If you are currently at a healthy weight but can’t seem to get rid of stubborn pockets of excess fat despite your efforts with diet and exercise, there are still ways to accomplish your desired physique. In today’s blog, we’ll highlight and compare two effective surgical and non-surgical options for men and women that can reduce excess fat in isolated areas of the body to enhance contours with beautiful results.

Liposuction

The most popular surgical procedure for fat reduction is liposuction, which utilizes a specialized suction device that is inserted into the treatment area via small incisions. With liposuction, excess fat cells can be removed from virtually any area of the body and neck. Some of the most notable factors of the liposuction procedure include:

Fat Removal

Liposuction can remove up to 80 percent of accumulated fat in targeted areas, making it an ideal procedure for individuals with larger pockets of excess fatty tissue. It is important to note

that liposuction is not a weight loss tool. Additionally, if the pockets of fat are not distributed evenly in the specified region, our board-certified plastic surgeon, Jason Lichten, MD, can control the fat excision to create a balanced, natural-looking outcome.

Recovery

Although virtually every surgical procedure requires some degree of downtime, liposuction generally tends to result in a milder recovery process due to the smaller size of the incisions. However, the extent of recovery will ultimately depend on the number of areas treated, the targeted locations, and the volume of fat removed.

Results

Once the swelling after surgery has subsided, the initial liposuction results will be noticeable, depending on the patient’s unique rate of healing. The area will continue to improve as swelling subsides over the first six months.

CoolSculpting®

As a non-surgical option, CoolSculpting offers a solution to reduce and destroy fat cells in localized areas. This popular treatment utilizes cryolipolysis, in which a non-invasive device “freezes” fat cells with cooling energy, causing the cells to eventually break down and filter out of the body during the natural metabolic process. Comparatively, CoolSculpting can be better understood by evaluating:

Fat Removal

For individuals with mild to moderate amounts of excess fat, CoolSculpting can decrease the volume of fat bulges by 20 to 30 percent. It is important to note that multiple CoolSculpting sessions may be necessary to achieve the desired result. Since the skin and surrounding tissues are typically unaffected by cryolipolysis, it is generally considered safe to undergo more than one treatment.

Results

The process of CoolSculpting usually takes several months to complete as the fat cells are gradually broken down and filtered out of the body. While results may become more noticeable after two months, the outcome will vary based on each individual.

Recovery

One of the main benefits of CoolSculpting is that there is usually little to no downtime necessary after treatments and patients can typically return to their normal routine almost immediately.

Ultimately, the best way to find out which treatment is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Lichten. He will be able to evaluate the quality of your skin, determine how the balance or distribution of fat may affect your results, and recommend the best treatment option based on your needs and goals.

To learn more about liposuction and CoolSculpting, or to make an appointment with Dr. Lichten, please contact us today.