Is Non-surgical Body Contouring Better Than Liposuction?

We hear it a lot; there are areas of fat that you just cannot improve through diet and exercise. These fatty areas prevent you from having the body contour you desire. You want to look and feel your best. These frustrations are why so many women and men turn to body contouring. At O’Neil Skin & Lipo Medical Center, we offer a range of non-surgical and surgical body contouring techniques to help you achieve your results. But which one is right for you?

Within 15 Pounds of Your Goal Weight

Non-surgical body contouring, like CoolSculpting®, is ideal for people who are looking to shed those last few inches from their waistline. Non-surgical body contouring isn’t recommended for people who want to eliminate more significant deposits of fat. Non-surgical body contouring results develop over a period of weeks and months, so you should expect time to pass before your final results are visible.

If you are a good candidate for non-surgical body contouring, meaning you are in a qualifying weight range and have good skin elasticity, then you might consider this technique for the following reasons:

• It doesn’t require incisions and won’t leave any scars.
• It’s performed in the office and doesn’t require general anesthesia.
• You can immediately resume your regular activities.

Within 30 Pounds of Your Goal Weight

Liposuction, whether it be SmartLipo™ or liposculpture, is recommended when people are looking to lose between 15 and 30 pounds. Neither surgical or non-surgical body contouring is designed to be a weight loss procedure. We can use liposuction when patients have more significant deposits of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction results tend to be more dramatic and are visible once your swelling subsides.

If you are a good liposuction candidate, you might consider this technique over other options for the following reasons:

• It provides more precise contouring.
• Liposuction can be utilized in smaller, finer areas of the body.
• Results are often substantial and customized to your body.
• It provides more dramatic and longer-lasting results.

Getting a Professional Opinion

Determining if you are a good candidate for either procedure starts with a consultation with a body specialist. During your initial meeting, your fat deposits are evaluated, and we determine if you have healthy skin elasticity. Your surgeon will make a recommendation as to what procedure is better for you based on your body structure.