AirSculpt vs. Nonsurgical Laser Lipo: Comparing Side Effects, Recovery, & More

AirSculpt and nonsurgical laser liposuction are among today's most popular body contouring procedures. Both aim to remove fat from targeted body areas but differ in how they accomplish this goal. 

While AirSculpt uses a revolutionary approach that allows patients to enjoy complete fat removal and skin-tightening results without the use of a scalpel, stitches, or needles, nonsurgical laser liposuction relies on old-fashioned technology that can be less effective than other methods for removing unwanted fat deposits. In this article, we'll compare these two popular treatments so you can decide which option is best for your needs and lifestyle! 

AirSculpt vs. Nonsurgical Laser Lipo

AirSculpt®	Nonsurgical Laser Lipo
Quick results	Results take months to develop
Minimal pain	Can cause considerable discomfort
One treatment only	Several sessions required
All-natural fat transfers	Fat cannot be transferred
Permanent results	Fat can return with weight gain
Fat removal and skin tightening	No skin tightening

One key difference is that AirSculpt directly removes fat cells, while nonsurgical fat removal techniques indirectly disrupt them. It is essential to highlight that surgical laser liposuction techniques like SmartLipo, which creates entry points in the skin to remove fat, are entirely different treatments. 

Nonsurgical approaches heat fat cells from outside the skin, ultimately causing them to empty their contents over several months. These fat cells can still re-grow, as they are not physically removed, as occurs during liposuction or AirSculpt. Therefore, the results of nonsurgical laser liposuction are not permanent and can quickly reverse if you gain weight after treatment. 

Laser Liposuction Side Effects

AirSculpt and nonsurgical laser lipo share many of the same benefits. Both are considered safe overall. 

Because no incisions are made, this noninvasive procedure requires less recovery and produces fewer side effects like swelling and pain. The possibility of post-procedure complications such as infection is also greatly minimized. It does not typically require pre-procedure preparation and can be performed during the day with a quick return to normal activities.

While some safety issues have been reported with nonsurgical laser lipo in which patients experienced pain or burns, it is essential to note that they were a small percentage of procedures (less than 1 percent). Because this treatment does not enter the skin, no anesthesia is required, reducing the risk of complications. 

Ultimately, the main side effects of this type of laser liposuction are discomfort during treatment, modest swelling and pain after, and a low chance of infection or burns. 

AirSculpt® Side Effects 

Minor side effects common after AirSculpt® and any surgical procedure include bruising, swelling, numbness, itchiness, and skin irritation, all of which should subside as recovery progresses. Because AirSculpt® does not use general anesthesia, patients avoid the associated risks like cardiac and respiratory issues and deep vein thrombosis. 

More rare outcomes are unlikely but possible. Nonetheless, the chances of these complications developing are reduced with the use of AirSculpt devices, which are much more automated and gentle than traditional liposuction. 

Nonsurgical Laser Liposuction: How Does It Work and Are There Limitations?

Nonsurgical laser lipo uses pads placed on the skin of target areas to heat fat cells indirectly, opening a pathway for the body to absorb them naturally.

The process is not invasive and does not require anesthesia. Instead, the non-surgical procedure damages fat cells from outside the skin; the actual fat reduction occurs over the next few weeks or months. Because the fat is not physically removed, it usually takes several treatments to achieve full results. 

Furthermore, nonsurgical liposuction is an external treatment, so it can be challenging to personalize results or target hard-to-reach regions. The surgeon may be unable to sculpt away fat in hard-to-address areas or in patients with a lot of scar tissue. 

Because results take a long time to develop, the surgeon must wait for changes to appear before refining them. Although nonsurgical fat reduction does not produce dramatic results immediately, treatments take less time and effort than minimally invasive options. Sessions take roughly an hour, during which you'll need to wear protective clothing and goggles.

This method generally works best on smaller areas like the outer thighs or love handles with a modest amount of stubborn fat. If you need more significant amounts of fat removed, liposuction or newer approaches like AirSculpt are likely better options. 

Nonsurgical Laser Recovery

Nonsurgical laser lipo is intended to be a less invasive alternative to surgical procedures like traditional liposuction, given that it only uses energy that targets fat cells on the body's surface to shrink them without affecting other tissues.

While the non-surgical laser lipo process does not involve incisions, it frequently includes a soreness period lasting up to several days. However, recovery is practically non-existent for most patients as long as they can handle the modest soreness after treatment. 

AirSculpt Downtime and Recovery

AirSculpt downtime lasts just one to two days, as most patients return to work within this period after treatment. Patients have to avoid strenuous activity for about two weeks; otherwise, they can return to their everyday routines almost right after their procedure. 

This short downtime window is a significant advantage of AirSculpt compared with traditional liposuction. While a full recovery and final results may take over a month, results appear almost instantly, patients get back on their feet right away, and swelling is far less apparent with this technique. 

AirSculpt: Ahead Of Its Time

AirSculpt uses exclusive technology instead of conventional fat removal methods, allowing for pinpoint precision and sculpting results far beyond what is possible with traditional or laser lipo procedures.

This minimally invasive body contouring technology targets and instantly removes subcutaneous fat without scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia. Unlike noninvasive laser liposuction, this technique does puncture the skin. Still, it does so using fine tools and automated devices that minimize any discomfort while enhancing the surgeon's finesse and precision. 

Instead of a painful injection, this technique numbs the skin using a jet injector device, which distributes a topical numbing solution using air pressure differentials. An entry point is then made with a two-millimeter-wide biopsy punch instead of a scalpel cut, followed by our mechanical, rapidly spinning fat removal device being used on the target area. This entry point is so tiny it can be left to heal without stitches, and as with everything AirSculpt-related, patients remain fully awake. 

AirSculpt can remove subcutaneous fat from anywhere between the chin and ankle; this includes areas such as your thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and waistline for a slimming effect that will last a lifetime.

Nonsurgical Fat Removal Lacks Consistency and Versatility

While both methods offer effective fat removal without invasive surgery, AirSculpt is more consistent and versatile than nonsurgical laser lipo.

With AirSculpt, you can be sure that the results will last practically forever because we've used the same technology for years and have thousands of satisfied customers who have been with us since the beginning. Once the fat is removed from adults, it does not regenerate; treated areas can expand if weight is gained, but the number of fat cells remains less. 

Nonsurgical laser lipo doesn't offer this same level of assurance. It's hard to measure how effective your treatment will be or how long it will last because each patient is unique—and so is their body chemistry! Fat cells are not removed but merely emptied, meaning they can quickly re-grow if weight is gained. Furthermore, the devices placed on treated areas only come in so many sizes; there is a limit to the amount of customization providers can offer. 

Meanwhile, AirSculpt enables surgeons to remove and transfer fat in exact quantities; if one leg has more fat than the other, symmetrical results can still be seamlessly provided. 

Book Your Body Sculpting Treatment Today

While nonsurgical laser liposuction is less invasive, it may require several sessions, months waiting for results, and meager fat removal at best. AirSculpt, on the other hand, is the more dramatic and practical option for fat reduction. It requires less recovery time, has fewer side effects, and is more customizable than nonsurgical laser lipo. 

Ultimately, AirSculpt allows patients to achieve their goals with just one to two days of discomfort and reduced downtime. This is the best choice for anyone seeking a minimally invasive treatment to improve their appearance without complete surgery.

For more information on how we can help you, call the fat removal office nearest you to schedule your complimentary consultation.