What is Noninvasive Liposuction?
When people reference “noninvasive liposuction”, they’re typically referring to methods of fat reduction such as cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting), laser lipolysis, ultrasound lipolysis, radiofrequency (RF) lipolysis, and injectable lipolysis (Kybella). These nonsurgical options use various methods to target fat cells and kill them so they can be reabsorbed by the body.
At Mia Aesthetics, we offer a nonsurgical option in the form of an RF frequency combined with helium known as J-Plasma. Of course, we also provide traditional liposuction and awake liposuction for patients who will receive the most benefit from a surgical option.
Benefits of Noninvasive Lipo
Noninvasive lipo offers several attractive benefits, and they include the following:
- There is no need for general anesthesia and the risks associated with it.
- Patients experience minimal, if any, recovery time. People can usually return to work and exercise immediately.
- Noninvasive procedures are generally not painful and require no pain medication.
- Nonsurgical options can treat very localized fat deposits to target a problem area.
- The results of noninvasive lipo are gradual, making it easier to keep your procedure under wraps if you wish.
Downsides of Noninvasive Lipo
Noninvasive lipo does have many benefits, but it also has some downsides that you need to be aware of:
- Noninvasive lipo techniques usually require multiple sessions to work.
- The results of noninvasive lipo are highly inconsistent. They largely depend on how your cells respond to the treatment. Many people find that their body fat is resistant to these treatment methods.
- People with large amounts of fat or unwanted fat in multiple areas generally don’t tend to have success with these methods.
- The gradual results of noninvasive measures can be frustrating for those who want more immediate results.
- Nonsurgical doesn’t mean that something is without side effects. Patients may experience temporary side effects such as redness, swelling, bruising, tenderness, or numbness in the treated areas.
Why Surgical Methods Work Better
Noninvasive liposuction methods certainly have their place and can deliver for some people. In general, however, surgical methods simply work best. At Mia Aesthetics we offer both traditional and awake liposuction, and each delivers a high impact in one session.
Surgical liposuction gives your surgeon a much higher degree of control and flexibility when it comes to removing fat and creating new contours for your body. Surgery also takes the guesswork out of the equation. You don’t have to hope that your cells respond well to the treatment like you do with noninvasive liposuction—surgery removes unwanted fat cells from your body permanently. And it’s all done in a single session. You don’t have to keep coming back.
If you have concerns about going under general anesthesia, awake liposuction may be an option for you. Awake liposuction uses local anesthetic rather than general anesthesia to keep you comfortable during surgery. It’s the same procedure with the same results but without the worry sometimes associated with general anesthesia.
For those looking for liposuction along with skin tightening, we recommend adding a J-Plasma treatment. J-Plasma combines the heat of RF waves with the cooling effects of helium, allowing your surgeon to heat fat cells for easier removal and tighten your skin, doing so in the safest way possible.
Many clinics offer to do the same using laser liposuction, using the heat from a laser to help break down fat cells. But there is a fine line between just enough heat and too much. Too much can cause burns, tissue damage, and blood vessel damage. This can complicate the recovery process, increase post-op pain and discomfort, and compromise your final results. J-Plasma is a much safer option, which is why we use it at Mia Aesthetics.