- Acne
- Eczema
- Hair loss
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- Skin cancer
- A to Z diseases
- A to Z videos
- DIY acne treatment
- How dermatologists treat
- Skin care: Acne-prone skin
- Causes
- Is it really acne?
- Childhood eczema
- Adult eczema
- Insider secrets
- Types of hair loss
- Treatment for hair loss
- Causes of hair loss
- Hair care matters
- Insider secrets
- What is psoriasis
- Triggers
- Insider secrets
- What is rosacea
- Treatment
- Insider secrets
- Types and treatment
- Find skin cancer
- Prevent skin cancer
- Raise awareness
- Español
Featured
Molluscum contagiosum: How to safely treat itBoth the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. See what they recommend.
Find answers to questions patients ask about this newer treatment option, including, “What’s involved in switching from a biologic to a biosimilar?”
- Skin care basics
- Skin care secrets
- Injured skin
- Itchy skin
- Sun protection
- Nail care secrets
- Basic skin care
- Dry, oily skin
- Hair removal
- Tattoos and piercings
- Anti-aging skin care
- For your face
- For your skin routine
- Preventing skin problems
- Itch relief
- Rashes
- Shade, clothing, and sunscreen
- Sun damage and your skin
- Aprenda a proteger su piel del sol
- Your hair
- Your scalp
- Nail care basics
Featured
Practice Safe SunEveryone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.
Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.
- Skin care secrets
- Hair care
- Hair loss
- Acne
- Dark spots
- Dry skin
- Light spots
- Razor bumps
- Caring for Black hair
- Scalp psoriasis
- Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia
- Hairstyles that pull can cause hair loss
- Acanthosis nigricans
- Acne keloidalis nuchae
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
- Keloid scars
- Lupus and your skin
- Sarcoidosis and your skin
- Skin cancer
- Vitiligo
Featured
Fade dark spotsFind out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.
If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.
- Your safety
- Hair removal
- Wrinkles
- Younger-looking skin
Featured
Laser hair removalYou can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.
- Skin cancer awareness
- Free skin cancer screenings
- Kids' camp
- Good Skin Knowledge
- Shade Structure grants
- Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™
- Awareness campaigns
- Get involved
- Lesson plans and activities
- Planes de lecciones y actividades
- Community grants
Featured
Free materials to help raise skin cancer awarenessUse these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.
Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.
- What is a dermatologist?
- FAAD: What it means
- How to select a dermatologist
- Your digital health
- Prior authorization
- Dermatologists team up to improve patient care
- Finding accurate health information
- Health apps
- Wearable medical devices
- Telemedicine
- Taking pictures of your skin
- Protect your information
Featured
Find a Dermatologist You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Non-invasive fat removal can be used on just about any area of the body. The belly, flanks (love handles), thighs, chin, neck, back, upper arms, and knees are all treatable.
What exactly is non-invasive fat removal?
When you get non-invasive fat removal, a dermatologist uses either a handheld device or injections to destroy fat cells.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several handheld devices for this purpose. All devices are placed on or just above the skin. They work by sending cold, heat, or sound waves directly into the fat cells. Without injuring the skin, nerves, and other parts of the body, the devices can destroy fat cells.
The injections contain an acid similar to bile acid, the substance that allows our bodies to digest fat. Like bile acid, the acid in these injections dissolves fat cells. The FDA has approved these injections to treat a double chin.
Because these treatments kill or dissolve the fat cells, the results are permanent.
How can the results be permanent?
We are born with a certain number of fat cells. No matter how much weight we gain or lose, we still have the same number of fat cells. We look heavier when we gain weight because the fat cells expand. When we lose weight, our fat cells shrink.
Because non-invasive fat removal kills some fat cells, the targeted cells are gone forever. You’ll still have some fat cells in the treated area though. If you gain weight, these cells will expand, but you’ll see less fat in the treated area.
How long does it take to see results?
With non-invasive fat removal, the results appear gradually.
If you are treated with a device, you may notice some changes as early as 3 weeks. Most people see the full effect between 3 and 6 months after the last treatment.
You’ll usually see the full effect from the injections used to treat excess chin fat about 3 to 4 months after the last treatment. Some people see the full effects earlier.
Are the results similar to those seen with liposuction?
Liposuction delivers more-dramatic results. With non-invasive fat removal, the results are subtle. Your pants will feel a little looser or your belly a little flatter.
What is the recovery time for non-invasive fat removal?
Most people find that they can return to their everyday activities immediately after treatment. You may have some swelling, bruising, or discomfort afterwards, but this usually doesn’t cause downtime.
After getting the injections to treat excess chin fat, some people will be extremely swollen for as long as 2 weeks. Still, they can return to their normal activities.
How long does non-invasive fat removal take?
While there is usually no downtime, most people need to schedule time for office visits. Non-invasive fat removal generally requires more than one treatment session, and each session tends to last between 30 and 90 minutes. Some sessions take longer.
After the first treatment, your dermatologist will re-evaluate you in a few weeks to a month. The following chart shows how many treatment sessions a person usually needs.
| Method | Treatments required |
|---|---|
| Cryolipolysis: Device uses cold to freeze the fat, which destroys the fat. | Usually 2 treatment sessions |
| Ultrasound therapy: Device uses sound waves, which causes the fat to dissolve over time. | Between 1 and 3 treatments, depending on the device used |
| Radiofrequency: Device uses heat to destroy the fat. | Between 4 and 10 treatments |
| Injections: Used to dissolve excess chin fat. | Usually 2 treatment sessions, spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart |
What are the possible side effects?
After treatment, most people have some swelling, bruising, or discomfort. These are temporary. After getting the injections to dissolve excess chin fat, the skin on the chin may feel firm or lumpy. This, too, will fade.
It’s also possible that you’ll feel burning or stinging in the treated area. This may feel like the pins-and-needles sensation that you get when your leg or arm falls asleep. This, too, is temporary.
In rare cases, freezing the fat can cause long-term pain or increase the amount of fat in the treated area. You can reduce this risk by getting non-invasive fat removal from a dermatologist. These doctors understand the skin and what lies beneath. A dermatologist can also tell you if you are a good candidate for this treatment.
Who is a good candidate for non-invasive fat removal?
Good candidates for non-invasive fat removal have a small bulge of fat that remains despite diet and exercise and their weight falls within the normal range for their height.
If you think you may be a good candidate, you should see a board-certified dermatologist. You’ll want to meet with a dermatologist who has training in non-invasive fat removal and frequently treats patients with it. This doctor has the experience needed to tell you whether this treatment can successfully treat your concern.
Your dermatologist may also recommend another procedure to give you the results you seek. For example, if you also have loose skin, your dermatologist may recommend treating this first. That way, you’ll get better results from non-invasive fat removal.
You can find a dermatologist with training in non-invasive fat removal by going to Find a dermatologist. You’ll want to choose the specialty ofCosmetic Dermatology. When you call the office, ask if the dermatologist offers non-invasive fat removal.
Related AAD resources
Liposuction: What can it do for me?
Who should be providing your cosmetic treatment?
Whole body cryotherapy can be hazardous to your skin
Image
Getty Images
References
American Academy of Dermatology, “New non-invasive fat removal technologies offer alternative to liposuction for removing stubborn fat.” News release issued February 2012.
Margosian E and D’Arrigo T. “Body contouring carves out its niche.”Dermatol World. 2016;26(6):30-6.
