“Non-surgical fat removal” is a regular search item online. But why are we discussing it here?
Well, the summer is wrapping up, school has started, and we’re gearing up for the holiday season! You know what the holiday season means – time to put on your party clothes!
You’ve had all summer to get that bod in gear for the holidays, but is there still a little something that needs to go? Love handles or inner thigh or even that little stomach pooch that just won’t go away?
Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do. These areas of diet- and exercise-resistant fat are a common concern.
Up until recently, liposuction has been the go-to cosmetic procedure for removing stomach fat. It makes sense because liposuction safely, effectively, and permanently reduces fat and refines the body’s contours. But even though liposuction has its pros, it can be costly, painful, and requires recovery time.
The great news is that there are plenty of other non-invasive (in other words, non-surgical) fat removal options on the market now that do the job just as well with fewer downsides.
CoolSculpting is Our Preferred Non-Surgical Stomach Fat Removal System at Evexias Medical Denver.
So, let’s compare CoolSculpting and liposuction to see which one is right for you.
Fast fact: CoolSculpting and liposuction are both used to permanently remove fat from targeted areas.
Liposuction
What happens during liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure during which a board certified cosmetic surgeon permanently removes fat.
The procedure
During a liposuction procedure, the patient is anesthetized. A surgeon makes an incision and inserts a small, hollow tube into the targeted area. As the surgeon moves the tube through the fat deposit, suction removes excess fat cells and sculpts a slimmer body contour. A typical liposuction procedure can take one to two hours to complete. Up to 11 pounds of fat can be removed with liposuction.
Recovery time
Because it’s an aggressive surgical procedure, liposuction can require up to six weeks of recovery time. Patients should expect to take some time off to recover after the procedure. For the first 10 days post-procedure, patients usually experience soreness, bruising, and swelling. The healing process requires patients to restrict everyday activities for several days and to use caution as they get back to their exercise regimen.
Most people only need to do one liposuction procedure to get the results they’re looking for.
Skin scarring and sagging
Liposuction can leave some scarring because it’s a surgical procedure that requires incisions. It can also leave saggy skin if the patient has a large amount of fat removed all at once.
Side effects
Liposuction’s most common side effects are blood clots, adverse reactions to anesthesia, or other serious complications. People who have heart problems or blood clotting disorders or who are pregnant should avoid liposuction.
Results
Because liposuction causes swelling, results won’t be visible until after the swelling goes down and the treated area heals. The final results should appear six months post-procedure.
CoolSculpting
What CoolSculpting does
CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that removes fat cells from underneath your skin without surgery.
Fast and simple procedure
During a CoolSculpting session, your trained provider will use a device that suctions onto a roll of fat and cools it down to a freezing temperature. After the treatment session, your body naturally eliminates the dead, frozen fat cells via your liver.
Your session shouldn’t last more than an hour per area. Unlike liposuction, CoolSculpting doesn’t require any type of surgery and can eliminate up to 25% of the fat cells in any given part of your body.
Minimal discomfort
CoolSculpting is a gentle treatment with minimal discomfort, both during and after treatment. However, you can expect to feel some tugging sensations during the treatment – and afterwards, the area will feel numb for a few days
No recovery time
No recovery time is required after a CoolSculpting Session. Short-term bruising or skin sensitivity after CoolSculpting is common and usually resolves within a few weeks. You should start seeing results within a few weeks of your session and enjoy final results within a few months. Not only that, you can get back to your exercise routine the very next day and that will only enhance your results.
Results get better and better after each treatment
Although you will need a few sessions spread out over several weeks to achieve the best results, you will see visible results within a few weeks. Stubborn fat will start to dissolve away, and your stomach will be noticeably slimmer.
Minimal side effects
You may feel a little pain, stinging, or aching at the treatment site right after the treatment. These sensations typically last for 3-11 days. You might also experience some redness, swelling, bruising, or skin sensitivity at the treatment site that will pass quickly.
No skin scarring and sagging
CoolSculpting leaves no scarring because it doesn’t require any type of incisions to be made. Because it works one treatment at a time, it is also rare to have sagging skin afterward.
Who CoolSculpting is not for
CoolSculpting is a safe and effective non-surgical treatment for removing stomach fat in most people. However, people with the following conditions should not get CoolSculpting:
- cryoglobulinemia
- cold agglutinin disease
- paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
CoolSculpting or Liposuction: Which is the Best Option for Stomach Fat Removal?
As you can see, liposuction and CoolSculpting have their pros and cons. Both have comparable results, but there are some differences in cost, recovery time, and side effects.
If you don’t want to deal with pain and a long recovery time, CoolSculpting is the winner!
When you’re already at or near your ideal weight, have good skin elasticity, and want to target smaller, stubborn trouble spots, then CoolScupting is the winner!
If you’re concerned about costs, CoolSculpting is the winner!
And if you’d like to read some of our earlier posts dedicated to CoolSculpting, you can find them here and here. It’s good to read more about the procedure you’re now considering!
A “weightless” myth about both treatments
Many people have the mistaken belief that Coolsculpting and liposuction are used for weight loss. Although Coolsculpting and liposuction both permanently remove fat, they do not help you lose weight or improve the appearance of cellulite or loose skin. Both procedures permanently destroy fat cells in the target areas, but you can still develop fat in other areas of your body.
If you want to have a nice tight tummy by the holidays, now is the time to take action! Contact us for a consultation today!