel, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Diet and exercise remain the gold standard, but there are some alternatives

Other than diet and exercise, liposuction remains the gold standard for selective removal of fat. For patients who aren't interested in the recovery and cost associated with liposuction, there is an interesting new alternative - Zeltiq. Zeltiq utilizes cryotherapy (freezing) to trigger a process of programmed cell death over a span of 2-4 months after the procedure. The results are not as dramatic as liposuction, but there is virtually no down time associated with the procedure and very... more
Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Diet, Exercise are the Non-Sugical Answers

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure. That means it helps slim down those problem bulges that persist after diet and exercise. Liposuction is not a weight reduction procedure. As noted above, diet and exercise is the first step. This is your only safe, reliable alternative to liposuction. There are several types of liposuction. Tumescent, ultrasonic, laser assisted, etc. They are all surgical procedures that slim down the residual fatty areas after diet and exercise. There are no... more
James H. Schmidt, MD

Sarasota Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction Alternatives

Ther are invasive alternatives to liposuction such as laser lipo, Vaser (ultrasound) lipo and BodyJet or Water Assisted lipo. You propbably are more interested in the non surgical alternatives such as Mesotherapy (bad idea though) vs the technologies such as Zerona, Zeltique, Trusculpt.
Barry E. DiBernardo, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon
+1

There are none.

Other than liposuction, the only way to remove fat is to diet and exercise. Nothing in life is easy. Sometimes even diet does not give you the desired result, because as I have said before, lipo is best for removing excess lumps and bumps --not for weight loss. Good luck.
William B. Rosenblatt, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

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