Whether it’s due to pregnancy, age or weight loss, stomach skin that’s loose or flabby can be very embarrassing. If you’re unhappy with your belly, you may feel tempted by the idea of all the “nonsurgical tummy tuck alternatives” that are offered today and wonder if they really work. Here’s a look at some of the most popular body contouring fads and how they stack up to traditional abdominoplasty.
CoolSculpting®
CoolSculpting® targets fat deposits with a patented cooling process that claims to freeze and destroy the cells. While this nonsurgical alternative may be effective in targeting smaller areas of fat, you may not be satisfied with the results if you’re hoping to improve the appearance of loose, excess skin.
Lipodissolve Injections
Lipodissolve injections contain a compound that attacks the cell walls of fat cells, in theory causing the cells to collapse and release the fat they store. This treatment is not FDA-approved, and won’t significantly tighten or firm the skin.
Thermage®
Thermage® uses radiofrequency waves to gently heat the deep layers of skin, which is supposed to stimulate collagen production while eliminating fat deposits. Thermage® claims to offer completely non-invasive results with no stitches or downtime. Unfortunately, this treatment has patient approval ratings that are on the low side.
Getting Real Results
If you have a significant amount of excess stomach skin or laxity in the abdominal muscles, you should realize that nonsurgical alternatives will likely not give you the results you desire, even if they are somewhat successful at eliminating fat cells. A tummy tuck is the only tried and true way of tightening the underlying abdominal muscles and eliminating excess skin.*
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
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Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
