Liposuction is a major surgery that requires a considerable recovery period. Patients who are considering liposuction may want to ask the surgeons about minimally invasive liposuction. The minimally invasive liposuction surgeries have a quicker recovery and less scarring.
Tumescent liposuction, traditional liposuction, is still the most common liposuction procedure. However, many people look for less invasive liposuction methods since tumescent liposuction causes larger scars and a longer recovery time.
Traditional liposuction also requires the use of general anesthesia. Some of the less invasive liposuction techniques can be done with local anesthesia.
Types of minimally invasive lipo include ultrasound assisted liposuction and laser liposuction. These types of liposuction allow the surgeon to remove fat with smaller incisions than traditional liposuction.
Ultrasound assisted liposuction uses sound waves to rupture fat cells. The fat cells can then be removed from the body through a suction tube called a cannula.
Laser liposuction uses a laser to damage the fat cells before removal. Some laser lipo methods have a risk of burns.
Both ultrasound and laser lipo require incisions for the cannula to remove the fat. The scars can be small and are often placed in less noticeable areas. Sometimes, these procedures are done with local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia.
Mesotherapy is a less invasive alternative to liposuction. The surgeon injects the fat with minerals, medications, and vitamins during mesotherapy sessions.
Since this procedure is done with injections rather than surgery, there is no need for anesthesia. It may take up to six sessions for the patient to see a noticeable difference in the fatty area being treated with mesotherapy.
External liposuction is a liposuction alternative that reduces the amount of fat in an area by using liposuction technology without surgery. This is sometimes referred to as liposculpting or lipolysis.
Laser liposculpting uses a handheld device that emits a laser through the person’s skin. As in laser liposuction, the laser is used to break down fat.
The body naturally removes damaged cells. This natural process of removing damaged cells is used to remove the damaged fat cells instead of a suction tube.
A similar technique is used for ultrasound alternatives to liposuction. The device delivers ultrasound waves through the skin to the fat being targeted. The body naturally disposes of the damaged fat cells.
Lipodissolve is another one of the popular liposuction alternatives. Like mesotherapy, Lipodissolves uses injections of a chemical solution designed to target fat cells and destroy them.
With Lipodissolve, the damaged fat cells are not removed. The body naturally gets rid of the fat cells and chemicals that have been injected.
Lipodissolve side effects include swelling, bruising, and potentially serious allergic reactions to the chemicals that are injected. Anyone considering this or other liposuction alternatives should discuss the pros and cons of the available options with the surgeon.