Liposuction Alternatives - What Are the Options?

The best alternative to liposuction is weight loss.
Liposuction may appear barbaric, but it can be done with smaller canulae and in a gentle way. It is more effective, safer and with a better track record than any other procedure that is designed to remove fat.

There are no real alternatives to liposuction.   It is a safe procedure which can make significant improvements in your shape.

Thank you for your question.  Liposuction, in the capable hands of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, is an extremely safe and highly effective means of body sculpting.  Post-op recovery is predictable, and pain quite manageable, with most of my patients returning to work within a few days of surgery.  Other than weight loss by diet and exercise, there is no more effective means of fat removal - not Coolsculpting, not the various ultrasound- or laser-mediated modalities.  

The most obvious alternative to
liposuction is diet and exercise. Unfortunately, many localized areas of fat
are refractory to this method of treatment. For this reason, patients often
seek other methods of treatment.

A large variety of non-surgical
alternatives are currently available for treating localized collections of fat.
Examples include zerona, coolsculpting, mesotherapy, and endermologie. All of these procedures are associated with varying degrees
of success, but none are as effective as liposuction.

Liposuction represents the gold
standard that all other body contouring procedures are judged against. This
procedure is associated with dramatic results and high patient satisfaction
rates. In the vast majority of patients, liposuction is still the best option
for treating localized collections of fat.

If you’re concerned about
localized fat collections, consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon
who has experience with this problem is appropriate. This surgeon should be
able to discuss non-surgical and surgical options and address your fear of
surgery. Utilizing this approach, an individualized treatment plan can be
developed specifically for you.

weight loss by exercise and dieting is a great alternative to liposuction of abdomen. despite this there are people that have areas of fat that is resistant to weight loss measures. In this circumstances there is no alternative but the regular liposuction.

Traditional liposuction, ultrasonic liposuction (e.g., Vaser) and laser liposuction (e.g., CoolLipo, CoolTouch, Smartlipo, SlimLipo, LifeSculpt) are all forms of liposuction, using different approaches to injure fat and reduce or remove it. Some companies have brand names associated with their proprietary liposuction machines. The most frequently seen brand names in advertising today may be CoolLipo, Smartlipo and SlimLipo, all of which are recently released laser liposuction devices.
Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It is successful for targeted fat removal to address specific problem areas. Ideal candidates have a disproportionate amount of fat in a few select areas. Examples may be love handles that won't go away despite exercise, or the saddlebags that run in your family. Patients usually have normal or slightly elevated body weight. Significantly overweight patients are generally not good candidates for liposuction alone, but may benefit from a more comprehensive approach to their body contouring needs.

Skin quality has a dramatic influence on the effect of liposuction on your appearance. When fat is removed from beneath the skin, the skin must respond by contracting to reveal your new contour. Skin that is excessive, thin, or damaged by stretch marks may be unable to contract, leaving a deflated appearance rather than the tight, shapely appearance that is desired. Skin that is unable to contract may require removal with a body contouring procedure in order to yield the result that is desired.

Although liposuction does not cause overall weight loss and may not be the right option for every person, patients who are good candidates for this procedure report very high levels of satisfaction with their outcomes in both the short and the long term.

Below is a detailed description of specific types of liposuction:


Traditional Liposuction: The energy delivered to remove fat cells is created by the surgeon moving the extraction cannula within the layer of fat in the site to be treated. Tiny incisions are required to insert the cannulas. Prior to suctioning, the areas to be treated are filled with fluid, which reduces bruising and diminishes pain. Because the effects of traditional liposuction result only from direct activity of the surgeon, it may be less likely to result in undesired over-extraction of fat or injury to the overlying skin. Traditional liposuction is the most commonly used type of liposuction among Plastic Surgeons, has the longest history of performance, and is the most broadly studied technique.

Ultrasonic Liposuction: High-frequency sound waves are utilized to injure fat cells. One brand name associated with ultrasonic liposuction is Vaser. Ultrasonic techniques can improve the effectiveness of liposuction when treating dense tissue such as that found in the overdeveloped breast tissue in a man (gynecomastia). Although ultrasonic liposuction has been available for decades and is also well studied, it is not commonly used today because the power added by ultrasonic techniques also increases the risk of injury to overlying skin. This may result in burns to the skin, dimpling, scarring or persistent discomfort after treatment. It is typically used in select situations that call for a more powerful energy source.

Laser Liposuction: A small laser-containing cannula is placed through incisions in the skin and utilized to injure fat cells and the deep layers of the overlying skin. A traditional liposuction cannula can then be used to extract injured fat cells. Because the effects of thermal injury to fat and overlying skin are not seen immediately, the outcome yielded by this technique may change over time. Although the laser-induced injury to the deep layer of the skin may result in tightening of the skin, as asserted in many company advertisements, it may be difficult to achieve a smooth, consistent degree of tightening. If every aspect of the tissue is not treated with the same amount of power from the laser, dimpling, or even burns, may result. Because of these risks and the absence of good studies demonstrating consistent results, the Plastic Surgery community has generally avoided the early adoption of CoolLipo, CoolTouch, Smartlipo, SlimLipo, LifeSculpt, or other laser liposuction machines in their practice.