Does Noninvasive Lipo Work?

Question

I have some stubborn fat around my waist, stomach, love handles, and chin. I am at a great weight (5'7" and 135 pounds) but the stubborn fat really does bother me. I'm interested in noninvasive lipo, but I'm skeptical. Could I get good results from noninvasive lipo?

Jeffrey D. Wagner, MD · Answer

Some noninvasive techniques can provide measurable improvement.  Probably the most effective technique is cryolipolysis.  It is important to realize, however, before you start spending money, that results will be substantially less than real surgical liposuction can provide.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a very common question.  There have been many studies that suggest that patients can expect to see a reasonable fat reduction with non-invasive methods such as CoolSculpting or Zeltiq.  Patients can expect to see up to a 20-25% reduction of fat in the areas treated by these non-invasive methods but it is important to note that these non-invasive methods rely heavily on your bodys immunological responses to break down and rid itself of these 'frozen' fat cells and generally takes months and several treatments to see any real improvement.  It has been my experience that for most patients, the most effective method for stubborn localized fat reduction is liposuction, however, I do recognize that not every patient is able or ready to undergo a surgical procedure.  If you are interested in safe and permanent localized fat reduction of specific body areas, I would recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and determine which option would be best for you.  With the right candidate, both liposuction and non-invasive methods, such as CoolSculpting, can prove to be quite effective.  I hope you find this helpful.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

We offer cool sculpting at the Emory aesthetic center. One can anticipate about 40% improvement with proper treatment. The results are not immediate. Liposuction on the other hand can be performed without general anesthetic in a complete result is obtained immediately. After swelling subsides in a few weeks results are excellent in a properly selected patient.

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

It's a great question. Noninvasive fat removal offers minor results, which works for some people. However, for the most dramatic body contouring there is nothing that matches a liposuction procedure. If you're considering a non-invasive procedure check out the patient reviews on realself to make sure that you like the reviews as well as the before-and-after photos posted by people have had the exact same treatment.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Although there are non-invasive and non-surgical options, they may not provide the most lasting results depending on the amount of fat in the areas you desire improvement. Hence, you may want to consider learning more about Vaser Liposuction. Vaser liposuction, also known as Vaser #lipo, LipoSelection or Liposuction, is an advanced body #contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, #Vaser lipo uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology designed to gently #reshape your body.What distinguishes the Vaser lipo procedure is its ability to differentiate targeted #fat from other important tissues; such as nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Innovative VASER #technology breaks up fat while preserving these other important tissues to promote smooth #results and rapid healing.Some studies show that there is less injury to the body with Vaser than with traditional #liposuction. Recovery from Vaser Liposuction is based on the level of soreness and bruising experienced by the patient. But, it can vary among patients. As with traditional liposuction, there are no large incisions  or effect on the muscle and other underlying tissue. Therefore, #healing time may be less than anticipated by most. Therefore, Vaser patients may experience less #pain or discomfort, #swelling (#edema) and bruising post procedure due to the nature of the technique.  
It's best to begin consulting with a board certified plastic surgery to learn if you are a candidate for vaser liposuction. An ideal  #candidate for Vaser Liposuction is a person in good health who seeks a minimally invasive way to remove stubborn fat with less downtime than traditional #liposuction.  Vaser is ideal for those seeking improved definition of muscles and contouring. Those who seek increased sculpting of are ideal vaser lipo candidates

Joshua D. Zuckerman, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Treatments like CoolSculpting and different Ultrasound techniques seem to be able to eliminate some fat in some people some of the time. None of these techniques are as powerful or reliable as liposuction, meaning tumescent liposuction.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Noninvasive liposuction is very limited.  Real liposuction is safe, predictable, and very effective.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Noninvasive liposuction may produce results, but they will not produce the results of conventional liposuction.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction under local anesthesia with the small canulas give such great results and is as easy as can be to undergo with dramatic results.Why would you waste money on gimmicks that you have to imagine you see a difference after 3-4 months of waiting?  I have not seen any significant results with any of the noninvasive lipo procedures. In the end you wind up spending as much on the gimmicky procedures with almost no results as if you would have had real liposuction which only has 2 days downtime. Sincerely,

	David Hansen,MD

James E. Murphy, MD, FACS · Answer

Without and exam or seeing pictures it is hard to tell if you would be a candidate. But with the information you gave, SmartLipo would really be a great choice. This is an minimally invasive procedure that is done with a local anesthetic in our office. There is no down time and the procedure is extremely effective for removal of those stubborn pockets of fat that cannot be treated with exercise. In addition to the fat removal, SmartLipo also tighten the skin up to 54%. This is very helpful in the abdominal area.

Does Noninvasive Lipo Work?

Answers (20)

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