Body Sculpting Options - Discover your Choices!

No matter how much some people try to get rid of fat on their body, there are many people who have a genetic predisposition to storing fat in certain areas of the body. They might follow a healthy diet and the might even get some exercise on a regular basis. However, they just can’t seem to get rid of the pockets of fat they have on their body.

Thankfully, there are options available to those who suffer from this issue. They might use a body sculpting treatment such as liposuction or CoolSculpting. These are treatments designed to remove fat cells by either freezing the fat cells off the body or by using a cannula to remove the fat cells through the use of a vacuum like technique.

How Does a Person Determine the Right Body Sculpting Option?

In order to determine the right procedure that can help patients achieve their desired results, they should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor. The consultation appointment will allow the doctor to examine the area scheduled to be targeted by the treatment.

Liposuction normally provides the targeted areas with a smoother and more uniform result all over the body. On the other hand, CoolSculpting is more effective if the patient wants to remove fat from isolated areas.

The Skinny on Liposuction

Liposuction techniques date all the way back to the early 1920s. The use of liposuction has evolved over the years and the treatment has continued to grow in popularity. Liposuction effectively targets areas such as the thighs, abdominal wall and buttocks. It can also be performed on an outpatient basis.

During the liposuction procedure, a cannula breaks apart the fat cells and then the doctor makes a number of passes through the adipose tissue of the patient. Multiple tunnels are created during the procedure in order to allow the tissue in the skin to collapse. Once the collapse of the skin happens, the skin of the patient is then reshaped and remolded into the contour desired by the person. This is accomplished with a compression garment that the patient will need to wear for a week or two after the treatment

Some incisions are made by the doctor but they are normally just a few millimeters in length. This is done so they will match the size of the cannula that is used. Patients will only need a few days off work in order to recover. In general, the results are visible almost immediately.

CoolSculpting is a Cool Option

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive body contouring treatment that utilizes a device to deliver controlled cooling to the area targeted on the body. This means that the targeted fat cells are exposed to extremely cold temperatures. In fact, the temperatures are so cold that they cause the cells to die.

During a CoolSculpting treatment, a clamp is placed on the targeted area by the doctor. When the treatment begins, the patient will begin to feel a sensation of tingling or cooling. The device creates a temperature that is so low that the fat cells cannot survive the procedure.

Once the targeted fat cells are ready to leave the body, they are naturally excreted as waste by the body. It can take several weeks, or even several months, for the results to become apparent to the patient as well as other people. Unlike liposuction that can achieve the desired results after one treatment, multiple CoolSculpting treatments might be needed before the desired results that the patient wants to see are achieved.

CoolSculpting normally provides its best results on the hips, inner thighs and arms as well as the navel area and under the chin. There is no need for anesthesia or pain medication when CoolSculpting is performed on a patient. In addition, patients can return to work immediately after having the treatment. In order to maintain the results of a CoolSculpting treatment, Dr. Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist based in New York City, says patients should “follow a good diet by reducing the amount of foods high in sugar and fats that they consume.  Exercise is also vital to overall well-being as it will help burn fat and help a patient maintain their results.  Stay hydrated.  Always drink plenty of water.”  

Who is a Good Body Sculpting Candidate?

Neither one of the treatments discussed above, liposuction or CoolSculpting, is a weight loss solution. In other words, anyone looking to lose a large amount of weight is not a good candidate for these procedures. In addition, the amount of weight loss is limited at best for all patients. These treatments are designed to address hard to eliminate fat deposits in certain areas of the body as well as areas where patients want to see a better contour to their skin. Finally, an ideal candidate must be at a stable weight before having a procedure and must plan to remain near that weight in the future in order to maintain the results.