The Skinny on CoolSculpting

Posted on Friday, September 20th, 2013 by Dr. Babak Dadvand

One of the best things about plastic surgery is the innovation that comes with new technologies. The drive for less invasive procedures with less downtime is very appealing, but is there a trade off? As in previous blogs, I always say in plastic surgery “less is less.” Less invasive, less down time usually means less dramatic results. Now this may be fine for some people but it is important to critically look at new technologies to see if they predictably deliver the results of their more invasive surgical counterparts.

As a plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring, one of the most common technologies people ask me about is CoolSculpting. For those not familiar with the procedure, it is a non-invasive technique that freezes fat cells which leads to their death and subsequent elimination by the body. It is advertised as a one hour procedure which has minimal to no pain and very little downtime. Results are typically seen in 3 months. In my opinion CoolSculpting has mixed results. Undoubtedly some people will notice more of an improvement than others, but the results do not tend to be as dramatic as that which can be obtained through more invasive procedures such as liposuction. Also, there does seem to be pain and swelling that is associated with the procedure which although temporary, still exists.

In summary, as new technologies come about, it is important to recognize their place in the spectrum of treatments available to patients. As a physician, it is also important to be analytical and critical of new technologies in order to best advise patients. There are far more technologies and techniques that have gone by the wayside and time will tell if Cool Sculpting will be one of them.

To learn more about liposuction or to see before and after photographs, please visit drdadvandplasticsurgery.com.

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