CoolSculpting Vs Laser Lipolysis

Think of laser lipolysis (which is rarely done as a stand alone procedure, it is almost always a combination of regular liposuction plus laser lipolysis) as a way of popping fat cells with a tiny hot poker (!).  The fat cells release an oily substance that is sucked out with standard liposuction instruments.  There are definitely incisions and not uncommonly there is pain and bruising. Numbing injections are used during the procedure to dull the pain. The results are very good.

 Now think of Zeltiq as freezing the fat cells, literally a giant suction cup sucks the skin along with the underlying fat.  The "sucked in" area is then chilled for an hour.  The fat cells don't pop, they undergo a slow death and are processed like any cell that dies in the body. The elimination of the damaged cells takes a few months. There is no pain or anesthesia, no incision and usually no bruising.  The recovery is a bit of soreness, possibly some short term numbness.

Cost wise the Zeltiq is less expense and the downtime is zero.  The results are moderate.  If you want a dramatic result go with the old fashioned liposuction (with or without laser lipolysis).  If you want easy, less expensive and more moderate results Zeltiq is indeed a good choice.

I offer both CoolSculpting and tumescent liposculpture in my office. CoolSculpting is a noninvasive treatment that uses controlled cooling to freeze fat cells. Since fat freezes at a higher temperature than other cells in the body, the fat is targeted during the process while surrounding skin and tissue remain untouched. Studies have shown that a single CoolSculpting treatment removes 20-25% of the fat in a treatment area. Patients can opt to have additional sessions if they would like more dramatic results. Keep in mind that it will take time for you to see the full results of CoolSculpting, with the best improvement becoming evident at around the six-month mark.

I consider tumescent liposuction to be the gold standard in liposuction techniques, because it produces superior results with less discomfort and downtime than other liposuction methods in many cases. Micro-cannulas are used to gently suction the fat out of the area. The procedure can be performed with local anesthesia and patients are usually back up to regular activities within a few days. While this is technically a surgical procedure, the incisions used are too small to leave much - if any - visible scarring behind. Liposuction can remove more fat in a single session, so you enjoy more dramatic improvement and do not need to repeat the process. In my opinion, if you are a small person with small, isolated pockets of fat, CoolSculpting is great. It may get too expensive if there are many bulges or if you are a larger person. Tumescent liposuction offers a “one and done” approach. Both of these procedures should only be performed by an experienced, board-certified physician to ensure the best possible results.

Hi.  You will be able to treat a larger area in one setting with laser lipolysis (potential for burns, anesthesia, postop garments, numbness, bruising are to be taken into consideration) and may be more economical and appropriate.  Coolsculpting treats pockets of excess fat, 20% of the thickness per area per session (no frostbite type burn, no anesthesia or garments, some numbness/bruising has been reported). During your examination, the areas you want treated will dictate which procedure is recommended.  Best wishes,