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Are you looking to remove stubborn body fat? CoolSculpting and Liposuction are both excellent methods for fat removal – but each in different ways.
In this article, we’ll focus on the differences between CoolSculpting and Liposuction – but before we do that, what do these two procedures have in common?
CoolSculpting and Liposuction both effectively remove fat from the body, forever. Once you’ve had either one of these procedures, the fat is permanently removed. In other words, you can achieve your fat-loss goals with either procedure, but it’s how you get to your goals that will differ.
To learn more about the differences between CoolSculpting and Liposuction, keep reading.
What does each procedure entail?
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive way to target and remove stubborn body fat. During a CoolSculpting session, your provider will use an applicator to freeze and kill fat cells in a procedure known as Cryolipolysis. The frozen, dead fat cells will permanently leave your body over a period of time. How long does it take? This depends on the person, but for most, it takes about 3 to 4 months to see results. To help your body break down the fat, your provider will massage the target area, moments after the fat was frozen. Your body will continue to break down and remove the dead fat cells over time, naturally. CoolSculpting can give you the same type of results as Liposuction, but it takes a longer period of time to achieve. There are no incisions, cuts or stitches involved in CoolSculpting, so it won’t scar or damage your body. Also, there’s much less downtime with CoolSculpting than with Liposuction. Once the fat is frozen, you can seamlessly go back to life exactly as it was before – and the dead fat will get flushed out naturally.
Liposuction
Liposuction is considered the gold standard in body sculpting because the surgeon can remove as much or as little fat as desired – giving you your desired look nearly immediately. What happens during the procedure? First off, it’s much more invasive than CoolSculpting, and includes anesthesia, cutting, stitching and vacuuming. With liposuction, the target area will be numbed, and the patient will undergo local or general anesthesia. Next, the surgeon will make a series of small incisions around the targeted fat area, and, using a cannula, suck fat out via the incision. (A cannula is the thin tube used in this procedure.)
Target Areas
CoolSculpting
The most popular CoolSculpting target area is the abdomen, while the love handles are second most popular. CoolSculpting can also target:
- Under chin
- Inner thigh
- Outer thigh
- Back
- Bra bulge
- Knees
Liposuction can remove fat from:
- Abdomen
- Back
- Buttocks
- Chest
- Hips
- Thighs
- Under chin
- Upper arms
Recovery
Recovery from CoolSculpting is quick and easy, in most cases. Most clients get back to their daily activities right away. This is one of the biggest benefits of CoolSculpting, as it’s a non-invasive procedure. For liposuction, recovery takes a bit longer. Remember, Liposuction entails anesthesia, cutting and stitching – and the body needs time to heal from something like that.
There are a few things doctors recommend to speed up Liposuction recovery. They are:
- Wear compression clothing for a month after liposuction.
- Don’t say no to housework! Stay active, but take it easier than you normally would.
Effectiveness
Liposuction provides dramatic results. With liposuction, patients often notice an improvement in their body shape and contour in a few days, as soon as the bandages are off and the bruising is down. With CoolSculpting, the results are not immediately noticeable, nor are they drastic or dramatic. Over time, your body will naturally get rid of the fat – and one day you’ll look in the mirror and realize how much you’ve changed because of your CoolSculpting treatment. Some clients may even decide to undergo more than one CoolSculpting treatment to get the results they want. With CoolSculpting, your desired results will come over time, not overnight.
Who is a good candidate?
CoolSculpting is an excellent treatment for people looking to remove fat from targeted areas and don’t want to undergo an invasive procedure. Our most ideal clients are those that have been struggling with diet and exercise-resistant fat – and have tried everything but nothing else will work. An ideal candidate for Liposuction will be someone with firm skin and good muscle tone who is healthy and without any life-threatening illnesses. Someone who decides to get Liposuction will want to see dramatic results and doesn’t mind a longer recovery period.
For either procedure, it is important to be in good health at the time and to take care of yourself and follow aftercare procedures. The best aftercare plan is going to include a healthy diet and an active life with plenty of exercise.
Risks
Because CoolSculpting is not surgery and therefore non-invasive, it has far fewer risks than Liposuction. Temporary side effects may include:
- Redness
- Bruising
- Tingling during the procedure
- Numbness during the procedure
- Discomfort during the procedure
Liposuction is a relatively safe procedure, but comes with more risk than CoolSculpting. Someside effects are:
- Pain
- Redness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Discomfort
- Lumpiness
- Bumpiness
Liposuction can also cause side effects like seroma or fat necrosis. Seroma is the development of a fluid-filled sac underneath the skin. It may go away on its own; or it may have to be drained with a syringe. Fat necrosis is a form of tissue damage that is caused by trauma to the skin’s vascular supply.
Summary
CoolSculpting is a great, non-surgical, non-invasive procedure, especially for those who have stubborn diet and exercise-resistant fat that nothing else has worked for. It has a short recovery time and the procedure is safe. Liposuction is great for people who want to see more dramatic results and are not afraid of going under the knife. With either procedure, any fat removed is permanently gone. For those who don’t want to risk surgery and who don’t have time for a lengthy recovery, CoolSculpting can be an excellent tool to help you achieve your fat loss goals.
Why choose PeakBody?
At PeakBody, CoolSculpting is all that we do. We don’t offer any other procedure. CoolSculpting takes up 100% of our time – and because of that, we offer our clients a world-class experience and unparalleled expertise. We are masters in our craft, experts in our field – and our professional staff members are more than just qualified, we are leaders in the industry, and also personal fans of CoolSculpting.
Call us for a consultation and we’ll walk you through the steps of creating your personalized treatment plan. Every step of the way we’ll treat you with professionalism, care and respect – and we wouldn’t have it any other way. At PeakBody, we transform lives one fat cell at a time.
