While liposuction is an effective way to reduce body fat, plastic surgery has some major drawbacks, including invasive surgery and the need for anesthesia, scalpels and stitches, lengthy recovery times, and all the risks associated with surgical procedures. Furthermore, the ideal candidate for liposuction is very specific. Healthy and active men and women who struggle to get rid of that last inch of stubborn fat deposits are typically not qualified for liposuction.
Liposuction Alternatives
Advancing technologies have revolutionized the cosmetic industry with non-invasive alternatives to cosmetic surgeries such as liposuction or a tummy tuck. One of these alternative procedures to Liposuction is CoolSculpting.
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The differences between Liposuction and CoolSculpting
Now that the cosmetic industry offers more than one option for dealing with belly fat, it is important to understand the differences between Liposuction and CoolSculpting. While both Liposuction and CoolSculpting have the same objective, to reduce belly fat, and reduce fat from other areas on the body, their methods of doing so are very different. Knowing these difference will help you assess which fat reduction treatment is ideal for you.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery requiring a surgeon, anesthesiologist, surgical room and surgical staff. The need for such a team of medical professionals makes Liposuction cost thousands of dollars. During liposuction, a cosmetic surgeon makes an incision with a scalpel to access body fat below the skin surface. Once exposed, the surgeon uses a sharp tube to stab at the body fat and suck the loosened fat up through the tube and out of the body.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive alternative to liposuction. It reduces body fat by utilizing advanced cryolipolysis technology. According to a clinical study published in the Journal of Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, “The principle behind cryolipolysis exploits the premise that adipocytes [fat cells] are more susceptible to cooling than other skin cells. The precise application of cold temperatures triggers apoptosis [cell death] of the adipocytes [fat cells,] which invokes an inflammatory response and leads to slow digestion by surrounding macrophages [white blood cells that engulf cellular debris as part of the immune system.]”¹
In layman terms, cryolipolysis relies on the principle that fat cells are more vulnerable to freezing than surrounding skin cells and tissue and that controlled cooling can freeze fat cells underneath the skin to the point of destruction, without harming surrounding tissues, while also triggering the body’s immune system which engulfs dead fat cells and disposes them from the body as waste over a span of several months.* ¹
How effective is CoolSculpting?
According to the study above, and many other clinical studies, Cryolipolysis is found “to be both safe and efficient with a high patient satisfaction rate.”¹ Furthermore, “cryolipolysis was shown to reduce subcutaneous fat at the treatment site by up to 25% after one treatment.”* While results may vary, “improvements were seen in 86% of treated subjects.”¹ *
How does CoolSculpting and Liposuction differ?
Fat Reduction Results: Because Liposuction is a surgical procedure where surgeons mechanically remove fat, and CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure that reduces fat by triggering naturally occurring mechanisms in the body, it is hard to compare results between the two procedures. Visually, Liposuction produces more dramatic results.
Procedure: Liposuction is an invasive cosmetic surgery. CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat reduction treatment that typically takes an hour, and is often performed during a client’s lunch break, hence its nickname “lunch time lipo.”*
Recovery: Obviously, after a surgery such as Liposuction, the body will need time to recover from the incisions and heal from the trauma of invasive fat removal. This healing process can be lengthy and painful. Cool Sculpting, on the other hand in non-invasive. According to an official publication from the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery the CoolSculpting “procedure was well-tolerated, with 89% of respondents reporting a positive perception of treatment duration and 96% reporting minimal to tolerable discomfort.”
CoolSculpting Cost v Liposuction Cost: One of the most comon questions when researching different fat reduction treatments is how much does Liposuction cost compared to how much CoolSculpting costs. This is a hard question to concretely answer, because costs are heavily influenced by location, the quality of provider, and the areas being treated.
There are several costs incurred with Liposuction that do not apply with CoolSculpting, such as surgeons bills, anesthesiologist fees, and fees associated with the use of a surgical room and hospital bed. One average, a CoolSculpting cost per treatment is about half the cost of Liposuction.
CoolSculpting or Liposuction: Which is right for you?
The best way to determine which body contouring procedure is right for you is to meet with a fat reduction professional that can evaluate your candidacy and determine which treatment best meets your individual needs and desired outcomes. Sign up for a free consultation from SKINNEY Medspa, a premiere CoolSculpting NYC provider, and receive 20% off of your first CoolSculpting treatment.
