What is nonsurgical fat reduction?
Nonsurgical and minimally invasive options for fat reduction include technology that uses heat or cooling or an injected medication to reduce fat cells. While none of these treatments are a replacement for liposuction, they provide options for patients unwilling or unable to undergo surgery. Nonsurgical fat reduction options use a variety of modalities, including ultrasound, radio frequency, infrared light, vacuum massage and injectable medication.
Among the procedures that comprise nonsurgical fat reduction are cryolipolysis (e.g., CoolSculpting), injection lipolysis (e.g., Kybella), radiofrequency lipolysis (e.g., Vanquish) and laser lipolysis (e.g., SculpSure).
Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not have any of the aforementioned procedures.
What is cryolipolysis?
Cryolipolysis, commonly referred to as “CoolSculpting” by patients, uses cold temperature to break down fat cells. The fat cells are particularly susceptible to the effects of cold, unlike other types of cells. While the fat cells freeze, the skin and other structures are spared from injury.
This is one of the most popular nonsurgical fat reduction treatments, with over 450,000 procedures performed worldwide.
Reasons patients want cryoliplysis
Patients who wish to reduce a localized fat bulge that has persisted despite diet and exercise may be interested in cryolipolysis.
Who is not a candidate for cryolipolysis?
Patients with cold-related conditions, like cryoglobulinemia, cold urticaris and paroxysmal cold hemoglobulinuria should not have cryolipolysis. Patients with loose skin or poor tone may not be suitable candidates for the procedure.
What does cryolipolysis do?
The goal of cryolipolysis is to reduce the volume of fat in a fatty bulge. Some patients may opt to have more than one area treated or to retreat an area more than once.
Does cryolipolysis require anesthesia?
This procedure is done without anesthesia.
Cryolipolysis procedure
After an assessment of the dimensions and shape of the fatty bulge to be treated, an applicator of the appropriate size and curvature is chosen. The area of concern is marked to identify the site for applicator placement. A gel pad is placed to protect the skin. The applicator is applied and the bulge is vacuumed into the hollow of the applicator. The temperature inside the applicator drops, and as it does so, the area numbs. Patients sometimes experience discomfort from the vacuum’s pull on their tissue, but this resolves within minutes, once the area is numb.
Patients typically watch TV, use their smart phone or read during the procedure. After the hour-long treatment, the vacuum turns off, the applicator is removed and the area is massaged, which may improve the final results.
What are the risks of cryolipolysis?
The complication rate is low and the satisfaction rate is high. There is a risk of surface irregularities and asymmetry. Patients may not get the result they’d hoped for. Rarely, in less than 1 percent, patients may have paradoxical fat hyperplasia, which is an unexpected increase in the number of fat cells. This is three times more likely in men than in women and is seen more in those of Hispanic or Latino descent.
Recovering from cryolipolysis
There are no activity restrictions. Patients sometimes feel sore, as if they had worked out. Rarely do patients experience pain. If that happens the patient should contact the plastic surgeon, who may prescribe medication for a few days.
What are the results of cryolipolysis?
The injured fat cells are gradually eliminated by the body over 4 to 6 months. During that time the fatty bulge decreases in size, with an average fat reduction of about 20 percent.
What is injection lipolysis?
Injection lipolysis chemically reduces the number of fat cells around the injection site. The chemical, called deoxycholic acid, results in fat cell disruption and death. Currently, it is FDA-approved for treatment of the area underneath the chin to eliminate what is known as a “double chin.” A commonly known type of injection lipolysis is Kybella.
Reasons patients want injection lipolysis
Nonsurgical candidates and patients interested in a nonsurgical approach to reducing the fat beneath the chin may be interested in injection lipolysis.
Who is not a candidate for injection lipolysis?
Patients with loose skin or poor tone may not be suitable candidates for the procedure.
Does injection lipolysis require anesthesia?
This procedure can be done under local anesthesia, which is injected into the treatment area beneath the chin.
Injection lipolysis procedure
After the local anesthesia has been injected, a precise amount of medication is injected in a grid pattern that has been pre-marked on the skin beneath the chin. The medication is injected as a single treatment.
What are the risks of injection lipolysis?
Complications are uncommon and include nerve injury that can result in an uneven smile. In rare instances, patients have also reported difficulty swallowing after the procedure.
Recovering from injection lipolysis
There is no downtime, but patients may experience swelling, bruising, pain, redness and feel areas of hardness that typically soften with time. Fat reduction is typically visible by eight weeks.
What are the results of injection lipolysis?
Most patients have at least two treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, which is the typical duration of swelling. Patients can have up to six treatments to the area under the chin. Your plastic surgeon can develop a plan that best suits your individual anatomy. During the period of swelling the area can look fuller than it did before treatment, but as the fat cells are disrupted and the inflammation subsides, most patients see results by 6 to 8 weeks after a treatment. Unless a patient were to gain weight, the results should be long-lasting.
What is radiofrequency lipolysis?
Radiofrequency lipolysis is a procedure which uses a radio frequency to heat the fat without an instrument making physical contact with the patient. The applicator heats from a distance of one centimeter from the skin. Fat cells are preferentially heated without impacting other types of cells in the skin or other structures. A common type of radiofrequency lipolysis is Vanquish.
Reasons patients want radiofrequency lipolysis
Patients who wish to reduce a localized fat bulge that has persisted despite diet and exercise may be interested in radiofrequency lipolysis. Risks are minimal.
Who is not a candidate for radiofrequency lipolysis?
Patients with loose skin or poor tone may not be suitable candidates for the procedure.
What does radiofrequency lipolysis do?
The goal of radiofrequency lipolysis is to reduce the volume of fat in a fatty bulge. Some patients may opt to have more than one area treated or to retreat an area more than once.
Does radiofrequency lipolysis require anesthesia?
This procedure is done without anesthesia.
Radiofrequency lipolysis procedure
The treatment takes approximately thirty minutes and is repeated once a week for four weeks or as determined during the assessment.
What are the risks of radiofrequency lipolysis?
Mild erythema has been reported.
Recovering from radiofrequency lipolysis
There are no activity restrictions and no downtime.
What are the results of radiofrequency lipolysis?
Patients with treatment to the abdomen have averaged a reduction of just under two inches, though not all patients have a measurable, perceptible reduction.
What is laser lipolysis?
Laser lipolysis uses laser energy delivered through an applicator. The fat cells are preferentially heated and disrupted without impacting other types of cells in the skin or other structures. A common type of laser lipolysis is SculpSure.
Reasons patients want laser lipolysis
Patients who wish to reduce a localized fat bulge of the abdomen and flanks.
Who is not a candidate for laser lipolysis?
Patients with loose skin or fat inside the abdomen, deep to the muscles.
What does laser lipolysis do?
The goal of laser lipolysis is to reduce the volume of fat in a fatty bulge.
Does laser lipolysis require anesthesia?
This procedure is done without anesthesia.
Laser lipolysis procedure
After an assessment of the dimensions and shape of the abdominal or flank fatty bulge to be treated, the area is marked to identify the site for applicator placement. The applicator is applied, and the patient feels a cooling sensation. During the 25-minute treatment, the patient may feel intermittent warmth and/or tingling.
What are the risks of laser lipolysis?
The complication rate is low, with reports of temporary redness, tenderness and swelling.
Recovering from laser lipolysis
There are no activity restrictions or downtime. Patients sometimes feel tender or notice redness or swelling.
What are the results of laser lipolysis?
Results may first be visible at 6 weeks and are apparent by 3 months.
How much does nonsurgical fat reduction cost?
The average cost of nonsurgical fat reduction is $1,376 and the average cost of injection lipolysis is $1,027, according to 2019 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This average cost is only part of the total price – it does not include other related expenses. Please consult with your plastic surgeon’s office to determine your final fee.
The price of nonsurgical fat reduction will be based on the expertise and qualifications of the person performing the procedure, the type of procedure used, the time and effort the treatment requires, as well as geographic office location.
Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans for nonsurgical fat reduction, so be sure to ask.
Nonsurgical fat reduction costs may include:
- Prescriptions for medication
- Surgeon’s fee
- Surgical facility costs
When choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for nonsurgical fat reduction, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the procedure.
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
English 
Arabic