There are a multitude of fat-blasting procedures designed to spot-reduce body fat, and it can often feel overwhelming to decide on a procedure that is right for your body and your goals. Diet and exercise are the best ways to reduce body fat and stay healthy, but sometimes even if you are in the best of shape, stubborn fat remains, and you might turn to warm sculpting or cool sculpting procedures. Here is what you need to know about CoolSculpting and SculpSure to help you make an informed decision.
Warm Sculpting vs. CoolSculpting
A SculpSure treatment is a warm sculpting treatment. It is a non-invasive fat reduction procedure that uses lasers that have been approved by the FDA. The heat from the lasers in the SculpSure process heats fat in the treatment area and kills the unwanted fat cells. These fat cells are then flushed out of the body naturally, using the body’s lymphatic system. It takes about three months to see full results.
For SculpSure to be effective, the lasers reach a fairly high temperature, which can be uncomfortable. The procedure also has a cooling effect built in to minimize discomfort and to make it safe for the skin, but it can be painful, especially if you have sensitive skin.
CoolSculpting works in the opposite way as SculpSure. Instead of using heat, CoolSculpting freezes and kills fat cells. This procedure is also FDA-approved for fat reduction. An applicator with cooling plates is applied to the treatment area to bring down the fat cells’ temperature to damage and kill them. The dead cells are eventually eliminated by the body naturally. Like SculpSure, the full effects are seen after about three months. The one caveat with CoolSculpting is that there needs to be enough fat for the applicator to adhere to.
CoolSculpting is less uncomfortable than SculpSure, as the cooling action has a numbing effect. This procedure is also a good option for those who have more fat to remove, but remember, there needs to be enough fat for it to latch on to (about a solid pinch). Because of this caveat, SculpSure is usually a better option for candidates in good shape who are trying to zap stubborn areas of body fat.
The Benefits of SculpSure and CoolSculpting
Both treatments have very minimal risks and no downtime. Besides some light bruising, swelling, or a little tenderness afterwards, patients who choose SculpSure or CoolScuplting are usually back to their daily routines that very same day. For a noninvasive body contouring procedure, both options are most effective with multiple sessions. Because the treatments can be in the pricier range and generally are not covered under medical insurance, it is important to develop a treatment plan with your doctor.
SculpSure and CoolSculpting are not a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise, but one thing to consider is that when you gain weight, your fat cells expand, and when you lose weight, your fat cells shrink. Both of these procedures involve the elimination of fat cells, which is a lasting change.
