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clock-icon   November 26, 2019

How Does CoolSculpting® Compare to Liposuction?

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Everyone has areas of stubborn fat on their body that are resistant to diet and exercise. The abdomen, thighs, and flanks (love handles) are notorious for unwanted fat that’s difficult to get rid of through traditional methods. CoolSculpting® and liposuction are two ways to eliminate fat cells and give you the body contour you’ve been working hard to achieve, but which one is right for you? 

What is CoolSculpting? 

CoolSculpting® is a non-invasive procedure that targets fat rolls. It uses cryolipolysis technology to effectively and safely cool and kill fat cells in a particular area of the body. The device clamps on to an area of fat and for about an hour, freezes the fat cells. Your body then naturally gets rid of the dead fat over the coming weeks. There are no incisions, stitches, or cutting of any kind involved.

Several sessions are required to reach your desired results. CoolSculpting® side effects are considered minor and typically involve bruising, skin redness or sensitivity, which resolve within a few days or weeks. 

CoolSculpting® can eliminate up to 25 percent of the fat cells in the chosen area, and that fat is permanently destroyed. This innovative, non-surgical option requires zero downtime so that you can return to your daily activities right away. 

What is Liposuction? 

There are several variations of liposuction, including laser-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, and tumescent liposuction. This is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia, and the plastic surgery takes an average of 1-2 hours to complete, depending on the body area and amount of fat removed. It’s typically an outpatient procedure that eliminates fat in one session. Results can be evident right away but generally set in after a few months once the swelling has completely subsided. 

Liposuction can safely remove up to 11 pounds of fat, which is gone for good, but you can still gain weight in other areas. The recovery process requires several days, and you may have post-surgical drains to prevent swelling. As this is an invasive procedure and anesthesia is involved, there are risks of complications such as blood clots and adverse anesthesia reactions. 

Both CoolSculpting® and liposuction permanently reduce fat in the targeted areas of the body. Lipo can remove unwanted fat from nearly any body part, but CoolSculpting is limited to where the device can adequately grasp the fat.

Overall, CoolSculpting® is less costly than liposuction. If you have minimal unwanted fat in the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, or buttocks, CoolSculpting® might be right for you. If there are multiple areas with a significant amount of fat that you’d like to address, liposuction could be the better fit. However, the best way to determine which of these fat reduction options is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. 

Schedule Your Consultation at North Texas Plastic Surgery 

If you’re interested in CoolSculpting® or liposuction, contact our board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas today at 972-627-4175 to schedule your consultation. Dr. Sacha Obaid is Harvard-trained and offers a wide range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures to patients in Dallas, Plano, and Southlake, Texas. 

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