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.

 

 

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.

Good question. There is really nothing quite like liposuction when it comes to effectiveness. It can be done in one procedure and have immediate results. However, there is coolsculpting which is generically called cryogenic lipolysis. It works by making a segment of your fat exposed to colder temperatures that induce changes in temperature in the fat cells, which will subsequently undergo apoptosis (cell death) and then are consumed by the body. However, the results are not immediate, it takes multiple sessions, and it's not as effective as liposuction, as it's only used for targeted areas. Some patients get paradoxical hyperplasia of fat in the treated area and look worse afterward. Therefore, in almost all scenarios, I would recommend liposuction as the best treatment option.
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group