Would CoolSculpting help my saddlebags or do I need Liposuction? (photos)

Question

I’m 38 very active and lift weights regularly. I have always had saddlebags on the left side of my buttocks that are more prounounced than the right side. It’s very resistant to diet and exercise. I have managed to lose it in the past but only when I was at an extremely low body weight overall. Would a procedure such as coolsculpt be suitable or would I be better having lipo or a BBL?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Mary Beth Mudd, MD · Answer

Thanks for the photos! You are obviously very fit and I can see why the left saddlebag is bothersome to you. I have both CoolSculping and also do LaserLipo in my office. If you were seen here for consultation, I would suggest LaserLipo (which I prefer to traditional liposuction since the laser heat helps tighten skin and the patients recover more quickly since there is less trauma induced in the treatment area). The LaserLipo treatment can be customized to account for the asymmetry of your saddlebags so that more fat could be removed from the left side than the right side. With CoolSculpting, the applicator is "one size fits all", so that if it does not perfectly fit your body's fat deposition, you could possibly either have areas of overtreatment or undertreatment.  I would suggest a personal consultation with a physician who performs both of these treatments who can properly assess you and advise you as to the best treatment to give you great results.  Best wishes, Mary Beth Mudd

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

The Gold Standard for superior liposuction results requires use of the advanced technology of ultrasound assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I perform full body liposuction cases every week. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently resulted in outstanding liposuction outcomes. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of degree of excess fat by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. If skin redundancy is observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Would CoolSculpting help my saddlebags or do I need Liposuction? (photos)

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Would CoolSculpting help my saddlebags or do I need Liposuction? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about CoolSculpting

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.