Get The Skinny on Non-Invasive Fat Removal
If you have an area of fat that diet and exercise won’t budge, you may want to consider non-invasive fat removal. Without making an incision, a dermatologist can permanently remove a pocket of unwanted fat.
Non-invasive fat removal can be used on just about any area of the body. The belly, flanks (love handles), thighs, chin, neck, back, upper arms, and knees are all treatable.
What exactly is non-invasive fat removal?
When you get non-invasive fat removal, a dermatologist uses either a handheld device or injections to destroy fat cells.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several handheld devices for this purpose. All devices are placed on or just above the skin. They work by sending cold, heat, or sound waves directly into the fat cells. Without injuring the skin, nerves, and other parts of the body, the devices can destroy fat cells.
The injections contain an acid similar to bile acid, the substance that allows our bodies to digest fat. Like bile acid, the acid in these injections dissolves fat cells. The FDA has approved these injections to treat a double chin. Because these treatments kill or dissolve the fat cells, the results are permanent.
How can the results be permanent?
We are born with a certain number of fat cells. No matter how much weight we gain or lose, we still have the same number of fat cells. We look heavier when we gain weight because the fat cells expand. When we lose weight, our fat cells shrink.
Because non-invasive fat removal kills some fat cells, the targeted cells are gone forever. You’ll still have some fat cells in the treated area though. If you gain weight, these cells will expand, but you’ll see less fat in the treated area.
How long does it take to see results?
With non-invasive fat removal, the results appear gradually. Most people see the full effect between 3 and 6 months after the last treatment. You’ll usually see the full effect from the injections used to treat excess chin fat about 3 to 4 months after the last treatment. Some people see the full effects earlier.
Are the results similar to those seen with liposuction?
Liposuction delivers more-dramatic results. With non-invasive fat removal, the results are subtle. Your pants will feel a little loser or your belly a little flatter.
What is the recovery time for non-invasive fat removal?
Most people find that they can return to their everyday activities immediately after treatment. You may have some swelling, bruising, or discomfort afterwards, but this usually doesn’t cause downtime.
After getting the injections to treat excess chin fat, some people will be extremely swollen for as long as 2 weeks. Still, they can return to their normal activities.
How long does non-invasive fat removal take?
While there is usually no downtime, most people need to schedule time for office visits. Non-invasive fat removal generally requires more than one treatment session, and each session tends to last between 30 and 90 minutes per area treated. Therefore multiple treatment areas many take a few hours.
What are the possible side effects?
After treatment, most people have some swelling, bruising, or discomfort. These are temporary. After getting the injections to dissolve excess chin fat, the skin on the chin may feel firm or lumpy. This, too, will fade.
It’s also possible that you’ll feel burning or stinging in the treated area. This may feel like the pins-and-needles sensation that you get when your leg or arm falls asleep. This, too, is temporary.
In rare cases, freezing the fat can cause long-term pain or increase the amount of fat in the treated area. You can reduce this risk by getting non-invasive fat removal from a dermatology office who understands what lies beneath your skin & the appropriateness of treatment.
Who is a good candidate for non-invasive fat removal?
Good candidates for non-invasive fat removal have a small bulge of fat that remains despite diet and exercise and their weight falls within the normal range for their height. If you think you may be a good candidate, schedule an appointment with your local dermatology clinic
References: American Academy of Dermatology, “New non-invasive fat removal technologies offer alternative to liposuction for removing stubborn fat.” News release issued February 2012.
Margosian E and D’Arrigo T. “Body contouring carves out its niche.” Dermatol World. 2016;26(6):30-6.
