Liposuction and cool sculpting are both techniques to remove fat from the body. If you are confused about laser liposuction vs coolsculpting, you can consult a doctor. The difference here is that coolsculpting is the procedure used for fat removal from smaller areas, whereas liposuction is used for fat removal from more extensive areas.
Read on further to have a clear idea of liposuction vs coolsculpting.
What is the difference in the procedure of liposuction vs coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is a comparatively newer technique for fat removal from smaller areas underneath the skin. You can do it on any part of the body. During cool sculpting, the doctor would use a gel pad and applicator on the skin surface to freeze the fat cells. The vacuum in the applicator will remove the fat from the skin to the top and be used for 30 to 40 minutes. It causes the fat cells to freeze and crystallise.
After this, the doctor would remove the pad and start massaging the area to break down the fat crystals. The body would then break it further, thus removing it from the area.
One of the significant advantages of this procedure in liposculpture vs coolsculpting is that there is no scarring or skin damage. However, one of the side effects of coolsculpting is that it is different from the procedure you can opt for if you need large amounts of fat removal from your body.
For a higher amount of fat removal, liposuction is a better option. During this procedure, the doctor would make small incisions on the surface of your skin of the target area. Then, with the help of anaesthesia, the area is numbed, and a thin tube called a cannula is inserted through the incision to break down fat. The fat is then sucked out, and incisions are closed.
The doctor may use general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia. It depends on the amount of fat which has to be removed and the area from where the fat has to be removed.
Recovery: Liposculpture vs coolsculpting
Before deciding on any procedure between liposculpture vs coolsculpting, you should also know how much recovery time is required in both cases. Coolsculpting has a brief recovery period. The patient can resume daily activities after the surgery in a short while. In liposuction, you would need at least a week of recovery time before starting your daily activities.
The doctors suggest light activities such as walking and doing light work at home after liposuction for faster recovery. It is recommended to sit or lay down in a different position for shorter hours. Compression garments are also advised to be worn 4 weeks after the surgery to help the skin adapt to the new computer.
Hence in laser liposuction vs coolsculpting, the former has a longer recovery time, and the latter is of a shorter recovery period.
How effective are these procedures?
The amount of fat removed in liposuction is much more than in coolsculpting. By location, you can also transfer fat from one part of the body to another part. Thus, liposuction can be used for the overall enhancement of body contour. However, the body’s new contour would be visible after the swelling has decreased. Thus the results are not immediate.
After coolsculpting, you will not see any sudden fat loss. The results take time to be visible. It may take a few weeks. It may vary from person to person.
The coolsculpting procedure can penetrate only a few millimetres below the skin; hence, the results slightly change. Multiple sessions are required to get a more drastic change in your contour.
Risks and complications: Laser liposuction vs coolsculpting
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive procedure; thus side effects of coolsculpting are much lesser:
- Redness
- Bruising
- Numbness
- Discomfort
In extremely rare cases, it can lead to paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), which stimulates fat growth.
Liposuction is a safer technique but has more than the side effects of coolsculpting. Here are some of liposuction side effects:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Bruising
- numbness
There are some long-term liposuction side effects, too, which may take months to be visible. For instance, some people get seromas in the area. Seromas are fluid-filled sacs which might develop as liposuction side effects. They can disappear on their own in a few days or be drained out with the help of a needle. In some cases, fat necrosis occurs, which is damage to the fat tissue. Make sure to follow all the medication and instructions of the doctor to heal appropriately.
Thus, liposuction is best suited for larger areas, and cool sculpting is helpful for small amounts of fat removal. It is suggested to have a good diet after surgery and engage in light physical activity during recovery. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep the results permanent.
