Looking for a Liposuction Alternative? Read on
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that sucks the fat cells from deposits located between the skin and muscle. The way liposuction works is a stainless tube is inserted into the fat via a tiny incision. The tube is connected to a vacuum that literally sucks the fat deposits from beneath the skin.
If you would rather avoid liposuction or perhaps use it as a last resort, there are other alternatives you can try.
Laser treatments are being used for fat removal and are probably one of the most successful alternatives to liposuction itself. The procedure can take a few minutes or a few hours, depending on the area being treated. Laser treatment is a non-invasive and non-surgical method. Candidates for this kind of new liposuction should be within 20-25 pounds of their ideal weight and participate in a weight loss management program. The program should include a regular exercise program and healthy eating habits. Laser liposuction is not intended to be the answer for everyone’s fat cell woes but it is intended to be part of an overall program.
Another liposuction alternative is “fat freezing.” In technical terms, it is apoptosis. If cold is applied to the selected area, freezing action kills the fat cells and they are eliminated through a natural bodily function process. The way it works is a vacuum-type device is placed over the chosen area. The vacuum pulls the area into the housing chamber. When the treatment is complete, raised welts of frozen fat are left. Within minutes, the frozen fat cells will melt away and will be flushed from the body. This process is not intended for major amounts of weight loss but to remove excess fat from small areas. This process does not have FDA approval yet.
Mesotherapy is another liposuction alternative. It has been used in Europe and Central America for a long time. Mesotherapy involves injecting amino acids into fatty cells. The acids eliminate the fatty tissue by blocking the alpha receptors that create the fatty tissue and stimulate the beta receptors that break down the fatty tissue. This method takes a series of appointments to complete. There is no downtime and there are no known side effects except soreness and light bruising, which is temporary from receiving an injection. Other tests are being made regarding the effectiveness and safeness of this procedure, still not accepted by FDA.
An extreme alternative to liposuction is a surgical procedure called bypass surgery. It is invasive, requires a hospital stay, and only recommended for those 100 pounds or more overweight. It is used in addition to a regular exercise program and healthy eating habits. Part of the program includes analysis of psychiatric behavior to identify and resolve the issues that led to abnormal eating habits and tremendous weight gain.
It usually requires an application to your healthcare provider and a statement from your doctor saying that you are morbidly obese in order to be approved for the surgery. Without approval, your health insurance will not cover the cost of the procedure.