Men and women looking to utilize cosmetic procedures for weight loss are often intimidated by the many options that exist. What are the differences? What are the benefits? CoolSculpting®, Kybella®, and liposuction are some of the most common methods of slimming down and toning your body.
About CoolSculpting®
CoolSculpting® is an alternative to liposuction for patients who aren’t comfortable with surgical procedures. CoolSculpting® helps to tone the body and remove fat by targeting fat cells and freezing them until they crystallize and die. Your body will then naturally clean out these dead cells, which leaves your body slimmer and healthier.
Because CoolSculpting® is non-invasive it will not leave scars or bruises. Some patients do experience swelling and soreness after treatment, so you may want to hold off on immediately going back into your usual exercise routine if you have one. However, you can resume all other usual activities immediately.
About Kybella®
Standing as an in-between to CoolSculpting® and liposuction, Kybella® is an injection-based procedure that targets fat cells with a serum made of deoxycholic acid, something that already occurs naturally in the body. Kybella® is typically used for patients looking to get rid of a double-chin and helps to strengthen jaw muscles as well as define the neck and chin. Even though it has only been recently released, it has received a staggering amount of popularity among patients.
The maximum amount of treatments recommended to patients is six, but will typically require two to four in order to see the best results. Each treatment takes about 15 to 30 minutes and should only be scheduled once a month. Since Kybella® does not involve an invasive surgery, there is no downtime required.
About Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure for patients looking to slim down and contour their bodies. It also has a number of medical benefits such as improving posture and treating lymphedema. If you are looking for a way to lose weight to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Beam recommends being within 25 pounds of your ideal weight before the procedure.
Dr. Beam uses tumescent liposuction techniques to minimize scarring and downtime post-surgery. We prefer this method because of its safety and effectiveness. A general anesthetic is typically used for the procedure, which involves draining the fat from the body, so you should be prepared to have someone drive you home after surgery.
Liposuction is followed by a typically short recovery period, and most patients can return to work after a few days and resume all usual activities (exercise, driving, etc.) within two weeks. You should always expect some bruising and swelling in the following weeks, but our office uses a lidocaine and epinephrine based solution during the procedure to reduce these side effects.
The Bottom Line
While we encourage educating yourself about the various weight loss procedures available you do not have to make your decision alone. Our team at Harold E. Beam, MD is available to consult and guide you toward the procedure that will best meet your needs and goals. Contact us to schedule your consultation today.
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