In your younger years, putting on a few extra pounds may not have been a big deal. With a reasonable diet and exercise plan, you could get back to your goal weight in no time. As you get older, however, these efforts may not be as successful. Even with proper nutrition and vigorous workouts, you can find that deposits of fat cling to certain areas of the body. It may not feel fair, but it is the reality.
To help his patients in Sacramento, Granite Bay and Coeur d’Alene who want to eliminate their stubborn flab, plastic surgeon Dr. Rudy Coscia offers two body contouring procedures: liposuction and CoolSculpting. In this blog, he discusses the differences between these procedures.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a body contouring surgery that suctions out excess fat cells. Dr. Coscia provides patients with general anesthesia to keep them comfortable during the surgery. At his practice, he performs tumescent liposuction. During this procedure, fluid is injected through a cannula (or hollow tube) via tiny incisions. This fluid helps to break up fat so it can be suctioned our more easily. Dr. Coscia then carefully molds the remaining fat into an appealing shape.
CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is a less-invasive procedure for fat reduction that does not require anesthesia. Instead of suctioning out fat cells, CoolSculpting freezes the fat cells (cryolipolysis). Because fat has difficulty surviving these cold temperatures, many of the cells are destroyed and gradually expelled from the body in the coming weeks.
Considering Your Options
The primary difference between these fat reduction surgeries is their level of invasiveness.
Because CoolSculpting does not involve physically removing fat cells, it boasts an easier and briefer recovery period than liposuction. CoolSculpting tends to reduce a significant but limited amount of fat cells, whereas liposuction eliminates more fat cells. Therefore, liposuction can achieve a more complete transformation. If you prefer CoolSculpting, you can also choose to repeat CoolSculpting a month or so later to further enhance your results.
Discuss Body Contouring with Dr. Coscia
Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of preference. Both liposuction and CoolSculpting are safe and effective procedures that can help you to reattain your desired body shape. Neither procedure should be mistaken for a weight loss surgery, however. Body contouring is ideal for patients who are close to their goal weight and want to address the stubborn deposits of fat. To learn more about either option from Dr. Coscia, please request a consultation online.
