Plenty of people want to reduce the appearance of fat around the thighs, abdomen and stomach but not everyone is ready for an invasive procedure such as liposuction. CoolSculpting and UltraShape are two non-invasive treatments that target unwanted fat without the need for injections, anesthesia or recovery time. There are key differences in how these two treatments work, however, which can help you decide which is best for you.

Both of these procedures help shape and contour areas such as the thighs, love handles and abdomen. They reduce the appearance of stubborn fat that is difficult to remove even with diet and exercise. The result is a slimmer contour and tighter, firmer skin.

CoolSculpting and UltraShape are both FDA-approved and the treatments require no downtime or recovery time. Because of this, they are ideal for anyone who is not able to spend a few days recovering from a procedure. With both treatments, it can take a few weeks to see the full results so if you are preparing for an event, you’ll want to schedule your treatments a few weeks in advanced. Proper diet and exercise are important to help maintain the results of both procedures.

The key difference between these two treatments is how they work. CoolSculpting uses a different technology than UltraShape to slim and contour the body. During the treatment, precisely controlled cooling targets fat cells which then begin the process of natural cell removal. The fat cells break down over a period of a few weeks and the procedure does not cause damage to the surrounding tissue. CoolSculpting generally removes about 25-30% of fat in the treatment area. This treatment is ideal for individuals who are within 10 to 15 pounds of their goal weight.

UltraShape uses ultrasound technology to reduce the appearance of unwanted fat. The device delivers bursts of energy to targeted fat cells. The fat cells then dissipate over a period of a few weeks without damaging the surrounding tissue or nerves. Patients generally see results more quickly, within two to four weeks, with UltraShape as opposed to a few months with CoolSculpting. After three sessions, patients generally experience an average reduction of 4 cm in the circumference of the treated area.

Another key difference between these two procedures is the amount of treatment time they require. CoolSculpting requires more treatment time than UltraShape so if you are not able to spend a lot of time in a treatment, UltraShape may be the right procedure for you. A CoolSculpting treatment takes about two to six hours depending on which area is being treated while an UltraShape treatment takes about one to one and a half hours.

Certain areas of the body are easier to treat with UltraShape. If you are interested in treating a smaller, harder to reach area then UltraShape is more effective than CoolSculpting. Patients generally experience a bit more discomfort during CoolSculpting although it is not a significant difference. With CoolSculpting, there is also the possibility of some discomfort during recovery which does not occur with UltraShape.

Do you have questions about either of these treatments? Ask below and Dr. Joel Schlessinger will answer them!