If you have some troublesome areas of fat that you can’t seem to reduce with diet and exercise, liposuction may be the solution for you. When it comes to fat reduction and body sculpting, liposuction has been the gold standard for many years, but new alternatives like CoolSculpting® also give great results.

Many patients are curious if they can get CoolSculpting instead of liposuction. But before deciding if CoolSculpting may be the right choice for you, let’s take a look at both procedures. Reviewing these details will give you a better understanding of how the treatments work, and how they can help you meet your aesthetic goals.

CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is a fat reduction procedure that uses controlled cooling to freeze and destroy unwanted fat cells. The system was developed by Zeltiq Aesthetics, and is FDA approved for treating the abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs, bra fat, back fat, below the buttock, and double chin.

Cryolipolysis is the science behind CoolSculpting, and is based on findings by two Harvard scientists that carried out investigations into the selective freezing of fat cells.

How CoolSculpting works

The area to be treated is first marked to make sure that the CoolSculpting applicator is positioned in the right spot. The applicator pulls in the skin and fat, and the cool temperature eventually numbs the treatment area.

The controlled cooling then freezes the fat cells without harming the surrounding tissues, nerves, or blood vessels. The treated area is massaged for a short time immediately after treatment, as this helps break down the fatty tissue, and improve results. CoolSculpting treatment takes about 1 hour.

CoolSculpting reduces fat in the treated area by about 20%. More than one treatment may be required for optimal results.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical fat removal method that gets rid of unwanted fat and contours the body with the use of a cannula (small hollow tube), and suction. There are various types of liposuction techniques, and the method selected often depends on the areas being treated.

Tumescent liposuction is one of the most popular liposuction methods. With this technique the surgeon will first inject IV fluid into the area being treated. The fluid helps to loosen the fat, and often contains a local anesthetic that minimizes bleeding and bruising.

How Liposuction works

The cannula is inserted beneath the skin through tiny incisions made in the area being treated, and is used to break up the fatty tissue. Suction is then used to extract the fat cells, resulting in improved body contours.

Can you get CoolSculpting instead of liposuction?

Both CoolSculpting and liposuction can give you very good body contouring results.  The procedure that’s right for you will depend on several factors including the amount of fat that needs to be removed, as well as the amount of time you have available for recovery.

CoolSculpting may be the better option for you if you only have small areas of fat to remove, as it is designed to eliminate isolated pockets of fat. Consequently, liposuction is usually recommended for people that need to remove large volumes of fat. Liposuction is a more aggressive treatment, and will therefore yield better results for these patients.

CoolSculpting is also a good choice if you are looking for a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. CoolSculpting requires no anesthesia and no incisions, and there are also fewer risks associated with the procedure.

If you only need to treat a small area you can certainly get CoolSculpting instead of liposuction, and it would also be more cost-effective.  However, the difference in pricing will become less noticeable if you are treating several areas.

If you won’t have a lot of time available for recovery CoolSculpting would also be ideal, because there is no downtime. Most patients are able to resume normal activities after CoolSculpting treatment, but recovery after liposuction can take 4-6 weeks, and varies depending on the extent of the procedure.

Coolsculpting body contouring is available in the Bay Area, at the offices of Dr. Robert Aycock, board certified plastic surgeon. Dr. Aycock has practices in Walnut Creek, CA and Greenbrae, CA. Call (925)-937-8377 today to schedule a consultation at the Walnut Creek office or call (415) 925-1700 for the Greenbrae location.