Many Americans eat a healthy diet and exercise but still have unwanted fat in certain body parts, such as the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. Localized fat can be challenging to melt away, no matter how many miles you run and salads you eat.
Liposuction is one of the most popular fat removal procedures, and for good reason. Tumescent liposuction, the most common type, removes fat safely and effectively with relatively fast recovery for most patients.
Other procedures are available to remove belly fat, too, that don’t require anesthesia or incisions. So, which is best? Keep reading to find out which could be the best choice for you.
Liposuction
Liposuction is always popular for removing belly fat and fat transfer with a Brazilian butt lift. The surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen and inserts a small cannula to suck out the desired fat.
The surgeon can safely remove about five pounds of fat per procedure, so this surgery isn’t intended for weight loss. Instead, it’s intended to give you a slimmer body contour that diet and exercise cannot.
Liposuction effectively removes fat from the abdomen, sides, arms, thighs, and face. It also offers a more dramatic result than noninvasive procedures. Many patients combine abdominal liposuction with a tummy tuck for a trim, tight tummy.
However, liposuction requires a recovery between four to six weeks for many patients. Combining abdominal liposuction with a tummy tuck will take up to two months to recover.
There is also moderate discomfort with liposuction, but it can be managed with prescription pain medication.
Last, remember that having liposuction requires general or IV sedation, so there is a minimal risk of anesthesia complications.
Non-Surgical Fat Reduction Treatments
In recent years, several non-surgical fat reduction treatments have become popular. These treatments use different technologies to eliminate belly fat. Popular non-surgical options include:
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is often a good choice for people near their ideal body weight but want to reduce the abdomen’s fat pockets. This non-surgical technique uses cryolipolysis to freeze undesirable fat cells without damaging surrounding tissues.
After the fat cells die in a few days, they are flushed naturally by your body metabolism over a few weeks. It usually takes two to four sessions to complete the treatment, and final results take about three months.
truSculpt
This non-surgical fat removal technique uses radiofrequency technology to reduce fat cells in the abdomen. The treatment takes about one hour, and most patients need two sessions for the best results.
SmartLipo
SmartLipo is also called laser liposuction. This is because it uses laser technology with triple wavelengths to remove fat from around the muscles. This procedure also can tighten skin without surgery.
The laser dissolves the fat with heat, then the body processes and excretes it after a few weeks. Next, a tiny tube is inserted into the abdominal area to remove extra liquid that may build up during the procedure.
SmartLipo uses a small tube, so it’s often best for contouring the abs during fat removal. Traditional liposuction can’t provide the same level of abdominal sculpting as SmartLipo.
SmartLipo is not as invasive as liposuction, so there isn’t as much damage to surrounding tissues. You will see results from this treatment right away, and little downtime is involved.
SculpSure
SculpSure is another laser body contouring procedure effective for abdominal fat without surgery. It’s a smart choice for patients near their goals but wants to eliminate belly and love handle fat.
SculpSure kills fat cells with heat. Several clinical studies show this procedure can remove up to 25% of fat cells in the treatment area. You will probably need two or three procedures for the best results.
Liposuction Or Non-Surgical Procedures?
Both procedure types have advantages and disadvantages:
Invasiveness
Liposuction is surgery, and it’s a more aggressive way to remove belly fat. The surgical site undergoes trauma during the procedure, and there will be swelling, pain, and bleeding for up to 10 days.
The non-invasive procedures outlined above are more gentle and have minimal downtime.
Results
Liposuction results can be seen after swelling goes down in a few weeks, but you might not see the final results for several results.
It takes longer to see results from non-surgical methods, but you’ll see them as weeks and months pass.
None of these procedures are designed for weight loss, but liposuction offers more dramatic contouring results.
Downtime
You will be sore for at least one or two weeks after liposuction, so you will need to take it easy for a while.
Nonsurgical fat reduction methods have almost no downtime, and you can go back to regular activities the same day.
Liposuction is a popular option to remove belly fat. It can improve your body contour in multiple areas. However, liposuction is more expensive than nonsurgical options, and the recovery process is longer. There also is a higher risk of complications.
Nonsurgical belly fat removal could be a better choice if you are close to your ideal weight and have elastic skin. But the results are not as dramatic as liposuction.
Your surgeon will review the options with you to determine which is best for your situation.
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References
3 Body-Contouring Plastic Surgery Procedures To Fight Fat And Loose Skin. (2019). Accessed at https://utswmed.org/medblog/liposuction-tummy-tuck-cool-sculpting-differences/
What Are The Best Options For Noninvasive Fat Removal? (2017). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-are-the-best-options-for-noninvasive-fat-removal
Liposuction: What You Should Know. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedure-liposuction
