Are there any liposuction alternative procedures?

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 up the fatty tissue and make liposuction potentially easier for the surgeon.

There is still very little evidence that any of the invasive liposuction "adjuncts" improve results greatly over traditional tumescent liposuction. They can increase cost, and risk. Of these options, I favor Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction (VASER liposelection).  

MOST IMPORTANT: the quality and experience of the surgeon

2. Non-invasive Body Contouring Devices.

These are devices that use heat, cold, or ultrasound from the outside of the skin to try and shrink fat. (Thermage, Cool Sculpting, Liposonix). These are best for patients with less fat to remove - as they can not take off large volumes.

My favorite non-invasive body contouring device is ultrasound (Liposonix). It is a device that sends high frequency ultrasound waves beneath the surface of the skin focused at a depth of 1.3cm. It completely bypassed the surface of the skin. Studies show that it can remove an inch from your waistline or hips. Not bad for a non-invasive procedure.

 

 

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably won't work.  In fact, I have found that most of these alternative treatments are very expensive, painful and yet still don't work.  Liposuction is an excellent procedure with predictable results.  In the end, it is about the outcomes.  If you are committed to a new shape, then liposuction is your best alternative.

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 come to my office asking for laser liposuction with the notion that it is a non-invasive procedure. This is a misconception. I frequently perform laser-assisted liposuction with the 1320 nm laser (CoolLipo) but I clearly explain that this is simply an improvement to traditional tumescent liposuction surgery, not an alternative.With an experienced physician, laser-assisted liposuction produces excellent results and may in fact lead to easier recovery.

While non-invasive treatments offer less risk and recovery time than liposuction, they are typically only effective for smaller fat deposits and may require multiple sessions. Traditional liposuction, though more invasive, remains the gold standard for significant fat removal and body contouring, offering immediate, dramatic results in a single session. Liposuction is more effective for larger, more stubborn fat deposits. It’s important to consult with a qualified surgeon to choose the best option based on your goals and body type.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Liposuction is generally considered the gold standard for fat removal procedures. While both liposuction and CoolSculpting seek to remove unwanted fat in targeted areas, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Liposuction is a surgical procedure performed either under local or general anesthesia and can produce dramatic results in just one treatment. CoolSculpting is an in-office procedure using a non-invasive device that produces less dramatic results and requires multiple treatments. One risk of CoolSculpting is called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, where instead of becoming smaller, the treated area enlarges. The treatment for this paradoxical fat gain is then liposuction. Kybella may be an option for smaller areas, but results vary.

Excellent question! The honest answer is there is no real alternative to Liposuction. Losing weight and working out is a good alternative but it can't sculpt and shape the body like liposuction and a bbl does. 
Nothing delivers the results that liposuction delivers. Other procedures, techniques or machines are mostly gimmicks. They either provide the patient with minimal results or they do not work at all.
They might be enticing because they promise a lot... they seemingly do not require so much of an investment in money and are low risk, but in reality, are not be worth the time and money for the results they offer.
So, if you are not ready for liposuction just yet, I feel you should keep doing your research and wait until you are.  
Best of luck,
Dr. Miguel Mota

There are a number of alternatives to liposuction although results can vary and also depends on which body areas one is trying to improve. Liposuction is still by far the most effective way short of significant dieting to reduce the amount of fat under the skin in certain body areas and change your contour. For very small areas such as a small amount of fat under the chin in select individuals there is an injectable solution called Kybella that can help although certainly not as effective as liposuction. There are also two reasonable devices on the market that cause thermolysis of fatty cells which can help. One is called CoolSculpt which involves freezing the fat cells and the other is called SculpSure which warms up fat cells causing the fat cells to disappear. Both of these treatments are relatively simple and about equally effective. They do however only remove a small amount of fat which is great if you have just a small amount present. Complications are fewer with SculpSure. It would be in your interest to have a very balanced discussion on the pros and cons of the various alternatives. Other more invasive alternatives such as abdominoplasty involve directly removing skin and fat.

Thank you for your question. Although, liposuction is strongly recommended, there is an alternative called coolsculpting which is still somewhat painful. Hope this information helps.

Liposuction is an excellent, minimally invasive procedure which will instantly remove fat using a cannula. It is the gold standard for body sculpting.  Within a few days and very little discomfort or downtime, you are able to return back to work. CoolSculpting is an alternative to liposuction. Using the cooling technology to target your unwanted fat, we can reduce up to 25% of your fat cells after your first session.  CoolSculpting works best on patients who are not terribly overweight and who have a few stubborn areas that are resistant to diet and exercise.

In 2019, depending on the amount of excess fat, one of these non-invasive procedures may be appropriate. The trade-off is multiple sessions and expense which may be equal to that of a single liposuction treatment if you have a lot of areas to treat and will require many sessions.
We use SculpSure for this purpose in our practice. An in-person evaluation is needed to see if it is feasible for any particular patient and design a treatment plan with costs given.

Thank you for your question. There are several nonsurgical alternatives to liposuction - everything from freezing the fat cells to heating them - it only depends on which method will address your problem areas. The best way to learn about the available options is to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who offers minimally invasive and nonsurgical body contouring. They can examine you, talk with you about your goals and advise you as to which procedure will offer optimal results. Best, Dr. Verbin