Suppose you want to reduce fat in specific body areas without surgery. In that case, non-surgical fat reduction procedures may be a good option for you.
Non-surgical fat removal treatments use non-invasive methods to eliminate fat cells from the stomach and other body areas.
The Results are a slimmer and more toned appearance.
Non-invasive means the procedures do not involve surgery, injections, or other invasive methods.
They are often considered safer and less expensive alternatives to liposuction and other surgical fat-reduction procedures.
This article will discuss ten non-surgical fat reduction methods, including their effectiveness, potential risks, and other considerations.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Non-Surgical Fat Reduction?
Non-surgical fat reduction methods can be a good option for you if you are not significantly overweight and have small, specific areas of fat you would like to target
These methods are generally less effective in treating larger areas of fat or in patients who are significantly overweight.
Non-surgical fat reduction methods are generally best for individuals with good overall health.
They should also have no underlying medical conditions that may make the treatment less safe or effective.
Here Are the Ten Best Non-Surgical Procedures To Consider
Here let us look a closer look at the ten best non-surgical fat reduction procedures you can consider:
1. CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting, also known as Cryolipolysis, is a popular non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to freeze and destroy fat cells.
The procedure has minimal side effects, although some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
A study was conducted to check on the safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for the non-invasive reduction of submental fat.
The results concluded that cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting) was a safe and effective way to reduce submental fat when using a small-volume applicator.
Your healthcare provider can perform CoolSculpting in a doctor’s office or medical spa. It typically takes about an hour to complete.
During the treatment, your provider places a handheld device on the skin over the treatment area. They use a suction device to pull out fat and the skin between two cooling panels.
This process exposes the fat cells to controlled cooling, which causes them to freeze and die.
Your body will then naturally eliminate the dead fat cells over the next few weeks.
The results of CoolSculpting are typically visible within a few weeks of treatment, with the full effects becoming apparent in about three to four months.
We have extensively covered everything you may want to know about CoolSculpting in another article.
If you are considering this procedure, go through the guide to understand it better.
2. Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction
This non-surgical fat reduction technique uses ultrasound energy to break down fat cells.
Utrasound-assisted lipo is less invasive than traditional liposuction and has a shorter recovery time.
A surgeon can perform an ultrasound-assisted lipo procedure in either a doctor’s office or a surgical center, which commonly takes about an hour to complete.
During the procedure, your surgeon inserts a small ultrasound probe into the treatment area through a small incision.
Ultrasound energy from the probe breaks down the fat cells, which the body eliminates through a natural process resulting in fat reduction in the treated area.
It is essential to note that ultrasound-assisted liposuction may not be suitable for all patients. It is only effective in treating smaller areas of fat.
The results of ultrasound-assisted liposuction are typically visible within a few weeks of treatment.
Full effects become noticeable in about three to four months.
3. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
HIFU procedure uses ultrasound energy to heat and destroy fat cells in a specific body area.
The procedure takes about an hour to complete.
During the treatment, a surgeon places a handheld device on the skin of the treatment area.
The device then delivers ultrasound energy to the fat cells through the skin.
The heat generated by ultrasound energy destroys the fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
HIFU is less invasive than surgery and has a shorter recovery time but may require multiple treatments to achieve desired results.
Some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
The results of HIFU are typically visible within a few weeks of treatment, with the full effects becoming apparent in about three to four months.
4. Radiofrequency (RF) Treatments
RF treatments use radiofrequency energy to heat and destroy fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
The treatments take about an hour to complete. The doctors or RF experts can perform it in a doctor’s office or spa.
Radiofrequency energy is delivered to the fat cells through the skin during the treatment using a handheld device.
The energy destroys the fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
RF treatments may be combined with other non-surgical fat reduction methods, such as ultrasound or cooling, to enhance results.
Some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
The results of RF treatments are seen within a few weeks after treatment, with the full effects becoming apparent in about three to four months.
Learn More: Radiofrequency Skin Tightening: Everything You Need to Know
5. Laser-assisted Lipolysis
Laser-assisted lipolysis is a non-surgical fat reduction technique that uses laser energy to break down fat cells.
The body then removes the broken fat cells through natural processes.
Your surgeon can perform laser-assisted lipolysis in a doctor’s office or surgical center. Typically, the procedure takes about an hour to complete.
During the treatment, your surgeon inserts a small laser probe into the treatment area through a small incision.
The small laser probe releases some energy to break down the fat cells.
The body then removes the broken-down fat cells through natural processes, reducing fat in the treated area.
Laser-assisted lipolysis is less invasive than traditional liposuction. It also has a shorter recovery time.
One problem with laser-assisted lipolysis, though, is that it can’t be used to treat large areas of fat.
Related: How Much Does Laser Liposuction Cost?
6. Sculptra
Sculptra is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses injectable poly-L-lactic acid to stimulate collagen production.
The procedure can help to improve skin elasticity and smoothness.
When performing Sculptra, a surgeon or expert can do the procedure in a doctor’s office or medical spa. It usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The healthcare provider will inject the poly-L-lactic acid into the treatment area using a small needle during the treatment.
Sculptra is often used to treat sagging or sunken skin and may also have some fat-reducing effects.
The results of Sculptra are commonly not immediately visible, as it takes time for the poly-L-lactic acid to stimulate collagen production.
The full effects of Sculptra may be absent for several months, and multiple treatment sessions may be necessary to achieve desired results.
After the procedure, some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
7. Lipodissolve
Lipodissolve is another non-surgical fat reduction treatment.
The procedure involves injecting a solution of phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate into the treatment area.
The solution dissolves fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
The Lipodissolve Procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete. You can do it in a doctor’s office or a medical spa.
The healthcare provider will inject the solution into the treatment area using a small needle during the treatment.
The effectiveness of Lipodissolve in reducing fat has yet to be well-established, and the procedure is not widely used.
It is also important to note that Lipodissolve may be associated with certain risks, such as skin irritation or infection.
8. Exilis
Exilis is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to heat and destroys fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
The procedure also helps to improve skin elasticity and smoothness.
The procedure takes 30 minutes to complete.
A handheld device placed on the skin releases radiofrequency energy over the treatment area during the treatment.
Radiofrequency energy destroys the fat cells, reducing fat in the treated area.
The results of Exilis are typically visible within a few weeks of treatment, with the full effects becoming apparent in about three to four months.
Some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
9. VelaShape
VelaShape is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment.
The procedure uses radiofrequency energy, infrared light, and mechanical massage to heat and destroy fat cells.
The body eliminates the heated and broken cells leading to fat reduction in the treated area.
The procedure also helps to improve skin elasticity and smoothness.
The velaShape procedure takes 30 minutes to complete.
During the treatment, an expert place a handheld device on the skin over the treatment area.
And with a combination of radiofrequency energy, infrared light, and mechanical massage, the heat generated destroys the fat cells, resulting in fat reduction in the treated area.
The results of VelaShape are typically visible within a few weeks of treatment, with the full effects becoming apparent in about three to four months.
Some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
10. Endermologie
Endermologie is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses a handheld device to massage the treatment area.
It stimulates lymphatic drainage and improves circulation.
It may have some fat-reducing effects, but its effectiveness has yet to be well-established.
Endermologie procedure can be performed in a doctor’s office or medical spa, typically taking about 30 minutes to complete.
During the treatment, the healthcare provider will use a handheld device to massage the treatment area in a rolling motion.
The results of Endermologie are typically not immediately visible, and it may take several treatment sessions to see any improvement.
The long-term effects of Endermologie are not well-known, and it is unclear how long the results will last.
Some patients may experience temporary swelling, redness, or numbness in the treated area.
Take Away
Non-surgical fat reduction methods can safely and effectively reduce fat in specific body areas without resorting to surgery.
These methods use non-invasive techniques to target and eliminate fat cells, resulting in a slimmer and more toned appearance.
It is crucial to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine the best course of action for your individual needs and goals. And to consider any potential risks or side effects of the procedure.
Non-surgical methods may be less effective than surgical methods and may require multiple treatments to achieve desired results.
Learn More: Which Non-surgical Facelift Procedure is the Best?
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- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (November 2017). Non-surgical fat reduction: an evidence-based review. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236497/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (August 2020). Non-surgical fat reduction for body contouring. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mib127
- The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. (n.d.). Non-Surgical Fat Reduction. Retrieved from surgery.org/consumers/procedures/non-surgical-fat-reduction
- Healthline. (June 15, 2018). Nonsurgical Body Contouring. healthline.com/health/body-contouring
