Alternative to Liposuction

Liposuction is a costly surgery ranging from $1,500 to $7,000 or more per area, and it can be traumatic to the body. There are several alternatives available for spot reduction of fat and cellulite. These alternatives do not require hospitalization or anesthesia, have virtually no recovery time and results are said to be more natural than liposuction. Costs range very widely depending on the service provider and area treated. You may see only subtle changes from these nonsurgical options, so do your own research and decide if these procedures are worth the cost.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy involves solutions that are injected into target areas of the mesoderm layer of the skin, the injections block fat cells from growing and triggers the body's system to burn the fat in that area and flush it out. It is said to also treat saggy skin and stretch marks. The session takes about an hour and consists of targeted injections, with low risk of any side effects. Most common side effects are some bruising or swelling at injection sites, a slight burning sensation, numbness or skin discoloration but all are temporary. No deaths or serious complications have occurred from this procedure. An average course of treatment is 10 sessions, at a cost of $200 to $600 per session, depending on the area treated and the provider. Many notice results after just a few sessions.

Lipo-dissolve

Lipo-dissolve involves a mixture of two chemicals injected into an area beneath the skin and works much like mesotherapy. Lipo-dissolve is a relatively new procedure--not yet FDA-approved--and its most common side effects include the same as with mesotherapy but with added itching and hives. Costs range from $150 to $800, depending on the area being treated.

Thermage for the Body

Thermage uses a deep tissue penetrating laser to treat the area under the skin, heating the fat layer and shrinking it and tightening the loose or flabby skin above. Thermage does not involve surgery or injections. Its side effects include red or peeling skin. It is considered a treatment for spot reduction and not recommended for large amounts of fat deposits. The average cost of a Thermage treatment is $2,000--ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.00 depending on the treated area.

Ultrasound Liposonix

Ultrasound liposonix, and another technique called Ultra Shape, use ultrasound purportedly to break up and melt the fat layers beneath the skin and let the body dispose of them naturally. No chemicals or lasers are used. It is currently in FDA trials and is available in limited areas. This treatment is rather expensive, at around $3,000 to $5,000.

Lipoburn Gel

Lipoburn gel can be used at home, it uses some of the same penetrating fat-melting ingredients other providers use in injections and creams (like yohimbe HCL to block fat production and forskolin that burns fat at an accelerated rate). It is not a water-shedding cream like most lipo cremes but penetrates the skin to melt away fat. A Canadian procedure called Lipolysis uses some of the same ingredients and costs $1,450 to $2,500.00 for the treatment followed by 10 weeks of cream at about $320. Lipoburn gel is the least invasive treatment and costs very little: $25 to $37 per 8-ounce bottle.