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4 Ways Coolsculpting Is Different From Liposuction

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Coolsculpting and liposuction are similar in many ways. They are both treatments that remove fat from a specific area of the body and are meant for patients who are near their target weight but have stubborn fat deposits that keep them from looking the way they want. However, coolsculpting and liposuction are also different in many ways. Below are just some of the ways the two procedures differ. 

Coolsculpting Is Non-surgical and Non-invasive

The main difference between coolsculpting and liposuction is that coolsculpting is not a surgical procedure. This can make it an excellent option for people who may be afraid of needles or undergoing surgery. While lipsuction requires at least local anesthesia and sometimes general anesthesia, coolsculpting does not involve any anesthesia or incisions. This makes it less risky, as there is no way for an infection to take hold or for drainage to be an issue during healing. You will be awake and aware during the entire procedure. Many patients even bring along work or entertainment to amuse themselves during a coolsculpting procedure, which is not possible during a liposuction procedure. 

Coolsculpting Has Almost No Recovery Time 

Although liposuction has a quick recovery time compared to most surgeries, it still requires a day or more of rest and a week or more of reduced activity. Coolsculpting does not have these requirements. Most patients can get up from a coolsculpting session and continue with their normal life. For example, you may return to work in the afternoon if you schedule a coolsculpting session in the morning, and there is no reason to cancel your evening exercise class. 

While coolsculpting has almost no recovery time, that does not mean that you will not feel side-effects after the procedure. Some people feel a tingling, itching, or slight burning sensation for a few days or weeks after the procedure as the fat deposits break down. However, this should not prevent you from performing your everyday tasks as recovering from liposuction would. 

Coolsculpting May Take Longer to See Results 

While coolsculpting has many benefits over lipsuction, the speed of visible results is not one of them. With liposuction, your fat is being broken off and physically removed from your body during the procedure. With coolsculpting, the fat is not removed during the procedure. Instead, the fat is cooled enough to prevent blood flow to the fat cells, causing them to die. Over time, your body works to break up the fat deposits and remove the dead cells. It is only after your body completes this work that you will see results. Unlike liposuction, where the results will be visible as soon as any swelling goes down, you may not see the full results of coolsculpting for several weeks or even months, depending on how quickly your body removes the dead fat cells. 

Some patients who expect the instant results of liposuction may think coolsculpting did not work on them and move on to liposuction when they actually need to wait longer to see the final results of the procedure. If you need immediate results, coolscupting may not be for you, but you should keep in mind that fat sculpting is a long-term decision, so waiting a few weeks for results should not weigh too heavily on your preference of procedure. 

Coolsculpting can be a great alternative to liposuction. Before considering either procedure, you should understand how coolsculpting works and decide whether it will be an adequate alternative for your body shaping needs. You may find that you will be able to skip the risks and drawbacks of surgery and still get the body you want. To learn more about this procedure, contact a medical facility like Countryside Dermatology & Laser Center.


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