Liposuction vs. CoolSculpting Elite: Which One is the Right Choice for Me?

Are you struggling with stubborn fat that diet and exercise can’t address? The fat pads on your belly, thighs, or upper arms can be persistent. Perhaps you’ve considered aesthetic medicine to attain a sleeker figure but can’t decide which option is best for your cosmetic concerns.

CoolSculpting Elite is an advanced non-surgical body sculpting treatment to reduce stubborn fat. Liposuction is a minimally invasive cosmetic surgery that removes unwanted fat cells permanently. Both are excellent options when eating right and exercising proves ineffective at shaving inches from specific body areas. But there are differences between these two excellent body shaping options, so which one is right for you?

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical body contouring procedure. It strategically targets and removes excess pockets of subcutaneous fat on the body.

A tumescent liposuction is a form of liposuction that fills the treatment area with an anesthetic-containing solution before extraction. The tumescent technique for liposuction has eliminated many of the risks and complications associated with the traditional forms of liposuction.

Who Gets Liposuction?

If you struggle with localized fat, you may be a good candidate for liposuction. Before considering liposuction surgery, it’s critical to be close to your ideal weight and have a healthy body mass index. It’s essential to note that liposuction isn’t a weight loss procedure. You should not expect to lose a significant amount of weight from the process.

Liposuction’s chief purpose is removing stubborn fat rather than addressing loose skin. It’s why the ideal candidates for liposuction have good skin elasticity so as not to result in excess skin that sags.

What Is CoolSculpting Elite?

CoolSculpting Elite employs the CoolSculpting technology to permanently eliminate up to 25% of stubborn fat. In addition, it is the only FDA-cleared treatment to eliminate unwanted fat cells in nine areas. These include the thighs, flanks, abdomen, bra line, buttocks, upper arm, jawline, and beneath the chin.

The best way to learn if CoolSculpting Elite is the right body contouring treatment for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dreyfuss. One topic you’ll discuss is the type of unwanted fat you struggle with.

Pinchable Subcutaneous fat?

CoolSculpting Elite targets stubborn, pinchable fat above the muscle wall. That’s the key—the fat has to lie above the muscle wall. CoolSculpting treatments are only FDA-cleared to target subcutaneous fat—one of two types of body fat.

Subcutaneous fat is typically pinchable—like fat, you’ll find on your flanks (love handles) or upper arms. The jiggly fat under the skin is tough to eliminate, even for men and women who work out persistently.  

What Are the Differences Between Lipo and CoolSculpting Elite?

Choosing the proper treatment depends on your unique body type and cosmetic goals. Dr. Dreyfuss performs CoolSculpting to remove small fat amounts for mild to moderate outcomes. He employs liposuction to remove significant amounts of fat tissue, but it’s a more invasive procedure with surgical risks.

CoolSculpting technology freezes stubborn fat cells. In contrast, liposuction is a surgical procedure that suctions excess fat from targeted areas. While liposuction can address more oversized pockets of fat and is minimally invasive, it still requires a local anesthetic and a few days to weeks of recovery.

Are CoolSculpting Results Better Than Liposuction?

Results are the most crucial factors when choosing between liposuction and CoolSculpting Elite. The main difference is sculpting versus spot reduction.

Liposuction Is the Body Sculpting Gold Standard

During liposuction, Dr. Dreyfuss uses a long, thin instrument called a cannula to sculpt problem areas and remove fat through a tiny incision. Liposuction can genuinely sculpt the body to achieve a more shapely figure, reveal underlying musculature, and a reduction of stubborn fat bulges.

Liposuction is also the only fat reduction option that works almost anywhere on your body, including areas like the knees and underarms and larger areas like the hips, thighs, and abdomen.

CoolSculpting Is a Non-Surgical Spot Reduction

CoolSculpting uses a cooling technology called cryolipolysis—fat cell destruction by cold temperatures—to reduce fat deposits. A suction cup-like applicator is placed on the skin and emits a controlled temperature to destroy fat cells but not harm skin, muscle, or nerve tissue. Your body then treats the destroyed fat cells as waste and eliminates them naturally. Each CoolSculpting treatment can achieve up to about a 20% reduction in an area, but we can’t sculpt the site, nor can we determine the exact result.

Which Provides Faster Results: Liposuction or CoolSculpting Elite?

CoolSculpting results take time to appear. Liposuction benefits are almost immediate. Expect several weeks or a few months to achieve the best results after CoolSculpting. You can realize optimal liposuction benefits once the swelling resolves within a few weeks.  

How Do I Know Which Option is Best for Me?

The best way to choose the right option to achieve optimal body sculpting results is to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in body procedures. Dr. David Dreyfuss helps Chicago men and women achieve their cosmetic goals through a meticulous, proven process at his comfortable, stress-free Orland Park surgical center. To learn whether CoolSculpting Elite or liposuction is best suited for you, contact us today to schedule a consultation.