While liposuction remains a very popular method to reduce and/or eliminate fat that is unwanted and stubborn on the body of a patient, cosmetic fat reduction AKA nonsurgical fat reduction is gaining in popularity as doctors are offering treatments ranging from cryolipolysis to ultrasound. In order to make sure our readers are armed with the knowledge they need to undergo cosmetic fat reduction, let’s take a look at some of the most popular methods used to perform cosmetic fat reduction.
Cryolipolysis, AKA fat-freezing, is a cosmetic fat reduction technique, that utilizes controlled temperatures to cause the death of localized fat cells.
The fat cells are frozen by using a suction cup or an applicator that is placed on the targeted fat cells. The patient will eventually feel some numbness on the targeted areas of the body and these areas usually include the fat on the stomach and love handles of the patient.
In general, it takes about 60 minutes for the fat to be properly frozen. Immediately after the treatment, patients will experience some redness, bruising, swelling and numbness. Over the next two to four weeks, the fat cells that are killed by the freezing process are removed from the body as part of its natural recovery process after an injury. The amount of fat reduction on the body is also visible after that time.
Cryolipolysis has been shown to be effective in reducing fat that is located in smaller, more localized areas such as the stomach. In addition, this cosmetic fat reduction technique has not been shown to be helpful in removing fat over larger areas so it is not recommended for people wanting to remove large amounts of fat as well as patients that are obese.
Even though the cosmetic fat reduction technique known as Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is effective in reducing the amount of fat in the targeted area, it is growing in popularity as a preferred method to achieve fat reduction as well as a more sculpted body.
There are a number of LLLT methods available to patients and they include lasers that use heat (such as Sculpsure) to cool lasers (Zerona) to reduce the amount of fat in the targeted area.
In terms of how Low-Level Laser Therapy works, the most common theory is that the cosmetic fat reduction therapy disrupts the fat cell membranes that allows the fat be released from the cells.
Low-Level Laser Therapy is not recommended for patients that are looking to lose larger amounts of fat. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, fat loss via laser treatments is an ideal choice for patients that are already near their ideal weight and simply want to gain a better body contour. These patients are already exercising on a regular basis and they also eat a healthy diet. However, they do have a stubborn amount of fat they are not able to easily lose.
Patients that have Low-Level Laser Therapy will experience some swelling and redness after the treatment. There have also been some reports of small/low level burns but this is not always the case with Low-Level Laser Therapy.
Mesotherapy is a cosmetic fat reduction technique that involves injecting a combination of chemicals into the fatty area that is targeted by the doctor. The chemical combination of deoxycholate and phosphatidylcholine is delivered into the body via micro-injections.
Once the chemicals are injected into the targeted area on the patient, they are absorbed by the fat cells which are then hardened to the point that they break down. The dead fat cells are then eliminated by the body thanks to the normal defense mechanisms of the body.
Patients will experience some minor side effects such as a little bit of pain or stinging at the injection site along with itching, swelling, bruising and redness.
The combination of these chemicals reduces the amount of fat thickness and volume in the targeted area. The results are generally noticeable about three months after the treatment is finished by the doctor.
Patients that are interested in gaining a slimmer appearance and more contoured shape often turn to nonsurgical cosmetic fat reduction to gain the desired results. Patients that are interested in any of the techniques listed above should schedule a consultation appointment with a cosmetic surgeon that is experienced in performing cosmetic fat reduction. The doctor can set realistic expectations as well as discuss the pros and cons of each method to determine the best method to achieve the desired results. In addition, the patient can ask to see “before and after” photos of actual patients treated by the cosmetic surgeon in order to view the kind of results that can be expected after the procedure. Once the patient and the doctor are on the same page in terms of the expected final results, the cosmetic surgeon can perform cosmetic fat reduction on the patient.
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