CoolSculpting vs. Tummy Tuck? Which would be better? (Photo)

Hi.  Your photo indicates that a tuck will provide you maximum shaping by addressing excess skin and likely abdominal wall/muscle looseness (which coolsculpting doesn't) as well as excess fat under the skin.  The biggest cons of surgery include anesthesia, downtime/time off work, scars, etc. and pros include the better results and longevity of those results.  The cons of CS include possible disappointment from only addressing the excess fat, and need for multiple sessions (which may end up costing the same as surgery), and pros include no anesthesia, minimal downtime, no scars/compression garments/possible drains/time off work, etc. Be sure to see a CSU trained CS specialist to optimize your consultation/treatment, and an ABPS certified PS for the surgical option.  Best wishes,

The answer to your question depends on your goals. If you are not opposed to surgery then a tummy tuck will give you the best results as it will reduce the excess fat, skin, and stretch marks. If you don't want surgery then you will see some improvement in fat reduction with CoolSculpting. However, you will need multiple treatment sessions and it will not treat your excess skin and stretch marks. I would recommend an in-person consultation and evaluation with an experienced physician provider to discuss your options in detail. Hope this helps answer your question! 

Thank you for the photo, it's really helpful. You would most likely not be happy with cool sculpting due to your skin laxity. It could be thousands of dollars to reduce the volume but will leave you unsatisfied with the skin appearance. A tummy tuck will reduce the volume but also remove the excess skin leaving you a much better outcome. Best of luck in your decision and make sure you seek a BC PS for your consultation!

Hello, and thank you for your question enter photos. These are too very different procedures. It is light comparing apples and oranges. As a general rule cool sculpting can be utilized for generalized debulking however it will not provide any significant skin tightening. You appear to have some loose skin as well as stretch marks and an abdominoplasty is probably a better choice for long-term improvement. Understandably a less invasive procedure such as cool sculpting may be desirable however, I do not believe you will achieve your treatment goals. I recommended you followup with a plastic surgeon in your area who provides these services.

Thank you for your question and providing images. While CoolSculpting is a wonderful non-invasive procedure to aid in de-bulking the area, it would not be able to address tightening any loose skin or stretch marks; you would be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. I would recommend scheduling an in-person evaluation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area. Good luck!

Hi and thanks for your question! 
We would recommend both a surgical and non-surgical consultation so you can compare and contrast the two options. I can speak to the non-surgical option. Coolsculpting can help decrease the subcutaneous, pinchable fat by about 20-25% per cycle. You would need to be assessed in person to decide how many cycles would be recommended per treatment. We do recommend 2-3 treatments for ideal result. However, it would not help tighten the loose skin, nor would it address the stretchmarks. These concerns can be potentially addressed with surgical intervention. Results with coolsculpting are gradual with the final result at 3 months after the last treatment. 
Best of Luck! 
Jennifer Tinell, NP-C

Based on your photos I would recommend tummy tuck with liposuction rather than cool sculpting. A good plastic surgeon can discuss treatment goals with you regarding this with an exam. 

Thanks for your question about coolsculpting.I think you would do best with a tummy tuck because it would not only remove the stubborn fat but also remove the skin with stretch marks on it.  In my practice I see many patients like you with the same question and it is clear that patients are happiest with a surgery for tummy tuck when they have the stretch marks and loose skin that your photos show.  Visit with an expert certified Cool Sculpting practice that can discuss these options for you.  The best patients for cool sculpting have limited stretch marks and good elastic tone of the skin with a stubborn fat pocket.Best Wishes

Coolsculpting will work very well for your abdominal fat reduction. You will need multiple sessions in order to achieve the desired results. Each time you have a session Coolsculpting destroys 25% of fat cells. Coolsculpting is easy and there is no downtime. A tummy tuck is a very invasive surgical procedure that carries a big downtime and surgical risks.