Know the Difference: CoolSculpting vs Liposuction

The cosmetic industry has many different procedures and surgeries available for fat reduction. When it comes to CoolSculpting vs Liposuction, they both treat similar areas but are mainly different because Liposuction is surgical while CoolSculpting is not. While they are both effective forms of fat reduction, it will depend on your body goals, how quickly you want to see results, and what type of downtime you want to care for.

Liposuction Overview

In the cosmetic industry, people refer to liposuction as “lipo”. It is a completely invasive and surgical procedure used to slim and reshape areas of the body. It uses a precise procedure to remove any excess fat deposits from the body.

Liposuction can treat:

Thighs and inner km
Hip
Buttocks
Abs and waist
Upper arm
Back
Chest area
Cheeks, chin, and neck
Calves and ankles

Liposuction Procedure

During the Liposuction procedure, small, thin tubes are inserted through tiny cuts along the areas that you are trying to reduce fat. The fat is then suctioned through the tubes as your doctor moves the tubes around under the skin in the targeted areas to effectively and evenly remove the fat.

In most cases, you may be given a local anesthesia or sedative to reduce any pain that you’ll feel during the procedure. In cases where you might need to remove a large area fat, your doctor might use a general anesthesia or deep sedation to prevent pain.

After Liposuction Procedure

After your procedure, there are some aftercare necessities in order to care for your incisions. The area treated will be firmly wrapped with elastic bandages, tape, support hose, special girdle, or form-fitting garment to try and reduce the side effects of Liposuction.

It may take weeks before you’ll be able to do normal activities that you would do throughout your daily life. You may even have to wait a few days to return to work.

Liposuction Side Effects

There are a few common side effects associated with Liposuction. These can last at least 7-10 days or more. Some of the most common side effects include:

Swelling, bruising, soreness, and numbness in treated areas.
Irritation and scarring around incision site where the tubes were inserted.
Baggy or rippling skin. While some skin may tighten after a few months, other people may have skin remain loose.
Fluid drainage from incision sites.

Less common side effects but possibilities also include:

Permanent color changes in the skin.
Uneven skin surface over the treated area.
Damage to the nerves and skin.

If you happen to gain weight after having liposuction, your body could store the fat in a different place than where your fat cells were removed. Any new fat can grow inside your body deeper in towards your organs. This can be harmful to your body instead of how fat normally stores near to the surface of your body. Those who have liposuction need to be careful not to gain extra weight.

CoolSculpting Overview

CoolSculpting is a breaking technique that uses Cryolipolysis to safely freeze away any unwanted fat that you have on your body. It uses a precise and controlled cooling technique to freeze the fat in your body that you don’t want. As the fat freezes, it crystallizes and dies off. The body naturally processes the fat and disposes of the fat through its waste process. This way, the fat is instantly removed and gone for good. You don’t have to worry about it relocating anywhere else on the body.

CoolSculpting can treat:

Thighs and inner knee
Love handles
Banana rolls
Abdomen and waist
Upper arms
Back
Chest area
Chin and neck

CoolSculpting Procedure

During your CoolSculpting procedure, your physician at SculptMD will apply a gel to protect your skin from the cooling that happens during the process. An applicator is then applied to your body that delivers the freezing while using its vacuum system to draw in the area of the targeted fat. This allows for a precise and more effective freezing of the fat in the treated area.

In about 35-60 minutes, your procedure is finished, and you’ll be able to go about your day!

After CoolSculpting Procedure

One of the best parts about a CoolSculpting procedure is the fact that there is no downtime! What this means is that, once your procedure is complete, you’ll be able to go about your day with no problems. There are no special care needs, no precautions, and no need to take time off work. You can even get the procedure during your lunch break.

CoolSculpting Side Effects

Any side effects associated with CoolSculpting are temporary and extremely minimal. You may experience some tenderness, mild redness, or light irritation. These usually fade within 24-48 hours of your initial treatment.

Otherwise, there are no negative long-term side effects associated with CoolSculpting. You will be able to see your results in as little as 3 weeks with no complications, and you’ll see the most dramatic results between 2-4 months of your initial procedure. You’ll even be able to results 6 months after!

CoolSculpting with SculptMD

At SculptMD, you’ll be able to take advantage of the amazing new fat reduction procedure known as CoolSculpting. It offers a non-invasive, non-surgical alternative to those who do not want to have surgery with Liposuction. CoolSculpting allows you to go about your normal life, uninterrupted, but offers the same amazing results!

A benefit of getting CoolSculpting at SculptMD is not only our updated equipment, but our utilization of the Zimmer ZWave in our procedure! Another non-invasive, non-surgical procedure, it enhances your CoolSculpting results up to 50% by encouraging cell death. Used to treat cellulite and stretch marks, our facilities offer you a variety of treatments for all types of cosmetic problems. Give us a call today to get your consultation started, and your body closer to your goals.