Non-surgical treatments for fat removal do not inherit the long list of risks and complications that surgical procedures have. Through non-surgical fat removal treatments small volumes of fat are removed through a controlled injury to localized fat. These procedures are used to remove fat from different parts of the body including face, cheeks, chin, buttocks, knees, thighs, hips, back, and upper arms. They are often preferred over surgical treatments for fat removal. However, surgical treatment is the only possible choice in some situations.
Why non –surgical fat removal treatments
Many people prefer non-surgical treatment over surgical fat removal procedures due to following reasons:
- Non-invasive nature of procedures
- Incisions are not required.
- Minimal discomfort
- Little to no downtime
- Minimal skin injury
- Minimum risks and complications
Suitability criteria for non-surgical fat removal
Anyone who has fat pockets in abdomen, flanks or back that are resistant to exercise and dieting can benefit from fat removal treatment. For those who have larger fat accumulation liposuction is better option because for larger deposits repeated non-surgical treatments are needed.
Techniques used for non-surgical fat removal
There are different techniques used for fat removal without undergoing a surgery. Your doctor is the right person to decide the best treatment for you.
Ultrasound: ultrasound for fat removal is similar to a baby ultrasound. The treatments areas are marked and the technician applies a thin film of gel to the area where fat are accumulated. The technician moves the ultrasound transducer head over the skin and can treat a same area multiple times. The procedure may take from half an hour to several hours.
Cryolipolysis: it treats fat deposits through controlled cooling that causes cell death of fat found just beneath the skin. The procedure is sometimes used as non-surgical alternative for liposuction. Common side effects involve redness, bruising and numbness of the treated area.
Laser fat removal: laser is a popular fat removal treatment. It uses low energy beam of laser and targets localized fat deposits, disrupts fat cell membranes and releases intra-cellular fat. It does not cause any damage to surrounding skin, nerves and blood vessels. Melted fatty tissues are then released into the interstitial spaces and are then used by body’s natural metabolic system to generate energy. Intense work out right after the treatment accelerates the removal of fatty tissues from the area.
Recovery from laser fat removal: as it is a non-surgical treatment, so it does not has a long list of potential risks and a long recovery period. In fact, laser treatment does not put forward any downtime for the patient. Most often people go to the work the last day they have a laser fat removal treatment. However, a mild discomfort may take 2 days to settle down.
Repeated sessions and costs of laser fat removal: repeated sessions are required to acquire desired results. For the best results, eight treatments are usually performed over four to six weeks. However, the same results can be achieved in 4 treatments as well. As compared to surgical liposuction, ultrasound and other laser treatments, laser fat removal produces same results in more affordable costs.
Risks associated with laser fat removal: a clinical study aimed to find out probability of occurrences of risks after laser fat removal reported 1.2 percent chance of necrosis, 11.2 percent chance of seromas and 14 percent chance of blisters in patients. However, with the advancements in laser technology the probability of occurrence of risks has significantly decreased.