Which is Better to Reduce Abdominal Fat - SculpSure® or Liposuction?

If you ask someone about his or her dream body contour, a flatter abdomen is probably at the top of the list. Regardless of age, ethnicity or gender, this seems to be one of those universal problem areas. For some of my Boston area patients, it comes down to genetics. If they’re carrying a few extra pounds, it is going to go to their stomach. For others, factors such as pregnancy, hormones and age can exact a toll on the skin and tissues of the abdominal region. Luckily, there are viable non- surgical and surgical procedures to address unwanted pockets of fat. So, which is better to reduce abdominal fat — SculpSure® or Liposuction? I wish I could give you a definitive answer, but that is not how aesthetics work. There are pros and cons to each choice, and any procedure is only effective if it’s the right match for your anatomy and needs. This is why it is so critical to schedule an in-person consultation.

Body Contouring Consultation in Boston

The internet has introduced patients to all kinds of aesthetic procedures which I love. Knowledge is always power. But knowing what SculpSure®, for example, is does not mean that it is going to work on your body. While no one wants a surgical procedure if a non-surgical one can do the job, liposuction is the gold standard for body contouring. It’s important to understand your anatomy’s needs so that we can devise the right treatment plan to achieve your desired outcome. During your meeting, we will listen attentively to what bothers you about your appearance. We will discuss your family history, medical history, any prior procedures and how your body healed. Then, we will perform a physical exam to assess:

• Skin tone & texture
• Location & degree of excess fat
• Sagging skin, if any

In general, the delineating line between a non-surgical fat removal procedure such as SculpSure® and surgical liposuction is going to come down to the amount of fat that needs to be removed. However, some patients do not want or are not able to have surgery. My team will spend considerable time going over exactly what you can expect in terms of results from each option.

Benefits of SculpSure® for a Flatter Abdomen

The best candidate for SculpSure® is any man or woman who is:

• Healthy
• Within 10 lbs. of a maintainable weight
• Mild to moderate amount of excess fat
• Good skin elasticity

The latter is important as the skin needs to be able to shrink and re-form around your new body contour. If you have an excessive amount of loose skin, you will probably be better off with an abdominoplasty.

The benefits of SculpSure® for improving the appearance of your abdomen are many. It is:

• Effective in the right patient
• Does not require general anesthesia
• No incisions
• Fast
• Zero downtime

I prefer SculpSure® for non-surgical body contouring, as opposed to Coolsculpting®, for two reasons. First, it uses the heat of a laser to eliminate the excess fat cells and I have found that a side benefit of this is that it may also induce some skin tightening. And secondly, there is no evidence of Paroxysmal Adipose Hypertrophy resulting from SculpSure® as it has with Coolsculpting®.

Downside of SculpSure® vs. Liposuction

The downside of SculpSure® is that you will need multiple treatments, spaced about 8 weeks apart. This can make it as expensive as surgical liposuction. It also means that it will take more time to achieve your final results. Furthermore, the end result is typically not as robust as it would be with liposuction. Another benefit of liposuction is it is a one and done procedure, and, as long as your weight stays stable, the results are long-lasting. The biggest benefit of liposuction, in my opinion, is that it gives me the most access for re-sculpting your mid-section. Achieving your ideal body contour is not just about removing excess fat. It is about creating the appropriate peaks and valleys. To do this, I remove the exact right amount of fat from the exact right area. This kind of precision is what makes liposuction my go-to procedure for body contouring.

To find out more about SculpSure®, liposuction, or any other surgical or non- surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty or his team at his Boston or Chestnut Hills office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.