Should I have Liposuction or CoolSculpting?
- Posted on: Mar 30 2020
In many areas of life, we get rewarded for the effort we put into various goals. Weight loss and fitness don’t happen to be one in which the process is cut-and-dry. Many people eat well and exercise regularly. Doing so may enable them to reach or get close to their ideal body weight. Still, the cleanses and detoxes and hot yoga people do often leave them with certain trouble areas. As we’ve heard many times, we can’t spot-reduce fat. Alas, we are left to live with our frustration. Or are we?
Historically, unwanted fat has been resolved using liposuction. With advances in technology, though, we now have nonsurgical methods of reducing fat. These treatments are often referred to as body contouring. In the wake of noninvasive fat-reduction procedures like CoolSculpting, one might think that liposuction is no longer relevant. It is, and it is the method of body-contouring that we prefer. Here, we discuss why.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting freezes fat. It’s that simple. During a treatment session, the patient has a section of tissue suctioned in between two panels. These panels are cooled to freezing temperatures, which results in crystals forming in the targeted fat cells. Over about 12 weeks, the crystallized cells are flushed through the lymphatic system. Patients do not have post-treatment restrictions nor do they need downtime. According to the device manufacturer, CoolSculpting can reduce fat in a treatment are up to 24%. A single treatment area, though, is limited by the size of the cooling applicators, equating to about the size of a stick of butter. Therefore, this method does not seem ideal for larger areas such as the thighs or abdomen, for which it is often marketed.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a common plastic surgery procedure that has been performed for many years. It is performed under general or local anesthesia with sedation. Patients do not feel discomfort as the surgeon uses a small tube (about the size of a knitting needle) to extract subcutaneous fat cells in a pattern of tunnels. The empty channels collapse from surrounding tissue, leading to smooth contouring. The tiny incisions that are made to accommodate the hollow tube heal quickly with only a stitch or two or surgical tape. Patients can expect swelling and bruising after liposuction, with noticeable results appearing within a week to two weeks. Due to the precision of the liposuction procedure, it can be performed in large and small areas.
Our treatment objective is to achieve the best possible results for every patient. Liposuction allows us to do this in the area of fat reduction. To learn more about this procedure, schedule a consultation at our San Antonio office.
Posted in: Body Contouring
