Liposuction vs. Waist Training: Which is Superior for Body Contouring?

Yes, waist training is a thing. Women who aren’t naturally gifted with a curvy body often turn to alternative methods to contour their bodies and enhance their curves. With some celebrities swearing by waist training as the best way to achieve that desired hourglass figure, we thought we’d highlight it as compared to liposuction. Here are some of the ways that will help you determine if liposuction or weight training has more promise (spoiler alert: you might want to skip the waist training).

What Exactly Is Waist Training?

Waist training gets its inspiration from the corsets used by women hundreds of years ago. Popularized recently by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, waist training is a trend that involves wearing corset-like garments around your midsection for upwards of 4 hours per day. The garment cinches at the waist and is supposed to help shrink your waist as you wear it.

What Is Liposuction?

There are a few different methods of liposuction, but a very popular on is Aqualipo. This method uses a combination of waterjet, laser, and radio frequency technology to remove fat from unwanted areas of your body. It is especially popular among those wanting to lose fat around their midsection and is an effective way to contour your body.

Comparing the Long-Term Benefits of Liposuction and Waist Training

Waist training may be able to temporarily give you the smaller, defined waist that you’re dreaming of. Because the garments compress your waist and abdomen, after wearing yours for an extended period of time, it can give the illusion of a smaller waist. However, there is no medical reason why the waist trainer would work. Because of this, once you stop using it, your waist will return to its normal appearance. For a more detailed explanation, read Does Waist Training Work on health.com.

The only proven way to reduce the size of your waist is to reduce your body fat. Because waist training doesn’t actually remove body fat—it just displaces it—the effects won’t be permanent. Liposuction, when compared to waist training, offers a more permanent solution. Your plastic surgeon will be able to remove some of your unwanted fat to permanently give you the smaller, sculpted waist you desire. That being said, the results are only permanent if you are committed to living a healthy lifestyle afterward. By eating right and staying active, you’ll be able to keep the fat off and enjoy your curvy, full-figured body for years to come.

Comparing the Risks of Liposuction and Waist Training

All of your favorite celebrities are endorsing waist training, so it must be safe, right? Unfortunately, that is not the case. If you wear it too long, too tight, or get the wrong size, your waist training garment can actually be very dangerous. Wearing one could potentially make it hard to breathe, affect your organs, crush your ribs, cause you to suffer from acid reflux, and more.

Liposuction, when performed by an experienced surgeon, is a safe, minimally-invasive procedure. When performed using IV sedation and local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, the most likely side effect may be some temporary bruising and swelling. Infections are exceedingly rare. Liposuction is performed by a licensed doctor trained to observe a strict safety protocol, which significantly minimizes the risk.

Comparing the Time Commitment of Liposuction and Waist Training

In order to have any noticeable effect, waist training requires you to wear the garments for upwards of 4-8 hours (maybe even more) each day. You’ll also need to continue wearing the garment each day if you want the effects to last.

Liposuction, in comparison, only requires one-time commitment. The fat is removed during a procedure that typically only takes a few hours, and the results are meant to last for years to come. As long as you are willing to maintain healthy habits after the surgery, per your doctor’s recommendation, you’ll get to enjoy a great body for a long time.

Do yourself a favor and don’t go back to the days of corsets. We think that you’re already perfect – our job is just giving you a little help so that you can see it too. That’s what our patients love about liposuction – a little push to make you feel great about your body. Call us today to schedule a consultation!