Sculpsure or Lipo?!? HELP

Although SculpSure is FDA  approved for fat reduction in the abdomen and flanks, it can be used off label for the inner thighs. Liposuction is the definitive treatment that comprehensively removes the fat in one procedure. It is done under local tumescent anesthesia in the office, is relatively comfortable and when it's over you have the final result as soon as the swelling and recovery phase is over.SculpSure removes about 24% of the fat per treatment and two treatments is the recommended protocol at six-week intervals.  You will see the final result of SculpSure about 12 weeks after a treatment.So for those patients who want a more definitive one-time treatment, liposuction or Smartlipo would  be recommended. If youare patient and don't want any surgical procedure at all, then a series of SculpSure treatments is fine. You may not have as much fat removed as you want with one or two treatments, but they are 25 minute treatments, very convenient, and you can always add another treatment if needed.

emmavrocha Thank you for the question.  Especially without a picture an in person consultation will be best to identify your best course of action. a person who takes care of themselves with diet and exercise is normally a prime candidate for both sculpsure and liposuction.  My first suggestion is to find a cosmetic surgeon who offers both procedures otherwise you may feel locked into the one they present.Finances;amount of downtime; ability to get back to normal everyday activities; type of surgical liposuction and non- surgical fat reduction  the physician offers are all just part of your decision process. I personally have had Sculpsure and coolsculpting myself an these are effective procedures.  That said, I also offer liposuction with smartlipo and body jet and these canddiates do very well.  Take the time to meet with 2-3 cosmetic surgeons to see waht willbe best for you.

Thank you for your question. Sculpsure is not a tool for weight loss; rather, it is a body contouring procedure so most patients will need to be at a BMI of 30 or less to be eligible for the treatment. I suggest that you move forward and consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon. 

Best wishes,

Thank you for your question.

Sculpsure is a noninvasive 1060nm diode laser treatment that removes up to 25% of stubborn fat in the treated area in 25 minutes.It is FDA approved for the abdomen and flanks. It is safe if you get pregnant in the future.
The body contouring effects are seen in as quick as six weeks with final results at 12 weeks. 
The results are permanent as long as you maintain your weight and health.
The laser targets and destroys the fat cells only which are then naturally removed from the body. Since the laser does not affect the skin or muscle it can be used on all skin colors and there has been no reported incidents of burns when treated by a properly trained physician. It is protective since it alternates heating and cooling. 
It has four applicators that can be customized to treat the areas of stubborn fat. 
If a second treatment is needed we wait at least six weeks and usually closer to 12. 

If you notice lumps after (which I've never seen) I would recommend massage. You should also alert your surgeon.

There is no downtime and you can resume your normal activities right after the treatment. There may be some soreness in the area for a few days for which you can take ibuprofen or tylenol. A cold compress can also be used.

Sculpsure is not used for skin tightening however some of our patients have seen this. If more skin tightening is needed we have combined this with thermi or Ulthera for a complete treatment. Sculpsure is recommended for stubborn areas of fat that are not being lost by diet and exercise. It is not a weight loss treatment

Since I have both a coolsculpting and sculpsure I am working on protocols of utilizing both of these depending upon what areas need to be treated and the response to the treatment. 
I have used sculpsure on other areas other than the abdomen with very good results. 

I also use a Vectra 3D imaging system to try and show people what their treatment areas could look like.

Since Sculpsure outcomes can be based on technique and experience, please see a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes body contouring to see if Sculpsure or other treatments are available to meet your goals. 

Take care,

Dr. Schwartz 
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Without performing an exam, it is difficult to determine what the best option is for you.  However, there are some differences between the 2.  SculpSure is a nice nonsurgical alternative to reduce fat in the treated area.  It can take more than one treatment to get the result you desire.  Liposuction will often give you the result you are looking for in one treatment.  However, an invasive procedure is required and the recovery is more involved with some downtime.  Meet with a surgeon experienced in both procedures to make a decision.

Sculpsure can take up to 24% of fat off of the area tested whereas liposuction will on average take more in one shot. The difference lies with the recovery and risk for irregularities.  Sculpsure has no down time and you must wait 3 months to see final results.  With lipo you will have to wear a gaent and wait about 6 weeks to see good results and up to 3 months for a bikini ready body. Lipo may have increased risk of irregularities because the procedure is performed by a human based on touch and sight while the Sculpsure is evenly heating the area of treaemt so you will likely have a more even result. I generally recommend that if you have less than a 2-3 centimeter pinch of fat in the area you're considering then you would gravitate to SculpSure and if it's 3  or more then you would see more results (with more recovery time) with lipo

Thanks for your inquiry!  These are two completely different procedures and the indications for each one are different.  SmartLipo (I prefer it over traditional lipo), is a surgical procedure which requires tiny incisions, and is considered an "invasive procedure.  SculpSure is a NON-invasive procedure in which fat cells are destroyed from the outside with a laser and then eliminated over time.  The results for SmartLipo are immediate, with continued improvement over time as swelling subsides.  The results for SculpSure are not immediate as it takes time for dead fat cells to be eliminated from the body (6-12 weeks).  Furthermore, Sculpsure has the ability to reduce fat by about 15-20% and is ideal for small problem areas, whereas SmartLipo can eliminate a much larger amount of fat and in larger areas at one time.  Finally, there is the recovery with SmartLipo requiring a few days as opposed to almost no downtime for SculpSure.  Without photographs or an actual exam, it's hard to say which procedure would be ideal for you, but I suspect it may come down to your level of commitment in terms of downtime, recovery, and immediacy of results.  I would recommend you consult with an expert who performs BOTH procedures and who can honestly make the best recommendation for your case.  Best of Luck!

Both SculpSure and traditional liposuction can be effective at reducing fat in areas that are stubborn to diet and exercise.  SculpSure is non-invasive and requires no downtime after treatment.  You can get up to a 24% permanent reduction of the fat cells in the area that is targeted in a single 25 minute treatment.  Liposuction can give more dramatic results but requires incisions, anesthesia and downtime for recovery.  It really depends on how aggressive you want to be.My suggestion is to visit with a board-certified physician who has a lot of experience with both SculpSure and Liposuction  They will be able to do an assessment of your situation and make the proper recommendation to help you achieve your goals. 

For my younger fit patients we do a lot of non invasive treatments.  However, if you truly want a full body contouring results with fat loss, skin tightening and sculpting you can get a VASER HI DEF 4D body shaping procedure which would transform your body rather than just a small amount of fat removal.  Please consult an expert.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Hi emmavrocha,The choice between non-invasive and invasive procedures comes down to your expectations for an outcome and your ability to tolerate downtime.  Liposuction results will always give a more dramatic change in the desired areas, but will require more downtime to recover and enjoy your result.  SculpSure is great for stubborn areas, where a modest reduction is desired.  There is no downtime and your results appear over the following 6-12 weeks.  You should see a plastic surgeon who can discuss both options with you and the decision will be more clear.Hope that helps.Best,Dr. B