With such a great non-surgical alternative to liposuction, i.e. CoolSculpting, it’s harder and harder for consumers to know which is appropriate for them. Hopefully some of the comments below will help with your decision.
If you only have distinct pockets of fat like the love handles or thighs, CoolSculpting may be right for you. But if you have a more extensive collection of fat in the abdomen, then more aggressive fat removal with liposuction may be necessary. And what if you have hanging skin? Well, that’s a completely different issue and may require skin removal through a tummy tuck, arm lift or thigh lift.
But back to liposuction vs CoolSculpting. Based on ultrasound studies, CoolSculpting removes approximately 25% of the fat layer. Liposuction can remove much more. But the risks of liposuction can be contour deformities (divots) from removal of too much fat in one spot and liposuction requires surgery. Maybe not general anesthesia, but surgery nonetheless. You also need to wear a postoperative garment after liposuction to help with swelling, edema and skin tightening. None of that is necessary with CoolSculpting, but if you’re less likely to see a result with one of these body contouring procedures, the result will be more subtle or less obvious with CoolSculpting.
So it comes down to your expectations. Want a really aggressive fat removal procedure? Liposuction. Don’t want downtime? CoolSculpting. Have limited pockets of fat? CoolSculpting. Already tried CoolSculpting and you’re ready for a more obvious result? Liposuction. That’s the beauty of these two procedures…they can be combined to achieve your goals. One procedure before the other does not “burn any bridges.”
Hope that helps.
Click here for the original blog post written by Dr. Jonathan Kaplan for BuildMyBod.
