Top Liposuction Questions Answered, Part 3

At New Radiance Cosmetic Center of Palm Beach, we receive countless questions about our procedures. In this series of posts, we will attempt to answer the most common and important liposuction questions (to read Part I, click here; for Part II, click here).

What Different Kinds of Liposuction Are There?

Most everyone has heard of liposuction, but what they often don’t realize is how many types of liposuction there are, and how different procedures can lead to different results. The technology has improved dramatically over the last twenty years, sometimes incorporating lasers and ultrasound into the process, all with the goal of increasing successful results for every body type that can benefit.

We have compiled a list and a description of the different types of liposuction — how they are done and what the goals of each are — in the hopes of clarifying liposuction for the average person.

Syringe Liposuction

Unlike most other forms of liposuction, syringe liposuction does not use a machine. A syringe attached to a tube is inserted into the treated area, and then removed, creating suction. This suction allows for about 60 cc of fat to be withdrawn from the area. This process is simple and effective, with minimal blood loss and quick healing. However it can only used to treat small areas.

Ultrasonic Liposuction and External Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty

In this form of liposuction, the cannula (the thin tube which sucks the fat out) emits ultrasonic energy in order to liquefy the fat, ensuring a greater ease of suction. The two processes differ in that while in the first the ultrasound emitted internally, the second procudure (as the name suggests) passes the ultrasonic waves externally, liquefying the fat through the epidermis and dermis. The first is considered more effective, but with minor risks. The second is considered safer, but not all surgeons feel that this technique makes fat removal any easier.

Laser Liposuction

Laser-assisted lipoplasty is conceptually akin to ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty in that fat is liquefied before suctioning. Doctors use lasers to liquefy the fat before removal, making it easier to vacuum out via liposuction. Lasers may also stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which results in firmer, tighter, and smoother skin. Lasers may also coagulate small blood vessels in the area, which translates to less bruising.

Power-Assisted Lipoplasty

Power-assisted lipoplastyliposuction

Power-assisted lipoplasty makes removing fat from the body a quick and easy procedure with minimal blood loss. This makes it especially suitable for removing large amounts of fat such as in the thighs, buttocks or abdomen.

Micro-Liposuction

Micro-liposuction refers to the use of needles in removing small amounts of fat deposits. For this reason Micro-liposuction tends to be most suitable for treating regions of the face such as the jowls, chin or neck. In order to get good results from micro-liposuction, specialized micro liposuction equipment is required and not solely the standard liposuction equipment used.

Smart Liposuction

Dr. Neil Goodman, the resident liposuction expert of New Radiance Cosmetic Center of Palm Beach, utilizes a procedure he refers to as Smart Liposuction. Smart Liposuction combines traditional liposuction with laser liposuction and years of experience for the most effective procedure for getting rid of unwanted fat and creating a sculpted body.* The laser liposuction is performed after the traditional liposuction, in order to tighten the skin, and in order to allow Dr. Goodman to remove pure fat, which is especially useful in the case of fat grafting, as liquefied fat would be of no use.

At New Radiance Cosmetic Center of Palm Beach, we receive countless questions about our procedures. In this series of posts, we will attempt to answer the most common and important liposuction questions (to read Part I, click here).

Why Can’t I Just Exercise the Fat Away?

Stop us if this sounds familiar: you’ve watched what you eat, you exercise daily, and you still have your love handles, or your belly, or some other fat storage you just can’t get rid of.

Excess fat deposits are unfortunately due to your genetics, and when they form on your abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees or chin, there is not much you can do on your own to eliminate it completely.

Liposuction, however, can. Cosmetically sculpting the body enables you to remove the fatty deposits which stubbornly won’t go away through exercise and diets. Once those fat deposits have been removed, the elasticity of the skin causes it to contract in the spots where fat has been taken out, making your body appear slimmer after liposuction.*

Am I Too Old/Too Young to Get Liposuction?

Liposuction works best in young people, thanks to the overall better resiliency and elasticity in youthful skin. Those over 65 years old might not get the results in someone who is 35, for example, or even 49. This is a general statement, however, and is entirely due to the overall condition of the person’s skin.

It is never a good idea to change the body via surgery while the body is still growing (i.e. adolescence), although it has been done in some extreme cases. It is not recommended for the average child, who can still affect the long-term shape of their body.

Will I Regain Weight Lost During Liposuction?

Weight can always be regained if the intake of calories exceeds the burning of calories. But the fat that cells that are removed will not returns as the cells themselves are removed.*

We’ll explain: scientists believe that the fat cells, or lipocytes, that are formed in childhood stay with that person for the rest of their life. New fat cells are no longer produced after a certain age, which results in your “normal” body shape. This is why people who were overweight as youths are more likely to be overweight as adults.¹

What liposuction can do is eliminate excess fat cells from certain areas, changing the shape of the person who underwent the procedure. If weight is put back on, fat cells in other areas will grow instead — even, possibly, in areas which were treated, in the fat cells which remain.

For this reason, it is recommended that people not revert to a fatty diet or a sedentary lifestyle after liposuction. Liposuction should be considered as part of an overall healthy makeover, not solely as a quick fix in order to continue living unhealthily.

Many of our patients ask us about CoolSculpting®, based on a magazine article or a billboard they have read. “Freeze the Fat: does it work?” and “Is it worth it?” are among the most common questions. As a service, we want to compare CoolSculpting to Smart Liposuction in terms of effectiveness, risks, and cost.

CoolSculpting Cost – Abdomen & love handles $5300

2 Abdomen Treatments at $1350 each Total $2700
2 Love Handle Treatments $650 per side (4 Treatments) $2600
Smart Liposuction – Abdomen & love handles $3500

* Savings Over CoolSculpting = $1800

* Fat Removed – 7 Times the Fat Removed

• Abdomen Treatment Total $2500 Base cost first area
• 1 Additional area (Both Love Handles Treated) $1000

WhatCoolSculpting

As per RealSelf, “CoolSculpting is non-surgical device that uses controlled cooling to destroy fat cells by freezing them, thereby eliminating unwanted fat.”

• CoolSculpting by Zeltiq is a non-surgical fat reduction device that uses cooling to eliminate fat cells, a process referred to as Cryolipolysis or CoolSculpting.
• Clinical studies of CoolSculpting report an average of 20 percent fat loss per treated area.¹ It does not work on obesity; rather Zeltiq is designed for spot treatment of areas such as love handles, back fat, bra rolls, and stomach rolls.
• A typical CoolSculpting session lasts 60 minutes and costs approximately $$600 -$700 for the small or $1400 per area for the large applicator, depending on applicator size.
• During the procedure Coolsculpting pinches the fatty area between the CoolSculpting applicator arms. This applicator then cools this fat to freeze the fat and kill the fat cells. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as Cool Liposuction or Cool Lipo.

You want to lose that unwanted fat and have heard about “Freezing the Fat” with CoolSculpting. But before you schedule the procedure you need to know the facts.

CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ is designed to treat small areas of fat deposits in “trouble spots” and is only for those people with “a mild amount of extra fat whose fat deposits are localized” and it ONLY results in eventual reduction of 23% of the fat which is treated. The amount of fat treated in the large Coolculpting applicator is about the size of a stick of butter. Only 1/4 of fat treated will succumb to the Cryolypolysis (freezing the fat) process. CoolSculpting also takes 3 to 6 months to see the final result.

Conversely, with Smart liposuction results are immediate. Smart Liposuction can remove many whole “sticks of butter” from each treatment area which is many times more fat removed than CoolSculpting. With Smart Liposuction you walk in and walk out and Boom; you have a new body.* With Smart Liposuction you not going to need a second treatment on areas treated although many people do come back for other areas.*

Research states 23% of fat treated during a CoolSculpting treatment will eventually die and then are naturally eliminated from your body… But hold on, that leaves over 75% of the fat treated in place! So will 23% reduction (in the small areas treated) make a difference in the way you look? Maybe not and this is why some physicians say ”some patients may benefit from a second treatment” because a second CoolSculpting treatment will allow you to lose another 20% of the fat in that treatment area.¹ But the questions you should be asking is how many treatments do you need and on what areas, how long do treatments take and how much will it cost in total?

So here is the story, CoolSculpting fat treated in the large applicator is described as about the size of a stick of butter which is the amount of fat which is sucked into the CoolSculpting applicator (as can be seen, the fat actually looks like a stick of butter after the treatment – see picture). Cost wise, CoolSculpting is billed per treatment cycle. Studies show 23% of fat treated eventually is reduced then the amount of fat is just about a 1/4 stick of butter! A treatment cycle $1300- $1500 for the large applicator which treats large areas (Stomach) and is $600 -$700 per cycle for the small applicator which treats small areas (each love handle) putting the cost for both love handles and stomach at just around $3000 for one treatment each and 23% of the treated fat reduced. If a second round of treatments are needed that another $3000!

If you are starting to wonder how much does CoolSculpting cost for the actual amount of fat removed and how much of your fat is really going to be removed or destroyed and what will you lose and look like then read on. You may even be beginning to wonder if you are even a good candidate for CoolSculpting.

With Dr. Neil Goodman’s Smart Liposuction 1- 2 liters of fat (1000-2000 ml) will normally be removed from the Abdomen and Love handles . This is many, many more times the fat removed.*

Smart Liposuction removes the fat needed to achieve the body sculpting result desired in the areas treated and unlike CoolSculpting which may remove 20% or 40% with two treatments¹, With Smart Liposuction there is no waiting around for 3-6 months or coming back for a second treatment and results are dramatic. Dr, Goodman routinely performs Smart Liposuction on prior CoolSculpting patients and can show you before and after pictures of people exactly like yourself.*

If you are seeking a solution to bothersome fat deposits unresponsive to diet and exercise, SMART LIPOSUCTION works effectively and tightens your skin in the process.* CoolSculpting on the other hand has no skin tightening aspect.

New Radiance is a Joint Hospital Commission accredited facility which can remove up to 4 liters of fat during a liposuction procedure by Florida Law, most facilities are not accredited and therefore can remove only up to 1 liter during any case.¹

Smartlipo laser liposuction was developed to remove unwanted fat utilizing the latest advancements in laser technology and does so at a fraction of the cost of CoolSculpting. Ounce per ounce of fat removed their is no comparison, Smart liposuction leaves CoolSculpting in the Ice Ages

Because CoolSculpting simply reduces fat in treated areas by an average of 20 percent¹, it is not be a solution for those who also have loose skin. CoolScultping will not deliver the dramatic contouring results that can be provided by Smartlipo.*

Who is CoolSculpting designed for?

CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ is designed to remove small areas of fat deposits in “trouble spots” and is only for those with a mild amount of extra fat and people whose fat deposits are localized. CoolSculpting is designed for spot treatment of areas and claims to remove 20-25% of fat from a specific area 2-6 months after treatment.¹

Patient charges for the smaller applicators (CoolCore and CoolCurve+) range from $600-750 per cycle. For the larger applicator (CoolMax), patient charges range from $1200-$1500/per cycle, similarly priced to two treatment areas with a smaller applicator. Patients average 8 treatments each, but need 10 or 12 when seeking liposuction-like results without surgery. Each treatment typically causes a 20-25% reduction in the size of the bulge treated¹, but an area may be treated more than once for incremental bulge reduction. If you do the math this results in some huge costs. Liposuction-like results with 10-12 cycles at either $600-750 per cycle for the small applicator or $1200-$1500/per cycle for the larger applicator (CoolMax) is more than double the cost of Smart Liposuction with Dr Neil Goodman.

Smart liposuction, on the other hand can can sculpt the body and totally remove all unwanted fat from an area and does so at the time of the procedure PLUS it tightens skin to boot. So what should you choose?

Coolsculpting, also known as cryolipoylsis, is non-surgical device that uses controlled cooling to destroy some fat cells for body fat reduction but has no skin tightening effect. An area treated with CoolSculpting may get up to a 20% reduction of fat at the site where it is administered¹ which therefore will require multiple treatments over an extended period of time. CoolSculpting results can take up to 6 months and the procedure can be costly. With Smartlipo Ultra the fat that you want removed can be physically removed from that area. You don’t have to wait months and you don’t need to come back because only 25% was removed and that was not enough to achieve the result you desired.*

If you are seeking a long-lasting solution to bothersome fat deposits unresponsive to diet and exercise, SMART LIPOSUCTION works effectively and also tightens your skin.* CoolSculpting on the other hand has no skin tightening aspect. Smartlipo laser liposuction was developed to remove unwanted fat utilizing the latest advancements in laser technology and does so at a fraction of the cost of CoolSculpting. 3 areas of Smart liposuction cost around $4000. Ounce per ounce of fat removed their is no comparision, Smartliposuction leaves CoolSculpting in the Ice Ages.*

Smart Liposuction delivers the most effective fat removal and cellulite treatment available today.* No other cosmetic surgery procedure comes close. Regain your figure now with laser body sculpting that you have to see to believe.

Smart Laser Liposuction is a procedure which has evolved. Initially, liposuction meant undergoing general anesthesia or heavy sedation in an OR, due to which the patients were at an increased risk and the procedure was costly. It also required long recovery period. But, times have changed and so has the process. Patients can now get SmartLipo and walk out the same day with little or no recovery and results are superior to Coolsculpting.*

What is Smart Liposuction?

Smart liposuction is advanced and perfected laser liposuction and offers a minimally invasive laser fat removal process that requires little to no recovery time and actually enhances and tightens your skin in the process.
Smart Liposuction removes unwanted fat utilizing the latest advancements in ultrasound and laser technology. No other cosmetic surgery procedure comes close to removing the same amount of fat with a walk-in procedure!*

If you are seeking a solution to bothersome fat deposits unresponsive to diet and exercise, Smart liposuction effectively removes fat and tightens your skin.*

• Sculpts body, removes fat & tightens skin*
• Walk in, walk out – back to work in a day
• Safe, quick and easy – only local anesthesia needed
• Treats cellulite at the source
• Fat cells are removed – removed fat cells do not regrow¹

The Smart liposuction procedure requires no post procedure pain medications as you will walk in and walk out and be doing light exercise the next day. Patients do not require extended recovery or overnight admission like with traditional old fashioned liposuction.*

So How Does CoolSculpting Work?

Fatfreezing point

cool sculptinghat fat cells become irreparably damaged. It usually takes 1-3 hours per session, most areas require multiple sessions and it takes about 2 to 4 months to see results. CoolSculpting claims 20-25% reduction of fat in the localized treatment area and does not offer any skin tightening benefits.¹

Find out the 3 Myths about CoolSculpting

Myth 1: CoolSculpting is a Quick Fix. The actual procedures only take about two hours per area (an hour on the area plus before and after) but several areas may need to be treated so time is dependent on the total number of areas but as far as results, don’t expect to walk to skinny. Patients may not see start to see results for a few months and full results, may take up to 6 months after the procedure. Many patients report that the first treatment does not produce much as far as results given that a total of 20% reduction is shown as per the research and a second course of CoolSculpting treatments are then needed.¹

Myth 2: It’s NOT an eat more Food Pass. CoolSculpting freezes 20% of the fat cells in a treated area while leaving 80% of the healthy cells in that area behind.¹ Increasing dietary intake will simply allow the 80% of fat cells left behind to increase in size and replace the volume …. Basically replacing any lost fat.

Myth 3: It Will Lift the Sag, Tighten Skin and Sagging Areas. Not to be confused skin tightening technologies such as Laser liposuction, CoolSculpting simply cause some fat cells to die specified area but it will not do anything as far as lifting sagging skin. If a patient is already experiencing sag and turns to CoolSculpting the appearance of sag may become even more apparent.

Read more about body contouring procedures.

See Amazing Smartlipo Pictures Here*

Both CoolSculpting and Smartlipo will reduce fatty pockets, but the outcomes are very different. Smart Liposuction not only by reduces fat but also by creates a more curvaceous body contour.* CoolSculpting can only reduce fat in specific areas and is not a sculpting technique. Because CoolSculpting simply reduces fat in treated areas by an average of 20 percent¹, it is not be a solution for those who also have loose skin. CoolScultping will not deliver the dramatic contouring results that can be provided by Smartlipo.*