What are the differences between Fat Freezing (Coolsculpting) and Liposuction?
What makes Fat-Freezing a good option?
Both CoolSculpting and liposuction can be used to sculpt the body. Fat freezing can be a better option for many because it requires no incisions, there is less bruising and very minimal downtime. The best results are with fat that is close to the skin. Fat freezing can break down about 20% of the fat, and the maximum results are seen after 2-3 months. Our Perth Coolsculpting Consultants Maira and Ailsa will explain to you exactly what might be needed for you to reach your goals. This consultation is completely free and no obligation.
What are the limitations?
Neither Liposuction or Fat Freezing will in themselves tighten the skin (however, we can use Laser or Micro-needling to address that). Neither Fat Freezing or Liposuction can be used to treat obesity. Neither will prevent you from gaining weight again in the future. So, diet and exercise is always vital.
So – Fat Freezing or Coolsculpting is not for weight loss.
The truth is there are other conditions that may be causing problems losing weight. It’s important to get a confidential consultation with your GP or Dietitian to know for sure. For each patient interested in Coolsculpting, Azure Medical creates your customised treatment plan. Your plan takes into account your overall fitness — and your unique body composition. Sometimes we might recommend a DEXA Body Composition scan so that we can really understand your body.
How long does it take?
The most dramatic results of CoolSculpting treatments are seen after two months. But your body will still flush out fat cells and continues doing so for up to four to six months after fat freezing treatment. The vast majority of Coolsculpting patients are happy with one treatment session to manage each area of the body.
In contrast, with Liposuction you may need to compress the area where the surgery was performed for many weeks. Most need to wait a couple weeks before resuming intense activity. Results from liposuction show one to three months after treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
We need to know that CoolSculpting and Liposuction have different side effects. Fat freezing can leave a person with some transient numbness, tenderness, or slight swelling. The skin may be pale or red where the freezing was performed, for a few hours. Liposuction can cause marked bruising, swelling and pain. It also involves a general anaesthetic, which in itself can carry some risks. Generally, there is much more downtime with Liposuction than with Coolsculpting. There are limited to how much fat can be removed at each Liposuction session – no more than 5% of body mass.
It’s worth knowing that at Azure Medical our staff are multi-skilled – our Coolsculpting Consultant Maira qualified as a physiotherapist in her home country of Brazil and now offers complementary lymphatic drainage massages for all of our Coolsculpting clients, really boosting the results and minimising downtime!
