Many of my Columbus, OH, patients ask me which is better: liposuction or CoolSculpting? The short answer is that they are both great and effective procedures for removing fat! The longer answer is that the best option depends on your specific situation. It all depends on the amount of fatty areas and the timeframe in which the patient is looking for improvement.
Which Is Right for You?
For some of my patients, there is the option for one or the other. They could literally pick either and anticipate good results. But for some patients, the clear answer is liposuction because it is going to make a bigger, faster change. There are patients who would need to have CoolSculpting treatments for years to remove the fat they want to remove—OR–choose lipo for “one and done.”
CoolSculpting is the best option for women and men who are already at their goal weight but have stubborn, isolated pockets of fat. The treatment targets specific areas and destroys fat cells. Even though liposuction isn’t weight-loss surgery, it can get rid of larger amounts of fat than CoolSculpting.
Liposuction Is Surgery
Of course, liposuction is a real operation—that means surgery. The extent of the procedure depends in part on the treatment area. Undergoing liposuction on the flanks (“love handles”) or abdomen is different from liposuction on the upper arms or neck.
Regardless of the area, liposuction requires some downtime. You can expect to be sore and bruised for a few weeks. But once the fat is removed in surgery, it is gone for good. The recovery is about 2 to 4 weeks and the results are visible right away.
CoolSculpting Is Nonsurgical, but Results Take Patience
CoolSculpting is nonsurgical, so there is no anesthesia and no recovery time needed. It uses controlled cooling to freeze and kill fat cells. After each treatment, the body flushes out the fat over the course of about a month, and results become visible as the month proceeds. After this time has elapsed, the patient may decide to do more treatments to get a bigger result.
Like liposuction, CoolSculpting treatments can address virtually any area of the body with applicators specially designed to fit different trouble spots.
Faster Treatments With DualSculpting
CoolSculpting treatments take about an hour per area. At Aesthetica, we have 2 CoolSculpting machines, so we can treat 2 areas at once, such as both outer thighs or both love handles. So, if this is the path you choose, we can do it faster than a place that has only a single machine.
Dr. Taylor explains the CoolSculpting process.
Individual Attention
With proper diet and exercise, the results are permanent with both lipo and CoolSculpting. At Aesthetica Surgery and Spa in Columbus, the choice of liposuction versus CoolSculpting will be made during a full consultation regarding the benefits of each and individualized for each patient’s needs and preferences.
Why Winter Is a Good Time for Either Option
The time to do either fat reduction method is in the winter. It’s a better time to hide the bruising and swelling that can happen with lipo. With CoolSculpting, the result needs time to gradually evolve–so winter is the time to get your body ready for warmer temps.
To learn more about your body contouring options—with and without surgery—at Aesthetica, contact us online or call the office at (614) 569-2649.
Updated July 2024
Hello
What is the cost of cool sculpting?
Hello! The cost ranges depending on the number of treatments you need! The average patient will want 2 cycles ( think both outer thighs!) and often 6 treatments is desired!! The cost goes down depending on the number then– just call to get the details!