In the past, liposuction meant having to undergo general anesthesia or heavy sedation. As a result, patients were at increased risk of experiencing anesthesia-related complications. But now there are many new procedures that allow patients to undergo liposuction without surgery. So patients now have the option to have fat removed from their bodies with decreased risks, minimal recovery time, and lower costs.

One of the main differences between the new liposuction without surgery procedures is that no anesthesia is required to perform the procedures. They are also less invasive, with nothing more than tiny incisions or injections being required to carry them out. Unlike traditional methods, where fat deposits had to be broken up and separated from connective tissues and then suctioned out of the body, the newer procedures use lasers, injections, and other medical devices to destroy or dissolve fat cells. In most cases, the dissolved fat does not have to be suctioned from the body. Instead, it is naturally absorbed and excreted as a waste product through urination.

Some of the most common liposuction without surgery procedures performed today include Lipodissolve™ and Thermage. Mesotherapy is also a popular form of liposuction without surgery procedure in Europe and South America.

Both Lipodissolve™ and mesotherapy are liposuction without surgery procedures that use a mixture of medications and other chemicals to dissolve fat. This mixture is injected into the areas of fat being treated. Although several treatments are usually required to achieve the desired results, the procedure is virtually painless and requires very little time for recovery.

Thermage is a form of liposuction without surgery option that uses a laser. The laser is useful in tightening the skin overlying the treatment areas. It is a very popular procedure for treating the face and neck, although effective on other areas of the body, as well. Unlike like injection therapy, Thermage can be painful, but recovery time is minimal.

Because patients do not have to undergo general anesthesia or heavy sedation during liposuction without surgery procedures, the overall risk to patients is significantly decreased. Whereas traditional methods carried a high risk of bruising, swelling, bleeding, and other side effects, the side effects experienced from the non surgical procedures are usually just mild pain, with very little bruising and swelling.

The advancements in lipo techniques have made liposuction without surgery procedures a common option of fat removal today. A lot of patients prefer the non surgical procedures over the more traditional methods. Non surgical lipo is less risky, it is also usually less expensive and carries the least amount of side effects. Only time will prove whether these liposuction without surgery procedures are as effective as the real thing though.