PureLipo is a body sculpting treatment used to eliminate fatty deposits and improve the body contour. It is promoted as a less expensive, minimally-invasive and scar-free alternative to liposuction surgery. The skin is injected with a combination of local anesthetic and a tumescent fluid that softens the fat, and then it is removed from the body with small tubes called cannulas. PureLipo can be performed on many areas of the body, but is most often used on the belly.
If you are not a candidate for PureLipo or you are just curious about what else is available, here are some other options that aim to produce the same loss of fat and inches.
SmartLipo: Laser-Assisted Fat Removal
SmartLipo looks like PureLipo on the surface, and even the names are similar. SmartLipo works much like PureLipo, but with one major difference: instead of injecting the fat with tumescent fluid, SmartLipo zaps the fat with a small laser to liquefy it. The fat is then removed via a cannula. At the same time, the laser tightens the surface of the skin to enhance the contour and appearance of the body after fat removal. This technique is called laser lipolysis. One of the advantages of SmartLipo is that there is less blood loss, thanks to the wavelength of the laser energy. Both SmartLipo and PureLipo can be performed in an office setting.
Lipodissolve: A Cellulite Solution
Lipodissolve involves a series of injections into affected areas such as the thighs and abdomen. The chemicals in the injections break the bonds between fat cells. The body then naturally metabolizes and eliminates the fat cells over a few weeks. Multiple sessions are usually needed to achieve desired results. Lipodissolve can effectively remove excess fat as well as reduce cellulite. Results are not as immediate as those from PureLipo and vary from person to person. But, there are no incisions or scars involved.
Mesotherapy: Micro-Injections to Dissolve Fat
Mesotherapy works much the same way as Lipodissolve, but with a different set of ingredients and concentration per dosage. Mesotherapy is used for fat removal, weight loss and cellulite reduction. The microscopic mixture of chemicals, vitamins and amino acids is customized to treat individual needs and is injected into the mesoderm, the middle layer of skin. Mesotherapy usually involves even more sessions than Lipodissolve, and results aren't apparent for several weeks after the first treatment. It can be used on the same areas of the body as PureLipo.
Liposuction
Just as PureLipo is an alternative to liposuction, liposuction itself can be an alternative for those not interested in PureLipo. Liposuction is a highly invasive, traumatic procedure, but recent advances in technology have improved recovery time and reduced trauma. Liposuction is better equipped for removing fat on a large scale across the body, whereas PureLipo is more suited to spot-treat specific areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction can produce the most dramatic changes in weight and can be combined with other procedures to further improve the body contour, such as a thigh lift or a tummy tuck.
