CoolSculpting Vs. Liposonix. Which One is Better For Small Areas of Fat?

Liposonix uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) which specifically targets a layer of fat about a half inch thick and a half inch deep, while coolsculpting (Zeltiq) is more of a bulk reduction of fat where it can be piched between the treatment paddles. Both are efective but I believe that Liposonix is more precise. The treatment takes about an hour to do but the reduction in fat takes several weeks to appear, which is also the same with Zeltiq because both destroy fat cells and the body then re-absorbs the tissue over time.

Thank you for your question, VeggieGirl. SculpSure is the best option for reducing areas of fat in spot treatments. SculpSure can vanquish up to 25% of your unwanted subcutaneous stubborn fat in a 25-minute in-office treatment where the patient then resumes their normal activities. Please consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon.Best wishes,

The Liposonix device does cause pain during treatment. There is one treatment that in its one hour can cause fat loss over the months after treatment. It does not mean that one inch or a garment size might be obtained in one hour,  nor can one guarantee such a result. The treatment takes one hour but the result can be significant and it can take time, months, to see the result.  CoolSculpting may hurt for the first few minutes, but most patients feel comfortable during the treatment until the removal. 20 % reduction of fat may be seen at four months after its one hour treatment.  CoolSculpting is limited by the applicators that fit the region to be treated.  In the next several months, there may be a new applicator that will allow the doctors to treat more widespread areas, which until now has been a limiting factor with CoolSculpting. They are both good treatments, and some patients can benefit from both.

Cool Sculpting the initial discomfort of the suction of the applicator as it is initially applied.  I feel that descriptions of painful procedures are those where potentially the wrong applicator choice may have been made or the patient did not have enough fat to treat.

Here in our practice, in which we have nearly every non-surgical fat reduction technology available, CoolSculpting is the most effective, reliable and consistent form of fat reduction. There is a slight discomfort for the first 5-10 minutes with the CoolSculpting due to the intense suction to maximixe the tissue draw. However, Liposonix is very painful for the duraction of the entire treatment and has less reliable results and much more bruising, pain and tenderness after the treatment. You can expect 20-25% of the fat in the area treated to be reduced with CoolSculpting. We recommend 2-3 treatments to maximize the results.

Coolsculpting by Zeltiq utilizes a very specific biological principle to destroy far cells Selectively under Controlled Low Temperarures. These low temperatures exert no effect or damage on other nearby tissues (skin, nerve or muscle). It is very effective as a noninvasive far removal treatment, and now with the arrival of new larger applicators, significant areas of excess fatty tissue are being removed. Patient satisfaction remains very high with this procedure. 

Both Liposonix and Coolsculpting are proven to
be effect, and deliver approximately the same results. As a Plastic
Surgeon, I am able to offer a variety of invasive options to patients for fat
reduction, but there is also demand for a non-invasive approach to body
contouring.

I chose to bring Liposonix into my practice
for various reasons. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound is a tried and
true technology that allows us to bypass the surface in order to generate the
appropriate amount of heat in the fat layer to permanently reduce the fat
cells, instead of freezing them. As an added benefit, more often than
not, improvement to the skin tone also occurs; which is not the case with
Coolsculpting. There is also greater flexibility with Liposonix in
mapping out a treatment area because you are not bound by the size or shape of
the hand piece, or the pliability of the tissue. As long as there is
enough fat present in the appropriate treatment area, there are very few
contraindications.

Mild to moderate discomfort can be experiences
during and/or after with either procedure. Depending on a patient's
tolerance level, we offer several options to manage that discomfort.

This is all best addressed during a
consultation, where we can properly discuss and assess your areas of concern;
and determine what is the appropriate treatment for you.