Fat removal procedures

The procedure may be invasive, as with liposuction,[1] or noninvasive using laser therapy, radiofrequency, ultrasound or cold (cryoablation or cryolipolysis) to reduce fat, sometimes in combination with injections.

[11] The procedure may be performed under general, regional, or local anesthesia and involves using a cannula and negative pressure (suction) to suck out fat.

[8] Post operational downtime can last anywhere from 2 – 4 weeks to 3 full months for patients to fully heal and be able to resume normal activities.

[12] Focused thermal ultrasound techniques work by raising the tissue temperature up to 48 °C,[13] resulting in coagulative necrosis of adipocytes, with sparing of vessels and nerves.

[19][20][21] It involves controlled application of cooling within the temperature range of −11 to +5 °C (+12.2 to +41 °F) for the localized reduction of fat deposits, intended to reshape the contours of the body.

[19][20] The degree of exposure to cooling causes cell death of subcutaneous fat tissue, without apparent damage to the overlying skin.

[22] Another adverse effect is paradoxical adipose hypertrophy (PAH) which causes fat tissue to grow larger rather than become reduced in size as a consequence of the procedure.

This technique involves the injection of lipolytic substances, such as deoxycholic acid (branded as Kybella in the United States), directly into the targeted fat tissue.

[33][34] While the procedure is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified healthcare professional, potential side effects may include swelling, bruising, numbness, and rarely, nerve injury in the treated area.