Choosing Between Non-invasive Fat Reduction and Liposuction in Lubbock

Wanting to look our best is something we all desire. With modern advances in science, medicine, and technology, there are many ways to achieve our cosmetic goals. The trick is to know which methods to use. Plastic surgery is the gold standard for aesthetic improvements, but what if something like liposuction in Lubbock isn’t right for you? Rowley Plastic Surgery offers many different surgical and non-surgical options for patients who want to improve their look. We can help you assess your goals and choose the right procedure for you.

Non-invasive Fat Reduction vs. Liposuction 

It can be frustrating to discover certain areas of your body that seem to be resistant to diet and exercise. In spite of personal efforts to thin the thighs or tone a stomach pooch after pregnancy, localized fat can feel impossible to target and permanently remove. In these cases, help can be found through non-invasive fat reduction or liposuction. Lubbock patients can choose either method to support their efforts with diet and exercise. Liposuction is a safe and effective way to reduce fat permanently and refine the body’s appearance. Recently, however, non-surgical or minimally invasive alternatives to liposuction have been growing in popularity as well.

What’s the Difference?

If you have areas of stubborn fat that don’t respond to your efforts at the gym, it can sometimes feel like you might be willing to do anything to get rid of them. The idea of a quick fat-blasting procedure with no downtime sounds appealing, but it may not work for every patient. These treatments use cooling, heat, lasers, or sound waves to eliminate fat cells from localized areas. But, non-surgical fat reduction has its limitations. Visible results may take six to twelve weeks to appear. Be prepared to undergo a series of treatments to achieve the look you want.  

Patients who have multiple or larger areas of concern should consider traditional liposuction in Lubbock as a more effective alternative. While surgical liposuction does require incisions, downtime, and a recovery period, the results typically last much longer and can be achieved with just one procedure. To discover more about what you can expect as a liposuction patient, watch the video below.

What to Know About Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat through the suction of a hollow tube called a cannula. It requires the use of either local anesthetics or general anesthesia for patients with larger areas of fat to be removed. The surgery involves only a few small incisions and results are visible immediately. While patients can usually return to work after two to three days of recovery, compression garments are worn to help with swelling and healing for a period lasting from two to four weeks. Minor to moderate pain and swelling may last up to four to six weeks. Liposuction in Lubbock is more impactful with longer-lasting results than non-surgical approaches. It is especially effective on the following areas:

• Legs
• Abdomen
• Back / love handles
• Upper arms 
• Face and neck

An experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Jane Rowley can give you exceptional results with surgical liposuction. She will accurately target specific areas of fat and eliminate them all at once. Liposuction is not meant to help patients lose a significant amount of weight, but it is an effective tool to support your body contouring goals. 

Submental Liposuction

Excess fat in the chin and neck region has a way of making us look older and heavier than we really are. If you have a double chin or some sagging around the neck area, submental liposuction is a simple way to get dramatic results. Dr. Rowley achieves consistently beautiful enhancements with submental liposuction in Lubbock. She explains: 

“This is actually a relatively easy procedure that gives very dramatic changes in appearance. Even though only a small amount of fatty tissue is removed, the chin contour will look much better. Often it looks like the patient has lost weight after this procedure. On someone who is even in their 30s and 40s and is starting to get some slight laxity along the skin of the neck and jawline, this can provide enough tightening that they can avoid a facelift for several years.”

Submental liposuction takes just 20 to 30 minutes. It can be done with a local anesthetic during a visit to your plastic surgeon’s office. The incisions are very small and the procedure leaves minimal to no scarring. During the initial 48 hours of recovery and then every night for the first week, patients will wear a chin strap for compression. You can return to your normal routine a short two days after your submental liposuction. Patients can expect to see their full aesthetic results four to six weeks after treatment. 

Candidates for Liposuction in Lubbock

Cosmetic fat reduction surgery is not for everyone. If you are unhappy with the number you see on the scale, liposuction may not be the right choice for you. The procedure is for patients who struggle with specific areas of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. Patients with a significant amount of weight to lose should not pursue liposuction as a solution. However, if you are close to your ideal weight but feel dissatisfied with stubborn fat, liposuction could be a viable option. A strong candidate for liposuction should also meet the following criteria.

• Non-smoker: Most plastic surgeons require their patients to quit using nicotine for several weeks before and after liposuction. Nicotine decreases oxygen levels in the blood, which hinders the body’s ability to heal from surgical wounds. Smoking also puts patients at greater risk for complications such as bleeding or infection. 
• Be in good health: Your surgeon will gather a complete medical history from you prior to surgery to ensure your safety. People with underlying conditions may not be suitable candidates for certain types of procedures.
• Good skin elasticity: Some areas of the body do not respond to liposuction as well as others because of varying degrees of skin elasticity. If fat is suctioned out of a spot with poor laxity, it will appear saggy or loose. Give your skin a little pinch for five seconds. The faster it springs back afterwards, the better the elasticity. If you struggle with stubborn fat in an area with poor elasticity, your doctor may suggest another treatment option, such as a tummy tuck.
• Realistic expectations: Having realistic goals is an important part of patient satisfaction. No surgeon can promise perfection, and every procedure has its limitations. You are more likely to appreciate your results in the end if you have practical expectations.   

Non-invasive Procedures

Non-surgical procedures remove fat through a variety of methods including targeting the fat cells through cooling or radiofrequency. They can be particularly effective on the hips, thighs, buttocks, or abdomen. Although they cost less than liposuction, Lubbock patients find these methods to be less impactful than surgical approaches, with up to approximately a 25% reduction of fat in the treated area. Though patients feel slightly sore and swollen following the procedure, there is no downtime needed for recovery. Also unlike liposuction, the results of non-surgical procedures take time and multiple treatments. 

SculpSure

SculpSure is one type of non-invasive fat reduction that laser heats fat deposits to destroy unwanted fat cells. You can expect to reduce fat by 20-25% in the treated area. With SculpSure, your results are permanent as long as you do not experience significant weight gain. The fat cells that are destroyed do not regenerate, so as long as you can commit to a healthy lifestyle, this non-invasive treatment method could work for you. Clinical data support the anecdotal evidence that SculpSure “is a worthy addition [to today’s body contouring treatments] providing a safe, quick, and effective non-invasive fat reduction option for patients.” It offers a non-surgical option with no post procedure pain or downtime, unlike liposuction. Lubbock patients who want body contouring without surgery can consider this as an option to help achieve cosmetic goals. 

Although you can get SculpSure treatments during quick office visits with no downtime, the procedure does not provide instant results. Keep in mind that it takes about six to twelve weeks for the body to rid itself of the destroyed fat cells through the lymphatic system. Additionally, most patients require a series of treatments to achieve the look they desire. So, even though you won’t necessarily have to endure a recovery period after your procedure, you will still need to have patience as your body takes time to reveal the final aesthetic results. 

Which is Right for Me?

Whether you are leaning towards non-invasive procedures or plastic surgery like liposuction, Lubbock board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jane Rowley recommends a personal consultation. Although the internet has a lot of information to offer, meeting with a qualified professional face-to-face is the best way to ensure you are getting the information you need to make the right decision for you and your body. If you feel you are at your ideal weight and have good skin elasticity and need some help targeting a few stubborn areas, non-surgical methods may be right for you. If you are looking to reduce a larger deposit of excess fat, liposuction may be an excellent option.

More Non-Invasive Options

Beyond fat removal, Dr. Rowley offers several other non-surgical cosmetic choices for her Lubbock patients. For those who wish to enhance their look without the downtime or recovery that come with liposuction in Lubbock, these options may be beneficial.

Laser Resurfacing

If you want to rejuvenate your face without injectables or surgery, a laser treatment could work wonders for you. Laser skin resurfacing improves the appearance of your face by carefully removing layers of skin with a pulsating beam of light. The removal of the old skin layer stimulates the regrowth of new skin cells and collagen fiber production. The procedure results in smoother, tighter facial skin. Resurfacing procedures improve overall skin tone and can help with:

• Acne scars
• Sun damaged skin
• Age spots
• Crow’s feet
• Fine lines

After your procedure, the treated area may look red or pink for some time. However, as the skin starts to heal, patients enjoy a significant improvement in the appearance and quality of their skin that can last up to three to five years. 

Although it is an effective procedure, laser resurfacing cannot tighten facial sagging or get rid of excess skin. In some cases, a more invasive procedure (such as a facelift) may be necessary to achieve the desired results. It is important to talk to your doctor about your specific goals so you can get the treatment that will best suit your needs. 

Non-surgical Fillers

Beginning as early as in our 20’s, women’s skin starts to lose the fat and firmness that gives it that smooth, youthful look. Unlike those who want liposuction, Lubbock patients who want fillers are sometimes looking to replace lost fat. Things like the sun, smoking, stress, and genetics all play a role in the rate at which your skin will lose its tone. It’s all part of the aging process, but there are ways to slow it down and keep your skin looking young and radiant. 

Dermal fillers are rejuvenation treatments that restore fullness to eyes, lips, face, and even the hands. Injectable fillers can’t achieve the same results as an eyelid lift or facelift, but they can slow the effects of aging, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, and improve the appearance of recessed scars. At Rowley Plastic Surgery, we offer Restylane, which is a hyaluronic acid injection that also adds moisture to your skin for a younger look and feel.

Plastic Surgery for the Individual

Whether you are interested in facial rejuvenation or liposuction in Lubbock, Dr. Jane Rowley will carefully listen to your questions and concerns so she can understand your personal cosmetic goals. At Rowley Plastic Surgery we offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical options for your individual aesthetic desires. We are here to help you have the best possible experience in gaining greater confidence in your physical appearance. Schedule your consultation today to learn more about your surgical and non-invasive cosmetic options.