Alternatives to Liposuction
Some of the alternatives to liposuction include modifying diet to lose excess body fat, exercise, accepting one’s body and appearance as it is, or using clothing or makeup to downplay or emphasize body or facial features. Abdominalplasty or “tummy tuck” is sometimes considered an alternative to liposuction of the abdomen. However, a tummy tuck is really a significantly more involved surgery which results in a large scar on the lower abdomen.
| Abdominal Micro-Liposuction | Abdominoplasty (“Tummy Tuck”) | | Procedure | - No general anesthesia
- Minimally invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia only
- Using adits and micro-cannulas (size of a thermometer or less) large amounts of fat are debulked
| - Uses general anesthesia or IV sedation
- Invasive surgery requiring stitches, drains
- Months of wearing a girdle
| | Complications & side effects | - No risk of general anesthesia
- Bruising and soreness
- Pain is about 3-4 out of 10; very easily controlled with medication
- Minimal to no blood loss.
- Extremely low infection rate
- No scars or freckle scar only
- Risk of anesthesia
| - Potentially severe complications requiring hospitalization
- Potentially moderate blood loss requiring blood transfusion
- Moderate to severe pain requiring prescription pain medication
- Potentially visible scars
| | Recovery | - Can return to work in 24 hours
- Exercise within the first week
| - Requires weeks off work
- Months before normal exercise is resumed
| | Results | - Dramatic improvement with no cosmetically unsatisfactory scars
- Skin is tightened by the debulking effect of the liposuction.
| - Dramatic improvement but with potentially visible scars
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| Tumescent Liposuction | Liposuction under general anesthesia | Ultrasonic Liposuction | Powered Liposuction | Laser Liposuction SMARTLIPO | | Cost | Least | Most | Average | Average | Average | | Risk | Least | Most | Average | Long term is unknown | Long term is unknown | | Bleeding | Least | Most | Average | Least | Least | | Recovery | Fast | Slowest | Average | Average | Average | | Post-OP Pain | Least | Most | Average | Average | Average |
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