There’s more than one way to deal with pockets of stubborn, unwanted fat. With liposuction, SmartLipo MPX™ and CoolSculpting® all available, how do you know which method is right to help you meet your goals? This quick guide can help you decide whether lipo, SmartLipo or CoolSculpting is your best bet.
Liposuction
Liposuction may just be the best well-known of the three methods of fat removal. While there are several unique techniques, they all follow the same basic principle: dislodged fat is removed from the body using a suction device. It can be used to address fat on the abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, arms, neck and chin.
SmartLipo MPX
SmartLipo MPX ups the ante on traditional liposuction, using laser technology to melt unwanted fat before it’s removed. This technique can help you fine-tune the areas of your body that are causing you discomfort. SmartLipo MPX boasts reduced bleeding, swelling and bruising over traditional liposuction and may even result in minimal discomfort and quicker recovery time.
CoolSculpting
Unlike liposuction and SmartLipo, CoolSculpting freezes fat away and is a completely noninvasive treatment, meaning that there are no incisions of any kind. An applicator is used to induce a process known as cryolipolysis, which can freeze fat without damaging surrounding tissue. The fat is later metabolized and is removed from the body naturally. CoolSculpting does not require surgery or anesthesia but could require multiple sessions to achieve the best results.
So how do you decide among all these options? The good news is that in many cases, your plastic surgeon is in the best position to make the choice for you. You may be leaning toward one method or another, but your surgeon has years of experience with how the various techniques can improve different body types. Based on your goals, you can collaborate on choosing the option that makes the most sense.
That said, if you absolutely want to avoid surgery, CoolSculpting is likely your best choice. But keep in mind that the results from this treatment are more subtle than with liposuction, and those results are achieved very gradually over a few month period. In many cases, people having liposuction or SmartLipo are happy with their results because of the more immediate and drastic change this procedure can create.
Do your research ahead of your consultation and come into your consultation appointment ready to discuss all your options and concerns with your plastic surgeon. Choosing which method is right for you is easier when you’re armed with the ins and outs of each technique.
Author’s Bio
Dr. Eric Chang earned his medical degree from Columbia University after graduating magna cum laude from Yale, and then completed a combined general and plastic surgery residency at Stanford University Medical Center, where he served as chief resident. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.