Options abound more than ever before in the medical weight loss world, and we’re here for it. But not everyone works in the industry, and for would-be patients looking to sculpt those stubborn areas, the sheer variety of fat-reduction treatments available now can be a bit daunting.
Should you go with liposuction? What about CoolSculpting or SculpSure? Semaglutide? You get the point—your choices are multiplying as we speak.
But fear not, because our friendly and knowledgeable team at South Bay Aesthetics Plastic Surgery is here to break down the major differences between liposuction and non-surgical alternatives. In this guide, we’ll cover how these treatments differ across several key metrics, including effectiveness, potential side effects and downtime, and more.
Liposuction and Popular Alternatives
Liposuction involves the surgical extraction of fat from the body using a specialized tube called a cannula. The surgeon makes an incision, inserts the tube, breaks up the fatty tissue, and then extracts it. There are several variations of this procedure, mostly differing in how the fatty tissue is broken apart prior to extraction (manually, ultrasound-assisted, vibration, and more).
Unlike diet and exercise, liposuction allows surgeons the ability to accurately target specific areas of stubborn fat, allowing them to provide precisely customized results. Liposuction is frequently used on the thighs and buttocks, arms, love handles, abdomen, and knees.
While liposuction remains a staple among cosmetic surgery patients (as it has for decades), many patients are now turning to non-surgical options that promise similar results. These options include, but are not limited to:
- Light-based treatments (including laser)
- Ultrasound
- Weight loss injections
- Cryolipolysis
Light-based treatments like SculpSure target and eliminate fat cells using controlled light energy. The energy heats fatty tissue while preserving surrounding tissues for a comfortable, safe, and effective treatment. The body then processes the damaged and destroyed fat cells over the following weeks.
Ultrasound technologies use a technique called ultrasonic cavitation to break apart fat cells. When emitted at certain low-frequency ranges, ultrasound energy forms tiny bubbles that collapse, causing fatty tissues to break apart. These tissues are then processed as waste by the body.
Weight loss injections like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, have become increasingly popular as of late. Most popular preparations of semaglutide have been FDA approved for blood glucose management in type II diabetes patients, but many people use the product “off label” for its appetite-suppressing and, consequently, weight-managing benefits.
Cryolipolysis, the technical term for “cell death by freezing,” has also gained prominence among weight loss patients, many of whom have turned to popular treatments like CoolSculpting to kill fat cells using applicators that cool their tissues to very low temperatures.
Now that we’ve introduced most of the major contenders, let’s take a closer look at how exactly these nonsurgical treatments stack up against the presiding champ, liposuction.
Comparing and Contrasting Lipo and Non-Surgical Options
Full disclaimer, these comparisons aren’t all linear. Each of these treatments can treat slightly different issues and areas of the body. There is also plenty of room to assign or take away “points” based on your own subjective factors. Some patients, for example, don’t mind a surgical procedure with a bit of downtime, while avoiding this may be highly valuable to others.
That said, here’s how liposuction and nonsurgical alternatives compare across several key aspects, including effectiveness, potential side effects, and more.
Effectiveness
Liposuction is best thought of as a contouring procedure rather than a weight loss procedure, but there is still no non-surgical substitute for liposuction when it comes to sheer volume of fat reduction. While liposuction is not in the same league as surgical weight loss procedures like sleeve gastrectomy, which can help you shed 10s of pounds (or even 100+), it is still the most powerful treatment among the several we’ve introduced in this guide.
To use rough figures—it all varies on a case-by-case basis—one can reasonably expect to lose anywhere between 3-12 pounds with liposuction. Laser, ultrasound, and coolsculpting treatments are closer to the 1-6 pound range. Again, these figures depend on several unique factors, including your starting weight, number of sessions, diet and exercise, and so on.
Invasiveness and Downtime
All of the nonsurgical alternatives to liposuction listed in this guide, with the exception of injections, are completely noninvasive. They do not break the skin, but use applicators to infuse the skin with different types of energy.
Keeping in mind that downtime can also vary based on several factors unique to your health status, diet, activity level, and so on, nonsurgical treatments like SculpSure, CoolSculpting, and ultrasound weight loss treatments require virtually no downtime. Conversely, liposuction requires between 8-12 weeks before the area is completely healed.
Duration of Results
While liposuction permanently kills fat cells, it can’t prevent the possibility of the remaining fat cells in the area expanding. In other words, if you consistently maintain healthy diet and exercise habits, your results could last a lifetime. Otherwise, you may require follow-up treatments to maintain results.
SculpSure, CoolSculpting, and ultrasound treatments can also yield permanent or semi-permanent results with diligent follow-through, as they also destroy fat cells. However, the appetite-suppressing effects of semaglutide and other weight loss injections are reversed after discontinuing the treatment.
Choose the Right Procedure for You With South Bay Aesthetics Plastic Surgery
Final verdict? Neither liposuction nor any of its nonsurgical doppelgangers can be universally declared better. This is because each patient presents with a completely unique set of circumstances and preferences.
At South Bay Aesthetics Plastic Surgery, we will work closely with you to create a treatment plan that works best for you.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation, and we’ll find the best treatment for you together.
