Liposonix is a new and effective way to address areas of stubborn fat deposits that are not reduced by physical exercise and positive changes in the diet. This treatment was cleared by the FDA in 2011 but has been available in Europe since 2009. It is a way to reduce areas of fat from the abdomen and flanks without surgery.
The Liposonix device uses ultrasound waves to reduce the fat cells in the subcutaneous layer of the skin. The body flushes out the fat cells through the lymphatic drainage system without causing damage to the surrounding area or organs. It is a fast, easy procedure. Most of our patients see maximum results around eight to twelve weeks after their session.
Many patients are curious to know the difference between Liposonix vs Liposuction. While they are both ways to remove fat cells from the body, they are quite different in many aspects.
Liposuction is a surgical procedure. Fat is removed from the body via a suctioning cannula, a tube that is pushed underneath the upper layers of the skin to “vacumn” out the fat cells. Liposuction can last several hours, and requires extensive preparation and medical examinations beforehand to be approved for this procedure. The procedure requires the patient to be under anesthesia and its associated risks. Common complications include blood loss
and infection. Research in 2001 demonstrated a mortality rate of 1 in 5,224, or 19.1 per 100,000. Researchers compared this with the death rate for US auto accidents at 16.4 per 100,000 and claimed “liposuction is not an altogether benign procedure.”
Unsurprisingly, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery hit back against the researchers, claiming the main factors increasing the risk of serious liposuction complications are poor patient
health and performing multiple procedures at the same session. Clearly surgical techniques have improved in the last decade but risks persist.
After liposuction patients require several weeks for recovery. Limited activity is recommended , a surgical girdle must be worn, and patients may be out of work for several weeks as they heal. The side effects include nerve damage, infection, and pain, as well as severe scarring from the area in which the cannula was inserted.
Liposonix is a completely different way to achieve similar results. It is done while the patient is awake, and involves an ultrasound device applied to the patient’s abdomen or flanks. It is a relatively comfortable, and treatment time lasts approximately 1 hour. There is no downtime and no risk of bleeding, infection or death. It is also a much more economical procedure.