Interested in reducing unwanted areas of fat, but overwhelmed by the available treatment options? Dr. Ary Krau has you covered. In this post, he breaks down traditional liposuction and non-surgical fat reduction treatments, explaining the benefits and drawbacks of each, to help as you weigh your options.
Understanding Liposuction
Traditional liposuction involves using surgical instruments to remove pockets of unwanted fat. Small incisions are created in the targeted area and a thin, hollow tube called a cannula is inserted through the incisions. The cannula is moved back and forth to break up the fatty tissue. Then, the fat is removed from the body with gentle suction.
Sometimes, a special “tumescent” solution is injected into the treatment area to help firm up the fat so it is easier to remove. Or, a special vibrating cannula can be used to easily break up the fat.
Benefits: No other fat reduction method produces the transformative results that liposuction does. Liposuction can be used on many areas of the body and face, and can treat large areas.
Drawbacks: Liposuction requires a recovery period that can last several months. It also requires general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation for the patient’s comfort. Patients usually experience side effects after surgery, including bruising, swelling and tenderness.
Understanding Non-Surgical Fat Reduction
Medical advances have prompted the development of non-surgical fat reduction methods. For example, CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to freeze unwanted fat, which dies and is eventually filtered naturally from the body. SmartLipo uses laser energy to melt unwanted fat into a liquid form before the body naturally filters it.
Benefits: Depending on the specific treatment, non-surgical fat reduction may not require anesthesia, incisions, injections or downtime. Patients are often able to resume their normal activities almost immediately after treatment. The incidence of post-operative side effects like bruising and swelling is low. Non-surgical fat reduction is generally more economical than liposuction surgery.
Drawbacks: Non-surgical fat reduction cannot produce the same dramatic results as liposuction. It may take several treatment sessions to achieve noticeable results. Also, depending on the specific system, non-surgical fat reduction may not treat all of the areas of the body or face that liposuction can.
Discuss Your Options with Dr. Krau
To discuss your specific body contouring options with Dr. Krau, please schedule a consultation by calling (305) 861-6881 or sending us an email. After meeting you and learning more about your specific goals, Dr. Krau can recommend the treatment option that is best for you.