Liposuction vs. Cool Sculpting vs. Ultrasound Lipo
I am writing this article in hope of providing clarity in determining the right course of treatment for inch loss. I don’t envy those seeking therapy because I know how many city size bill boards, online pop ups, YouTube videos, commercials ( info and otherwise) and Facebook ads are competing for your attention and dollars.
The claims range from, killing” “injuring," “sucking and/or vacuuming” your fat away; all a bit aggressive and violent sounding I agree, but justifiable considering those stubborn fat cells just won’t die or leave on their own accord. But which “assassin” is going to get the job done!
But…before we get to that, let’s talk about what you need to know and consider before hiring. No matter who you are or what part of your body you desire to change, YOU must be the right candidate. What does this mean? It means that whether you’re considering Liposuction, Ultrasound Lipo, Cool Sculpting or rolling down a steep hill in a body wrap, it is paramount to the success of your treatment that you maintain and/or practice healthy eating habits and exercise regularly because none of these treatments are meant to be a replacement for these important areas.
In other words, it works best it you have already put forth a valiant effort in reducing the fat on your own. You bring in the “big guns” once you’ve determined that for whatever reason, or reasons you are not able to reach or maintain the desired result independently. Now, let’s review our candidates.
The Veteran: Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, liposculpture suction lipectomy or lipo, is a type of cosmetic surgery which breaks up and "sucks" fat from various possible parts of the body, most commonly the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, chin, upper and backs of the arms, calves and back. Here are some useful key-points about Lipo.
Liposuction is the oldest method though there are many new technologies partnered with the surgery that give the old technique a new lift of its own.
Examples include:
Ultrasound Lipo
Laser Lipo
Cool Lipo
Even though it’s an elective surgery, Liposuction is still a surgical procedure and consequently the most expensive requiring some down-time and possible risk of complication. On the plus side ( in this case a good plus) It is a permanent fat loss solution and a better alternative for those desiring to lose in excess of 20 lbs.
The Cool Kid: The Cool-Sculpting fat-freezing procedure is the only FDA-cleared,* non-surgical fat-reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate (e.g., KILL) fat cells.
Cool Sculpting Cryolipolysis by Zeltiq literally freezes fat cells, causing them to program themselves for natural self destruct in a process known as apoptosis. This is accomplished by using a vacuum to pull the fat away from the body between two cooling plates, where the fat is frozen to a precise temperature for one hour. At this temperature, your other cells such as skin, blood vessels, and nerves are not damaged.
Key points:
Average cost: $600 per body area
Little to no down-time
Approx. 30% of clients reported moderate discomfort including itching and bloating. Final results of treatment range from 3-6 months.
Special note: Based on billboard advertisements showing larger sized persons, a client recently inquired whether Cool Sculpting is good alternative for plus sizes. I double checked my facts by (anonymously) calling a Cool Sculpting Center and was told that Cool Sculpting is for those seeking inch loss for stubborn fat areas though they had been known to treat larger size clients. The same is true for Ultrasound Lipo though in both cases, results will vary that much more and of course the number of treatments needed increases which drives up cost.
The Disruptor: Ultrasonic Cavitation is a no surgery and no anesthesia method of liposuction. The procedure is very popular in Europe and has quickly spreading across the globe. Ultrasonic Cavitation destroys intractable fat cells by using low frequency sound waves.
Ultrasonic Cavitation Therapy
Ultrasonic cavitation therapy makes it possible to apply concentrated levels of ultrasonic energy to specific treatment areas. This type of therapy targets and destroys subcutaneous fat cells in the fat cell membranes through a series of microscopic implosions. Once the fat cell membrane (adipose tissue) is destroyed, the fat is discharged between the cells where they are turned into protein and then changed to free fatty acids and glycerol. Free fatty acids are moved to the liver where they decay and are removed from the body while water-soluble glycerol is transported to the circulatory system and used as energy.
Key points:
No-downtime
Affordable
Address’ cellulite and stretch marks
Results vary based on maintenance between treatments and lifestyle
In conclusion, as a practitioner I chose Ultrasound technology that aligns with my company philosophy which is to offer safe, result-oriented, non-invasive treatments that require little to no down-time and continue to work over time.
In other words, I find that Ultrasound technology offers more than a passive treatment in which clients have little to no control of the outcome. With Ultrasound technology, you are the co-pilot and have the opportunity to reap the benefits of your treatment for years to come. And the great news is, if at any point you steer off course, the solution is a simple maintenance treatment away.
Simple is beautiful