SURGICAL VS. NON-SURGICAL FAT REDUCTION TREATMENT: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

 Have you been struggling to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat and achieve a toned physique? Sometimes, it seems impossible to reduce even with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Thanks to advancements in technology that have made it possible to reduce unwanted fat and achieve the perfect body shape. Today, the cosmetic industry is introducing countless fat reduction treatments, something we specialize in at Lucere Dermatology & Laser Clinic.

You might be wondering whether you would be better off with the surgical or non-surgical fat reduction option. Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options come with a lot of benefits, but how would you decide which one is perfect for you?

Today, we're going to talk about the surgical and non-surgical fat reduction treatments, their pros and cons, and a comparison between the two. Read on to find more.

What Is Surgical Fat Reduction?

Surgical fat reduction treatment is the best option if you want to remove unwanted fat and adipose tissue. The surgical route of fat reduction usually involves incisions and large cuts in the area needing fat removal. Surgical procedures usually require giving general anesthesia before incisions.

What Are Different Procedures For Surgical Fat Removal?

The most widely used procedures to achieve unwanted fat loss include tummy tucks and liposuction. Let’s have a look at both of these procedures.

1. Tummy Tucks:

One of the most commonly used cosmetic surgical procedures is abdominoplasty, aka tummy tuck that works to remove extra skin and fat from your abdomen and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall, thereby flattening your belly. You can opt for tummy tuck alone or as a “mini” procedure along with liposuction depending on the amount of fat you have.

It is essential to make sure you educate yourself about the procedure before making a final decision. After the surgery, you’ll notice significant improvements in your body contour and also the way your clothes fit.

Who Is A Good Candidate For Tummy Tucks?

Tummy tucks are a suitable option for women who want to tighten their abdominal muscles that have loosened and stretched because of several pregnancies.

Men and women who were obese at some point in their lives and still have excess fat deposits can also choose tummy tucks as an alternative.

2. Liposuction:

Have you been struggling to remove larger pockets of fat from different areas of the body? Liposuction might be a good option for you because it has been the top-performed surgical procedure for many years. Liposuction is also known as "lipo," which improves your body contours and proportion by removing excess fat from specific areas of the body and reshaping them.

Before starting the procedure of liposuction, your surgeon will first administer local anesthesia. After this, small incisions will be made in the area to be treated. The surgeon then inserts a cannula through the incisions to loosen pockets of fats by moving the cannula back and forth. A surgical vacuum is attached to the cannula then suctions out the dislodged fat.

Body areas that can be treated with liposuction include chin, neck, buttocks, hips, arms, back, thighs, and abdomen.

Who Is The Good Candidate For Liposuction?

Liposuction is ideal for those who:

• Have the goal for body contouring

• Are non-smokers

• Have 30% of their ideal weight

• Are healthy with no illness

3. Reduction Mammoplasty:

Women who have large breasts opt for reduction mammoplasty, aka breast reduction surgery, to remove extra fat, skin, and tissue from the breasts.

What Is Non-Surgical Fat Reduction?

Have you been tired of "regular" liposuction sessions, or are you looking for a good replacement for liposuction to enhance body contour and remove excess fat? If yes, you can try non-surgical (non-invasive) fat reduction treatments that use specialized types of equipment or injectedmedications to break down excess fat cells with no downtime. Non-surgical fat reduction treatments have gained popularity over liposuction as an excellent alternative to cuts and incisions.

What Are Different Procedures For Non-Surgical Fat Removal?

The most commonly used types of non-surgical fat removal include Cryolipolysis (e.g., CoolSculpting), Ultrasound, and Laser Lipolysis (e.g., SculpSure). Let’s have a brief overview of them.

4. Cryolipolysis:

Cryolipolysis has become a go-to option for fat removal as a non-surgical choice. Cryolipolysis uses a controlled cooling temperature of 4°C or 39 °F to cause the cellular death of unwanted fat cells. After the fat cells have died, your body flushes out them through natural absorption and elimination processes. The procedure is completely safe, uses no surgical tools and anesthesia, and is considered effective.

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure that uses a specialized cryolipolysis device to get rid of stubborn fat and bulges for over 14-16 weeks. You start noticing the results after three months. This technique is perfect for removing the fat that doesn't go away with exercise and diet.

5. Ultrasound:

Another fat removal treatment that is meant to reduce fat deposits from the thighs, waist, and abdomen is through an ultrasound. An ultrasound liquefies fatty tissue by using ultrasound-created energy so that the doctor can remove the fat by using a cannula.

6. Laser Lipolysis:

Laser lipolysis is another body contouring procedure meant to remove excess fat deposits from the inner & outer thighs, stomach, back, love handles, and chin. Laser lipolysis works by destroying the fat cells by using heat, which stimulates the process of apoptosis. A patient has to go for a series of treatments to achieve the desired results.

Many studies have reported that patients can permanently reduce up to 24% of excess fat by laser lipolysis.

Comparison Between Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Fat Reduction:

Can't decide whether to go for the surgical procedure or non-surgical procedure? Let us help you. You can choose the RIGHT option for you by looking at the pros and cons of both surgical and non-surgical options.

Pros Of Surgical Fat Reduction:

The benefits of fat reduction through surgery include:

• Removal of large quantities of fat in a single session

• Immediate results after the surgery

• More noticeable and dramatic results

• Personalized and targeted sculpting

• You can undergo several procedures at the same time

Pros Of Non-Surgical Fat Reduction:

As non-surgical fat reduction has gained popularity more than surgical treatments, they offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Minimal or no side effects

• No need for incisions, scars, and general anesthesia

• No downtime

• Effective removal of unwanted fat

• Outpatient treatment

• Visible and long-lasting results

• You can repeat the treatments whenever you want more body contouring

• Less pain and swelling

• Less recovery time

• You can continue routine activities while you’re doing the procedures.

Cons Of Surgical Fat Reduction:

Surgical fat reduction is associated with the following risks:

• Discomfort and pain

• Scarring

• Dents in the skin

• Recovery takes 2-3 months

• Numbness around the treated area

Cons Of Non-Surgical Fat Reduction:

Some disadvantages of non-surgical fat reduction include:

• You have to go to multiple treatment sessions to achieve satisfactory results

• Targeting the fat in difficult areas might be tricky for the surgeon

• The procedure is not suitable for people who want large sections of fats to be removed.

• Temporary numbness and redness

• The surgeon cannot identify how much fat will be lost; he/she only estimates a percentage.

How To Know Which Procedure Is Right For You?

Both surgical and non-surgical procedures come with many benefits because both methods aim to remove unwanted fat from your body. Which procedure you should choose entirely depends on your personal choice, the amount of fat, and the areas to be treated. If you're not a fan of surgery, you can get rid of the fat by choosing non-surgical fat reduction.

The non-surgical fat reduction procedure is considered a better option than surgical fat reduction methods. They do not involve giving anesthesia, incisions/cuts, or scarring. Moreover, non-invasive surgical procedures, such as ultrasound and cryolipolysis have reduced post-surgical complications, resulting in highly accurate fat reduction by plastic surgeons.

Non-surgical procedures are suitable for those who require only a small amount of stubborn fat to be removed. Non-surgical procedures are also considered to be natural because patients hardly experience pain. Also, procedures like cryolipolysis help your body to work continuously on getting rid of the excess fat for up to 12 weeks.

A Word From Lucere:

Still in doubt about choosing the right procedure? Lucere Dermatology & Laser Clinic would be happy to give you as much advice you require so that you can decide if a non-surgical fat reduction procedure could be suitable for you. We will reassure you on how non-surgical fat removal is a safe and effective method of achieving the body contour you’ve always wanted.

So, what are you waiting for? Book an appointment with us and discuss non-surgical fat reduction treatments with Lucere Dermatology & Laser Clinics in Edmonton, Alberta!