Should I have Fat Freezing or Liposuction?

This blog post will discuss both Fat Freezing (a.k.a. Cryolipolysis or Coolsculpting) and Liposuction in enough detail to help you understand the different processes involved if you are considering both options.

Essentially the results from fat freezing and liposuction are the same – in that both of these options provide permanent elimination of targeted fat cells.

But that is where the similarities end.  

The benefits of fat freezing over liposuction:

Fat freezing is non-invasive – there are no needles. Fat freezing uses handles or applicators (as called in Coolsculpting treatments) and it works on the intact skin. Liposuction requires a small incision in the skin and then a large hollow needle (called a cannula) is inserted into the fat layer. The fat cells in the subcutaneous layer of fat are then dislodged by moving the needle around vigorously and then they are sucked out of the body.

Fat freezing requires no general or local anaesthetic – meaning no analgesia or anaesthetic enters your system. You can even watch Netflix or nap whilst you are having treatment! Whereas liposuction requires you to be unconscious via a general anaesthetic. Or for smaller areas of treatment, an injection of local anaesthetic is given to the area so that the process of dislodging and then sucking out the fat cells is tolerable. Quite often local anaesthetic is flushed into the subcutaneous area of fat after liposuction to assist with pain relief for the days afterwards. 

Fat freezing treatment requires no days off for recovery afterwards. Although you may experience some swelling and tenderness after fat freezing treatment, on most occasions this is managed with loose fitting clothing and sometimes oral analgesia (we usually recommend paracetamol or paracetamol with codeine). Recovery from liposuction can vary depending on the size of the area treated. However for general abdominal liposuction, 3-5 days is usually the recommended time frame for being off work. 

Liposuction requires the patient to wear tight and very uncomfortable surgical support garments after treatment for 24 hours per day – for 3 weeks minimum (usually up to 6 weeks)  to avoid the dislodged fat cells from collecting in pockets and therefore creating divots and dips in your skin. The process of  fat freezing does not dislodge the fat cells at the beginning. On average, 26 – 40% percent of the cells in the treated area are killed during treatment and they initially stay in the location that they were in before treatment.  The surrounding cells remain and hold them in place until they are cleaned up and eliminated from the system over a period of time.  If required, light support garments can be purchased from retail clothing stores (like Kmart, Myer) and are helpful in assisting with the cell debris cleanup, and they can protect tender skin from chafing against skin or material, however they are not imperative after fat freezing.

Although liposuction can remove larger amounts of fat cells in any one session which can be beneficial for larger clients – the same amount of tissue can be eliminated through  fat freezing over multiple sessions, thereby being more suitable for those that don’t want to take time off work. 

For people of larger sizes both fat freezing and liposuction are suitable treatment options to get rid of fat permanently. As discussed above, liposuction can remove a larger amount of fat cells in one session, however it has more risks associated with the procedure, there is great discomfort and also time off afterwards is required. Liposuction also requires a general anaesthetic (normally) and there will be oozing (haemoserous fluid) into bandages after treatment. Fat freezing treatment for the same size and area can be split into multiple treatments therefore being more affordable for many clients as payments can be split to match the treatment schedule. The fact that you also do not need to take time off work after fat freezing further increases the price benefit of fat freezing as you can still earn your living while you recover.

Linda Tsiokas (B.Nursing) – founder of Beautiful Body Clinics – worked in operating theatres assisting in liposuction cases when practicing as a B. Nursing. It was with this knowledge of the aggressive nature of liposuction, recovery period and the risk involved, that encouraged Linda to find an alternative treatment for fat loss – fat freezing. The great results and lower risk profile of fat freezing is encouraging more and more people to seek fat freezing treatment for their body contouring. Linda established Beautiful Body Clinics  in 2017 to assist women and men experience the life changing benefits of fat freezing. Free consultation appointments are available in our Moorabbin Clinic.

Fat freezing treatment at Beautiful Body Clinics

We specialise in fat freezing treatment as we believe that fat freezing is the most effective and cost-efficient way to permanently change your body shape. 

Fat freezing is also the safest treatment as there are no needles or blood or the need for an anaesthetic.

We offer free consultations in our fat freezing Melbourne clinic – so please click here or give us a call on 1300 BODY NOW (1300 2639 669) to book and let us start you on the way to find your beautiful body.

Author’s Bio:

Linda – (Bachelor of Nursing) had over 10 years of hospital and surgical work experience as a Registered Nurse (1994 – 2007), and was a busy working Mum when she established Australia’s first Fat freezing Specialised clinic in Melbourne – Beautiful Body Clinics Fat Freezing Specialists. This was after personally experiencing the life-changing results of fat freezing (also called Cryolipolysis or Coolsculpting) when she was unable to get rid of her tummy despite a healthy diet and a frequent exercise program. You can contact her here directly, linda@beautifulbodyclinics.com.au