Non-surgical liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that seeks to remove areas of fatty tissue accumulation from the body without invasive surgery. Some patients may wish to forgo the expense and discomfort of traditional liposuction procedures. Others may not be able to undergo surgical liposuction for health reasons. Minimally invasive liposuction alternatives dissolve fat through one of many non-surgical methods. Ultrasonic waves, laser heat, injected chemical solutions, and infrared light are some of the tools that non-surgical liposuction can use to help reduce the appearance of fatty tissue beneath the skin.
Mesotherapy, considered a relatively new form of non-surgical liposuction, uses an injected chemical solution to dissolve fatty tissue beneath the skin. The solution used in mesotherapy typically includes amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. It also usually includes phosphatidylcholine deoxycholate, a chemical compound believed to help dissolve fat. Most patients need to undergo mesotherapy several times in order to get satisfactory results. Results may begin to appear relatively quickly, however, and some patients report seeing a difference after only one treatment.
VelaShape® liposuction is a type of non-surgical liposuction procedure intended to reduce the appearance of cellulite. It claims that infrared light, radio waves, and massage can help break down the fatty subcutaneous deposits that usually lead to cellulite. The treatment area is said to develop a firmer, smoother appearance after several sessions.
Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance (VASER®) liposuction is a type of non-surgical liposuction that uses ultrasonic waves to break down fatty tissue. Surgeons typically inject a chemical solution into the treatment area prior to exposing the area to VASER® ultrasonic waves. This technology claims to dissolve fatty tissue into a liquid. The liquid is then typically removed from the treatment area.
Laser liposuction generally relies on heat from laser lights to dissolve fatty tissue under the skin. While still minimally invasive, this procedure usually requires the cosmetic surgeon to remove the dissolved fatty tissue with a cannula, the small, hollow surgical tool used in most surgical liposuction procedures. Laser liposuction claims to be a more efficient liposuction option for those seeking to re-shape small areas, where some amount of surgical precision is generally needed. Patients generally recover more quickly from this minimally invasive procedure than they do from traditional liposuction.
Thermage®, a similar procedure, claims to use laser heat to stimulate collagen production in the skin. The technology claims to be able to firm and lift skin, and may be a liposuction alternative for the face and neck.