According to the American Plastic Surgery Association, there has been a “boom” in noninvasive procedures designed to address fat. Get the overview in our latest blog post!
Over the 2017 calendar year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons:
- non-invasive fat reduction procedures that use special technology to "freeze" away fat without surgery increased 7%
- non-surgical cellulite treatments that use lasers to eliminate fat increased by 19% (up 55% since 2000)
- non-invasive skin tightening procedures that target fat and tighten sagging areas increased 9%
Many patients find that these procedures help them target problem areas with little downtime and no incisions. In this blog, we’ll explore the trend further and answer frequently asked questions.
How Do These Procedures Differ From Abdominoplasty Procedures (“Tummy Tucks”)?
Tummy tucks are generally focused on removing excess skin around the abdomen, and on tightening underlying muscles, on the other hand, noninvasive fat removal procedures target fat cells and can reduce fat in a given area by 20% - 40%.
Want to learn more about abdominoplasty?
Do These Procedures Differ From Liposuction? If So, How?
While many think of liposuction as a procedure with a low level of invasiveness, the fact is that it is still a surgical procedure and involves the insertion of a cannula into the skin. On the other hand, nonsurgical procedures do not involve any kind of incisions at all. Instead, they use temperature or radiofrequency to kill or otherwise affect fat cells.
Ready to learn more about liposuction?
What Are Some Examples Of Noninvasive Fat Reduction Surgery?
SculpSure
SculpSure is an FDA-approved treatment that uses lasers to remove stubborn fat in areas such as the abdomen, flanks, and under the chin. This treatment addresses problem areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. SculpSure is offered at our sister clinic, Okanagan Skin, which specializes in nonsurgical options.
Cool Sculpting
Cool sculpting uses a wand-like vacuum device to target a small area on the body, pulling the fat under the skin closer to the surface, where the fat cells are quickly frozen. These fat “ice crystals” are then eliminated naturally by your body. Since many CoolSculpting procedures involve pinching and pulling, the experts at our clinic find that for most patients, hot sculpting (targeting fat with a laser) is preferable.
Which Procedure Is Better?
Which procedure is best for a patient depends entirely on their needs. This is why a consultation with an expert is better. For example, those seeking dramatic skin tightening might be better served by an abdominoplasty. Because Dr. Peterson oversees both a surgical and nonsurgical clinic, patients can rest assured that they can be assessed by experts in both fields, and can conveniently access each treatment.
Contact Us
Want to learn more about nonsurgical fat removal options, and whether or not they are right for you? Give our Kelowna plastic surgery clinic a call! To get a consultation, contact us at (250) 868-9099 or reach out through our online contact form
