CoolSculpting® vs. Liposuction: Which is Better?

While it is true that a healthy diet and regular exercise are necessary for overall well-being, many people find that despite following a strict diet and regular exercise, some parts of their bodies remain resistant to change. A suitable surgical or nonsurgical fat reduction procedure, such as liposuction and non-surgical CoolSculpting, can be a therapeutic choice for people who are unable to achieve their cosmetic goals through conventional means. But what does each procedure do? How do they differ? Let’s examine these two treatments in more detail.

What is CoolSculpting?

A form of cryolipolysis, CoolSculpting is the freezing of fat cells. There are no incisions, anesthesia, or insertion of tools into the body. The treatment focuses on the fat in specific areas of the body. FDA- approved CoolSculpting is ideal for the abdomen, hips, buttocks, arms, thighs, jawline, and chin. The fat will be crystallized using a gel pad and an applicator placed on the skin. After the procedure, the practitioner will remove the pad and gently massage the area to break up the fat crystals. The body will then degrade and eliminate these via the liver. Two or more treatments are usually required to get your desired results. CoolSculpting is ineffective, however, if someone wants to eliminate excess amounts of fat.

Since there is no tissue or skin damage, there is no downtime. Compared to conventional fat-reduction techniques like liposuction, CoolSculpting poses fewer dangers. While it is generally safe, adverse effects are possible with any medical procedure. For CoolSculpting, there is a risk of some minor discomfort, stinging, aching, bruising, temporary skin discoloration, and swelling at the treatment site after a CoolSculpting procedure.

What is Liposuction?

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Liposuction is a surgical cosmetic procedure to permanently remove fat cells, changing the body’s shape. Liposuction is a surgical operation to permanently remove fat cells, changing the body’s shape. The most beneficial areas for liposuction are the chin, neck, cheeks, upper arms, breasts, belly, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles. Because it’s a surgical procedure, there are significant risks and complications involved with the procedure, such as

  • Infection
  • Numbness, bruising, pain, swelling, and stiffness
  • Fluid imbalance
  • Skin color changing
  • Fat clots
  • Hematoma (bleeding under the skin
  • Wavey or dimply skin

While typically used for cosmetic reasons, it can be used to treat certain conditions.

  • Lymphedema – A chronic or long-term disorder in which extra lymph fluid accumulates in tissues, resulting in swelling or edema.
  • Gynecomastia – A man may occasionally develop fat under his breasts.
  • Lipodystrophy syndrome – Fat loss in one area of the body accumulates in another. (Liposuction can make a patient seem better by distributing their body fat in a more natural way.)
  • Severe weight reduction following obesity – If a morbidly obese individual loses at least 40% of their BMI, they may require medical attention to correct extra skin and other abnormalities.
  • Lipomas – Fatty, benign tumors.

Differences Between CoolSculpting and Liposuction

CoolSculpting

  • CoolSculpting is non-invasive – no slicing, stitches, or anesthesia is necessary.
  • No recovery time is needed.
  • Cost ranges between $2,000 and $4,000.

How effective is it? CoolSculpting can only target a few millimeters of fat beneath the skin, outcomes are more likely to be modest to moderate than dramatic, and it may take multiple sessions to see a noticeable improvement.

Liposuction

  • Liposuction is an invasive procedure possibly requiring anesthesia.
  • Recovery times vary but are typically between 3 and 5 days, with lingering effects like swelling, pain, or soreness lasting for weeks.
  • The price was around $3,637.

How effective is it? Individuals who maintain their weight can typically anticipate long-lasting effects. If a person undergoes treatment and gains weight, their fat distribution may change. Those who previously had hip fat accumulation may discover that their buttocks are now a problem.

Pros and Cons

CoolSculpting

Pros

  • No incision required
  • No downtime necessary
  • It is a fantastic choice for people with little pockets of fat in their arms, inner thighs, love handles, and other problem areas because it can remove 20% of that fat in only one session.

Cons

  • The vacuum-like equipment could lead to some bruising and discomfort in the treated area.
  • Full results usually manifest slowly, taking a few months to be fully seen.

Liposuction

Pros

  • Used for removing fat from body parts that haven’t responded to diet and exercise
  • It can help reveal muscle tone hidden under a layer of stubborn fat.
  • Customizable as you can treat many areas, not just one.

Cons

  • Surgical procedures have risks such as scarring, infection, bruising, blood clots, and potentially an adverse reaction to anesthesia.
  • Results won’t last if a healthy lifestyle is not maintained following surgery.
  • Usually, it takes 3 to 6 months to see full results.

What’s Right For You?

Which one is right for you? At Bared Monkey,  the leading CoolSculpting center in NY, we can help define your goals. CoolSculpting might be the best option if you want a non-surgical way to eliminate localized fat to address certain concentrated fat pockets, such as love handles or outer thighs. Liposuction, a surgical procedure, might be a better option for those who want to reduce excess fat across a more extensive area or want a more dramatic change in how their bodies look. Liposuction can also be done in conjunction with other surgical procedures, such as autologous fat transfer. It is possible to re-inject the fat removed after liposuction into body parts that need greater volume, most frequently the face, buttocks, and breasts.

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Overall, these procedures are not intended to replace healthy lifestyle choices like eating a balanced diet and exercising frequently. But if you have a certain area that diet and exercise can’t quite tame, then talk to a certified practitioner at Bared Monkey about a Coolsculpting procedure in NY to see how our contouring services can help you!

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