If you are hoping to get a slim and trim figure, then you may be wondering which cosmetic surgery option is best for you. Two of the most popular options for fat removal are liposuction and fat freezing. Fat freezing is also known as cryolipolysis, and is marketed as CoolSculpting. This is a treatment that originated when scientists and physicians investigated the effects of frostbite. Like frostbite, fat freezing kills fat cells when a freezing device is inserted into a targeted area. The first device for this process was approved in 2010, so it has not been on the market for very long.
Recently, a group of plastic surgeons in the Southern California area performed a study to evaluate the treatment effectiveness and the popularity of CoolSculpting. This study revealed that CoolSculpting is effective at reducing subcutaneous fat volume and that there are few adverse effects to the process. The popularity of the procedure has grown dramatically over the past two years, and there have been 823% more treatment cycles in 2102 than in 2010 with a growing demand for the procedure among men.
The downside of cryolipolysis is that the results only decrease fat content by about 22% and can only be applied to a "pinchable" area of fat. With liposuction, the fat can be treated completely and in any areas that have excess fat, even if they are not easily pinched. While both fat freezing and liposuction are possible approaches to fat removal, liposuction is a more established procedure, and plastic surgeons are more familiar with performing it. The advantages of cryolipolysis are no downtime, no risk of infection, no complications of surgery. For those patients who are not willing to go under the knife and can accept a small reduction in fat content, this procedure may be the perfect alternative.
At the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center, Dr. Gorodisky performs traditional liposuction, laser liposuction, and power assisted or vibrational liposuction. The procedure may be performed under local anesthesia for smaller areas or under sedation or general anesthesia for larger areas. Coolsculpting is also available. A consultation with Dr. Gorodisky is needed to determine the most effective treatment for your specific concerns. Contact the office today by calling 805.983.1999 to learn more about the many sculpting techniques that we have to offer!