03 Oct 2025
The media landscape is so cluttered with information these days that it can be hard to filter out fact from fiction, particularly when it comes to aesthetic procedures. Let’s say you are frustrated by the appearance of your mid-section, and you see a photo of your favorite influencer looking fantastic after getting the latest nonsurgical body contouring procedure. It is human nature to want the same thing. Unfortunately, it may not be the right choice for your anatomy, desired outcome, and lifestyle. So, liposuction or non-surgical fat reduction - how to know what’s right for you? Here are some things to consider.
Schedule an In-Person Body Contouring Consultation
Whenever a patient asks online about how to know if a procedure is right for him or her, my answer is always the same: “You don’t.” It’s why it is so important to schedule an in-person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area, such as myself, who specializes in body contouring. While there are excellent surgeons who are not yet certified, the advantage of scheduling with someone who is already board-certified is that it is a simple way to know that you are in very experienced hands as it takes considerable education, training, and on-going study to pass the boards.
The benefit of the in-person consultation is that it allows me to not just listen closely to what bothers you about your appearance, but also to perform an in-depth physical exam to assess:
- Skin tone & texture
- Areas of excess fat
- Volume of fat to be removed
- Degree of skin laxity, if any
- Evaluate any previous procedures
Creating an effective treatment plan resides at the crossroads between which procedure will work with your anatomy, which will create your desired outcome, and which will fit into your lifestyle, including your tolerance for downtime.
Benefits of Liposuction in Boston
Liposuction is my gold standard for removing excess pockets of fat and resculpting your body into its ideal proportion. The benefits are numerous. It gives me the most access and allows me to remove a higher volume of fat cells, if necessary. I can perform liposuction on almost any area of the body where there is “pinchable” fat. This is fat that you can grab and pull away from your body.
Liposuction is also a one-and-done procedure so as long as your weight remains stable, your final results can generally be obtained with just one treatment. However, it is surgery and does require both anesthesia and downtime for recovery. I perform all of my liposuction procedures in an Accredited Surgery Center (ASC), not a hospital. While you’ll be sent home the same day, you will need to wear a compression garment 24/7 for a few weeks followed by 12/7 for a few additional weeks. The exact amount of time will depend on your individual procedure. Once I examine you in person, I can give you a realistic idea of what your recovery may entail. Some patients are turned off by this and prefer the idea of non-surgical fat reduction, but these procedures are not zero downtime as the internet often implies.
Understanding Non-Surgical Fat Reduction Procedures
The primary thing to understand about non-surgical fat reduction procedures is that they can be very effective but only in the right patient. At Boston Center for Plastic Surgery (BCPS), we offer our patients the full range of cutting-edge options including:
The first two use either heat or cold to destroy the fat cells in the treatment area while the last is radiofrequency that is typically used in conjunction with liposuction to help encourage skin tightening.
The advantage of a non-surgical procedure includes:
- Fast
- No anesthesia
- Less downtime
- May be safe for patients with health conditions that prohibit surgery
But there are also downsides. Non-surgical fat reduction techniques are not as precise as liposuction so I cannot sculpt your body proportion with the same finesse as I can with surgery. Also, if you have even a mild to moderate amount of excess fat to remove, it is going to take more than one treatment, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. So, not only will this require patience, but your overall cost may wind up being more than with surgery. And if the compression garment is the deal breaker, you’ll still need to wear one after SculpSure® or Coolsculpting® in order to promote healing, reduce swelling, and deliver the excellent result that we all want.
To find out more about liposuction, SculpSure®, Coolsculpting®, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty or his team at his Boston or Chestnut Hill office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.
