CoolSculpting vs. Liposuction

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Renuance Cosmetic Center, Murrieta, CA

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You’ve been on your weight-loss journey for months, maybe years, and you’ve made some good progress. You’ve changed your diet, created an exercise routine that you love, and turned your habits into ones that support your new healthy lifestyle. The only issue is those stubborn areas that just don’t seem to let go of fat.

So what do you do?

At Renuance Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa, we offer both CoolSculptingⓇ and liposuction to help you reach your goals. You may be wondering what the differences are and which option is best for you. In this blog, we discuss each procedure in detail to give you a better understanding of your options.

CoolSculpting

Do you ever wish you could do something that would make your fat disappear quickly without pain or long-term recovery? CoolSculpting makes that wish come true by using a process called cryolipolysis, which freezes and destroys fat cells.

This procedure is noninvasive, nonsurgical, and happens while you’re awake, so you can attend to things like emails, catching up with friends, or planning your week. Treatment begins by discussing which area you’d like to have treated. We then put a gel pad on the area to create a barrier between your skin and the cooling panel. 

Once the applicator adheres to your body, it begins its process. You may feel slight discomfort at the treatment site, but any sensations subside once the area is numb. We then massage the area to break up the treated fat cells, and you’re on your way!

There are nine FDA approved areas that can be treated with CoolSculpting:

• Under your chin
• Under your jawline
• Under your arms
• Back
• Bra line
• Abdomen
• Flank
• Thighs
• Under your buttocks

After just one treatment, the fat cells in the treated area are reduced by 20 to 25 percent. The results of CoolSculpting are permanent — once the fat cells are destroyed, they’re gone for good! However, it may take more than one treatment to achieve your desired look.

Liposuction

Liposuction is one of the most popular procedures in plastic surgery. In 2016, more than 235,000 of these procedures were performed, just in the United States. If you’re looking to remove fat while also improving body contour, liposuction is the way to go. At Renuance Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa, you’re also able to use the fat removed during liposuction for other body enhancement procedures, like wrinkle reduction or Brazilian butt lift, through fat transfer.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that’s performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or sedation. During your procedure, one of our Temecula plastic surgeons makes tiny incisions at the treatment site. Using a long, hollow tube connected to a vacuum device, we suction out the fat. This can be done on one or more areas of your body and reduces up to 90 percent of fat in those areas.

Areas that are typically treated with liposuction are:

• Chin
• Jaw
• Armpits
• Upper arms
• Bra line
• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Knees
• Calves
• Ankles

The results of liposuction are permanent, though maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital to keeping your post-procedure look.

The differences

While both procedures permanently eliminate fat, there are some important differences to consider.

CoolSculpting is noninvasive, nonsurgical, and has a quicker recovery time — almost no time at all. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia or sedation, and can take weeks to fully recover. Both are typically outpatient procedures, though if you’re having a significant amount of fat removed with liposuction, your doctor may have you stay overnight in the hospital for observation.

The convenience and comfortability of CoolSculpting is great. However, this path is gradual. It may take longer for you to reach your goals because you may need more than one treatment. These treatments are performed months apart, as it can take one to three months for your body to eliminate the destroyed fat cells — only then will you see the results of the treatment. With liposuction, all of the fat is removed at once, so it’s typically a one-time treatment.

All in all, the option you choose is dependent on your goals. If you’re looking to get rid of pockets of fat in a localized area, CoolSculpting may be your better option. If you want to remove fat over a larger area and desire dramatic results, liposuction may be more suitable.

Whichever path you decide to follow, our experienced and knowledgeable team at Renuance Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa is here to help. Dr. Brian Eichenberg and Dr. Rachel Ford have the expertise to discuss your situation and desired goals, and walk you through both options to achieve the look you crave.

Take the next steps in your weight-loss journey by scheduling a consultation with our Murrieta office. Give us a call at 951-309-2769 or request an appointment via our website.