If you’ve any of the stories about the side effects of surgical liposuction make you anxious, you’re not alone. While thousands of people successfully have liposuction to remove unwanted fat every year, it’s still an invasive procedure that requires inserting an instrument under your skin to vacuum out unwanted fat.
And it’s safe for the most part, but there’s always a risk that you might experience an allergic reaction, skin damage, the puncture of a vital organ, fluid imbalance or retention, or even a blocked artery or embolism, according to the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. Doctors evaluated those risks and concerns and developed a safer, less invasive way to perform the procedure. And that’s when Lipo Cavitation was developed as an alternative to surgical liposuction.
What is Lipo Cavitation Treatment?
In liposuction, a pen-like medical instrument called a “cannula” is used to suction out subcutaneous fat from under your skin. But with Lipo Cavitation, you won’t be poked, prodded, or injected with anything. Instead, a medical professional uses an ultrasound device to perform the procedure.
During the actual procedure, a small amount of gel is applied to the skin where excess fat needs to be removed. Then the ultrasound device is applied to the skin during a 20 to 30 minute treatment session. It’s a painless outpatient procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia and has few known negative side effects.
How Does it Work?
The ultrasound device called a transducer, used in Lipo Cavitation procedures is calibrated only to target fat cells. When ultrasonic waves are directed to the area of fatty tissue you want to remove, they damage the fat cell membranes. Because the device is calibrated only to target fat cells, no other damage will occur to surrounding tissues or organs.
During the procedure, ultrasonic waves begin to break down the fat cells being targeted. This causes them to release triglycerides and other fatty substances that are a key component of the flabby tissue. During the week after a lipo cavitation treatment, your body will process the excess triglycerides and fatty substances through normal physiological processes.
How Many Treatments are Needed?
Most people who choose to have Lipo Cavitation see measurable reductions in fat within the first week. However, a treatment schedule of 10 to 20 weekly sessions is typical to achieve desired weight loss and body composition changes, according to a study in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.
Before your first treatment, you’ll meet with your doctor for a physical exam and consultation. In most cases, the ideal candidate for Lipo Cavitation is someone who is at least moderately active and follows a healthy diet. Lipo Cavitation is not intended to treat morbid obesity, but works most effectively to remove unwanted fat from targeted areas of the body. If you are a good candidate for lipo cavitation, your doctor will discuss your goals and desired body image, and then establish a treatment plan to meet your needs.
What Areas of the Body Can be Treated?
Lipo Cavitation is similar to liposuction in terms of the areas of the body where it can be used. The most common areas of the body, where Lipo Cavitation is used, include the abdomen, face, neck, back, cheeks, thighs, chin, hips, upper arms and buttocks. It has also been used to reduce excess breast tissue in overweight men.
What to do Before and After Treatment?
Before Lipo Cavitation, you should already be moderately active and eat a healthy diet. In the week before a treatment session, most doctors will recommend that patients drink about 8 cups of water daily, avoid alcohol, and tanning. And it’s important to follow these recommendations. Adequate fluids are needed to help your body process the excess fat and triglycerides that will be released as a result of the procedure. Too much alcohol will limit liver function needed to process these substances. And tanning prior to a treatment, can make your skin ultra-sensitive to the ultrasonic waves used in the treatment.
After treatment, you should continue adequate amounts of water and getting regular exercise to help your body process the excess triglycerides and fatty substances released during the procedure.
What are the Side Effects of Treatment?
The known side effects of Lipo Cavitation are minimal, compared to surgical liposuction. For most people, the treatment is painless and doesn’t require any recovery time. You may experience temporary skin sensitivity, mild bruising, fluid build-up, or blisters where the transducer was used.
There are many weight loss and weight reduction procedures available, but some are more invasive than others. If you’re already active and eat healthy, but have areas of your body that just don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, Lipo Cavitation may be an option to consider to get the body you want. It’s a non-invasive procedure that helps your body release unwanted fat cells with the aid of ultrasonic waves.