CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved method of fat reduction that targets areas where fat persists despite dieting and exercise. Best of all, it involves zero downtime — zero! The alternative is liposuction, the surgical removal of fat which involves considerable downtime for recovery.
Liposuction
Liposuction involves using a small metal tube, called a cannula, and suction to remove excess fat from the body through small incisions throughout the targeted area. Is it effective? Yes. What about downtime? You can expect to be bruised for at least a few days, and soreness to last for several — up to 6 — weeks. Other side effects include numbness around the treated area, scarring at the cannula insertion sites, and lax and rippling of the skin.
“Deciding on whether to have liposuction or Coolsculpting will really depend on how much excess fat you want or need to lose, and whether or not you can accept the downtime and risks associated with surgical fat removal,” says Dr. Miriam Hanson, board certified Dermatologist and cosmetic skin expert at Sanova Dermatology.
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is designed for people who aren’t necessarily overweight, but simply have areas on the body that don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, like a little excess abdominal fat or those annoying “love handles”, for example.
There’s little doubt that liposuction is effective, but so is CoolSculpting. “With CoolSculpting, you’ll see results after a few months, but the treatments themselves are short (typically about 30-60 minutes), and painless,” notes Dr. Hanson. Wand-like implements are placed on targeted areas, and deliver controlled cooling that literally freezes fat cells, which are then expelled from the body through the lymphatic system over the course of several weeks.
CoolSculpting is the fastest-growing non-surgical fat reduction procedure today, which means that those who’ve tried it, have obviously been happy with the results of their treatments. “CoolSculpting is perfect for those who don’t want or can’t have surgery, and who are looking for an effective fat reduction,” Dr. Hanson says. In fact, NewBeauty Magazine recently named CoolSculpting the “Best Fat-Reducing Treatment” available.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about CoolSculpting and what it can do for you? Contact us at Sanova Dermatology, serving Austin, Texas and surrounding communities.