Alternatives to Liposuction: Is Coolsculpting Better than Lipo?

If stubborn pockets of fat have evaded your effort in the gym and at the kitchen counter, you may have given some serious thought to liposuction.

These days ads for alternatives to liposuction are also gaining popularity.

While liposuction is known to be tried and true, it’s also surgery, so a scalpel-free option is tempting. But does it really work? And who does it work for?

Before visiting a board-certified plastic surgeon, ask yourself these questions.

1. Where Are My Problem Areas?

Liposuction is very versatile. You can remove fat from areas that alternatives to liposuction just can’t touch. You can target small areas like a double chin and fat around the knees.

Alternatively, you can also eliminate deposits of fat from larger areas like thighs, stomach, and back.

On the other hand, CoolSculpting works best when the areas targeted are those that fit the pre-made patches that are placed on the skin. Generally, this includes areas like the abdomen, thighs, and flanks.

2. How Much Fat Do I Want Removed?

Basically, if you’re looking to remove significant amounts of fat from more than one area of your body, liposuction will give you more value for your money.

CoolSculpting is a perfect alternative to liposuction if the areas you’re looking to modify need a small bit of refinement.

3. Do I Want to Change My Body Shape?

If you’re looking only to shrink an area of fat that is stubborn, but you generally like your shape. CoolSculpting is a great idea.

Over the course of a few treatments, CoolSculpting can diminish those troublesome spots, which reinforces a shape you’re pretty much happy with.

However, if you would like to alter the natural contour of your body, perhaps to sculpt an hourglass shape, then you’re better off choosing liposuction.

When a doctor performs this surgery, he or she has the ability to remove fat in a way that alters the natural body contour.

4. How Much Time Do I Have for Recovery?

As you can imagine, there’s a significant difference in recovery times when it comes to liposuction vs. CoolSculpting.

No matter how quickly you bounce back from medical procedures, liposuction demands that you stay home from work and strenuous daily activity for several days.

The upside of this procedure is its quick results, which reveal themselves as soon as the swelling from surgery subsides.

Also, if you desire multiple treatment areas, these can all be accomplished at one time, minimizing the amount of time off from work or social obligations over time.

In contrast, CoolSculpting requires no downtime. Yep, none! The tradeoff there is that patients won’t see their final results until months later. Your body needs time to metabolize the destroyed fat cells.

Additionally, most patients require more than one treatment to see their ultimate result. For those who are hesitant about pain and recovery, CoolSculpting is a great alternative to surgery.

5. How Much Do I Want to Spend?

Liposuction is initially expensive, but it usually does not have to be repeated to achieve desired results. CoolSculpting and other alternatives do not cost as much initially, but they commonly cost just as much, or more, in the long run, due to the need for additional treatment sessions.

However, these total-time realities aren’t necessarily accurate for every situation. For the patient who only needs a moderate-to-small amount of fat removal, CoolSculpting can give them an affordable option for achieving their goals.

Over the course of one-to-two treatments, they can come in during a lunch break and make progress toward getting the look they want with no disruption to their daily life.

That said, those looking for big changes to the shape and size of certain areas of their body would probably be better off getting liposuction. Keep in mind that financing is available to patients for both procedures.

Liposuction or Its Alternatives in the DMV

If you are considering CoolSculpting or liposuction, please contact our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with one of our highly skilled and experience providers.

Dr. Eliot Battle

CEO & Founder at Cultura Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Dr. Eliot Battle, CEO of Cultura Dermatology, is a global leader in cosmetic dermatology and laser innovation. His Harvard research pioneered “color-blind” lasers, making treatments safe for all skin tones. A sought-after expert featured in TIME, Oprah, and The New York Times, he continues to advance inclusive, cutting-edge dermatological care.