Both liposuction and CoolSculpting are methods to contour your body and permanently remove localized fat deposits, but they’re far from the same. While CoolSculpting is a non-surgical treatment that freezes away your fat cells, liposuction is a surgical procedure that can remove more fat than CoolSculpting can in one session. Learn more about these two procedures and which one may be best for you.
Considering Your Treatment Goals
Liposuction can permanently remove more fat cells at one time from almost anywhere on your body. Dr. Diwan may recommend this procedure if you’re looking for a “one and done” solution that delivers quicker, more dramatic fat loss results. Liposuction is an in-office procedure performed with local anesthetic and oral medication. It’s an option if you want to reduce fat in one or more of the following areas:
- Buttocks
- Abdomen
- Chest
- Love handles and hips
- Upper arms
- Thighs and lower legs
- Face and neck
For patients who want a non-surgical solution to fat reduction CoolSculpting may be a better option. There is minimal discomfort, and anesthetic injections or pre-medication are not necessary. CoolSculpting is FDA-approved to freeze and eliminate up to 25 percent of fat cells in the following areas of the body:
- Submental (under the chin) area
- Inner and outer thighs
- Abdomen and flanks
- Bra line and back
- Upper arms
- Below the buttocks
It’s important to note that neither CoolSculpting nor liposuction are considered a cure for obesity or a weight loss method. Rather, both of these procedures can help make your body more proportional by shaping areas you’re unable to improve with diet and exercise alone.
Factoring in Your Recovery Period
Liposuction is an office-based surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, and requires small incisions to vacuum fat cells out of your problem areas. The small incisions usually heal with inconspicuous scars. Liposuction typically takes one to two hours and results are achieved in a single session.
Liposuction entails a three-day recovery period to return to a desk job. A compression garment must be worn for six weeks after the procedure. A strenuous exercise routine can be resumed three weeks after liposuction. Improvement of body contour is achieved with a single treatment,
By comparison, CoolSculpting requires multiple sessions to complete a treatment but has no recovery time. Patients can return to work and resume their usual activity immediately following treatment. A CoolSculpting session may be completed in as little as an hour but could take more time depending on the number of areas to be treated.
As CoolSculpting is a non-surgical technique, there are no skin incisions or incisional scars, which can be important to avoid for some patients. For best results additional sessions are usually needed to complete the treatment. Compression garments are not needed after CoolSculpting.
Common side effects associated with liposuction include swelling, some bruising and numbness. These symptoms improve over the next several weeks after the procedure. Results are visible in 10 days but continue to improve over the next few months.
CoolSculpting patients often have some swelling, mild discomfort, redness and bruising of the treated areas. Results become apparent after a few weeks and further improvement occurs after additional sessions to complete the treatment.
Determining Your Best Option
Liposuction can remove excess fat from larger areas of your body at one time and can be combined with other surgical procedures, such as removal of excess skin, for patients in good general health. However, you may not be a candidate for liposuction if:
- You’re on blood thinners or have heart problems or blood clots. Liposuction can cause serious complications for people with these health conditions.
- You’re pregnant. Liposuction can pose health risks to you and your baby.
- You use tobacco or nicotine. These can adversely affect your recovery from a surgical procedure.
CoolSculpting is also safe for patients in good overall health. It’s an option for patients on blood thinners for whom liposuction is not advised. However, patients who are pregnant or have specific problems induced by exposure to cold should avoid CoolSculpting.
Cleveland CoolSculpting Specials & Information Session
The Laser Skin & Surgery Center is now offering an instant savings program for patients to make multiple CoolSculpting sessions more easily achievable. Our Treat to Complete program will save you:
- $200 off 6 CoolSculpting sessions
- $300 off 8 CoolSculpting sessions
- $500 off 12 CoolSculpting sessions
Visit us on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. to learn more about CoolSculpting. You’ll be treated to light refreshments and can:
- Hear more about CoolSculpting and get answers to your questions
- Watch live treatment demonstrations and before-and-after videos
- Gain access to exclusive offers and savings
- Be entered in a raffle for a free Botox treatment
Get Liposuction & CoolSculpting in Westlake, OH
Call 440-871-9832 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Diwan. During your initial meeting, you will discuss your health history and treatment goals so she can help you determine whether liposuction or CoolSculpting — or a combination of both for different areas — is best for you. The Laser Skin & Surgery Center is located in Westlake, Ohio, and we serve patients in the surrounding Cleveland area.
