Three Non-Surgical Alternatives to Liposuction

Liposuction is the traditional and arguably most well-known method of targeting unwanted body fat, however, it is not the only available cosmetic treatment for body contouring. Patients seeking a slimmer figure can choose liposuction, which offers immediate results, or they can choose a minimally invasive or non-invasive procedure to more gradually reduce pesky bulges of  unwanted fat. In addition to CoolSculpting^® at their Philadelphia area practice, Cirillo Institute offers Kybella^® and EMSCULPT^® for patients who want to target stubborn fat deposits.

While they can’t match the speed or produce the more dramatic results possible with liposuction, nonsurgical methods are preferable for some patients because they carry lower risk of complications and require much less preparation, recovery time, and aftercare. Note that none of these procedures or treatments is meant to be a substitute for routine exercise and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet, nor are they designed to be a weight loss method for overweight or obese patients.

CoolSculpting^®

When you’ve done everything you can, including a healthy diet and vigorous exercise, to get rid of stubborn fat deposits from your flanks, belly, thighs, arms, under your chin, or another problem zone with no results, CoolSculpting^® could be the solution. CoolSculpting^® is intended to treat isolated areas of unwanted fat for people who are generally fit and close to their ideal body weight.

CoolSculpting^® is a “fat freezing” method that targets the fat cells directly. This technology gently cools tissues to a temperature where fat cells cannot survive, causing them to die and then be flushed out by the body’s lymphatic system. Only fat cells are affected, while surrounding nerves, muscles, and skin are left intact and unharmed.

Kybella^®

Another option for destroying fat is “dissolving” it with a form of deoxycholic acid, which is an acid naturally produced in the digestive system. Once injected into fat, this acid—the active ingredient in Kybella^®—damages the fat cells. The treated fat is eventually eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system. Kybella^® received FDA approval for treating fat beneath the chin (“double chin”). It can target smaller amounts of fat beneath the chin, which are not amenable to treatment with CoolSculpting^®. Kybella^® can also be used in combination with CoolSculpting^® to produce the best results. Kybella^® can be used to treat fat in “off label” locations (the FDA did not grant approval to treat these areas) including bra fat, knee fat, and love handles.

EMSCULPT^®

While treating fat is one part of the body-contouring equation, muscle definition must also be addressed. Unlike CoolSculpting^® and Kybella^®, which treat only fat, EMSCULPT^® targets both fat and muscle. EMSCULPT^® is most commonly used to reduce fat and tone muscle on the belly, thighs, and arms, and to tone and lift muscle on the buttocks and calves.

EMSCULPT^® applies high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) to create numerous muscle contractions that would not be possible with voluntary muscle movements, such as sit-ups. EMSCULPT^® induces the equivalent of 20,000 muscle contractions within a 30-minute treatment session. Treated muscle cells increase in number and size. Fat cells provide the required energy to the rapidly contracting muscle cells, thereby destroying themselves. The damaged fat cells are gradually eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system.

If you’re curious about CoolSculpting^®, Kybella^®, EMSCULPT^®  or other non-surgical body contouring treatments, talk to the team at Cirillo Cosmetic Dermatology Spa in the Philadelphia area. Connect with them today by calling 610.525.0500 to schedule a free initial body contouring evaluation or send them a message to get started.