Liposuction Alternatives

By Jay Cindy

A number of liposuction alternatives exist that offer permanent removal of fat with fewer side effects and at lower prices. Other liposuction alternatives do not actually remove fat cells but tighten the skin to make it look firmer.

Liposuction is a major surgery that requires general anesthesia and time off work. Ten pounds of fat can be removed each session at a price tag ranging between $4,000 and $10,000. The fat cells are removed from the body by liquefying them and then literally sucking them out of the body. Swelling, pain and bruising are common side effects, which are the same for any surgery.

Two alternatives to liposuction actually remove fat cells from the body. Lipodissolve is one of them and mesotherapy is the other. Fat is literally dissolved by injecting a layer of fat with a solution that the body then flushes out on its own. Lipodissolve uses a detergent formula and mesotherapy uses an amino acid based formula. There is basically no recovery time for either method. Each treatment costs between $350 and $2000. As many as six treatments may be needed. What is not known about these methods is what happens to the fat cells after they have been dissolved. If the cells are not completely flushed form the body they may clog arteries or get stuck elsewhere which can cause its own set of problems. Another issue with is with the chemicals that are used in the injection. There has not been sufficient testing to determine where they go after the job is done.

Thermage is a new technique that does not take away fat cells but in fact tightens the skin, resulting in a weight-loss effect. A machine that creates a certain radio frequency is rubbed over an area of skin. It heats the collagen underneath it and as the collagen gets warm, the skin gets tighter. Of course, this method will not give permanent results but they are fairly long-term and they improve over time. With proper diet and the right exercise, the results can be made to last longer. It generally requires six to twelve session at around $400 to $700 each to achieve desired results.

Another low cost alternative to liposuction is the body wrap. Here again, fat cells are not removed but the body appears slimmer because of the tightening affect of the wraps and the reduction in water weight. This is an all-natural therapy that involved wrapping the body to promote reshaping and then soaking the wrap in minerals that draw out water and detoxify. There is technically no limit to the number of wraps that can be performed in a day and the more wraps done in a day the more striking the results. Each wrap costs between $50 and $100 and it will take approximately ten wraps to drop a dress size.

Proper exercise and a low calorie diet are the best liposuction alternatives. Slow weight loss requires a substantial amount of time and energy. Many people tend to get discouraged. Immediate results from weight loss treatments may motivate people to continue their weight loss efforts. Liposuction is quite costly and most people cannot all afford it. Besides, it is dangerous. Less enduring solutions can be obtained for much less money that look good quickly and may help inspire perseverance. - 30516

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