Coolsculpting or SculpSure: which is better?
Both permanently reduce fat by about 20 to 25 percent per treatment. Coolsculpting freezes fat with suction applicators and is better for larger pinchable bulges. SculpSure heats fat with a laser through flat applicators, takes 25 minutes, has no suction bruising, and reaches areas that are hard to pinch. Neither is universally better; the right one depends on where the fat is.
Coolsculpting
- Cryolipolysis: fat cells are frozen
- 35 to 45 minutes per applicator
- Suction applicators grip a bulge; best for love handles, lower belly, inner thighs
- Numbness and tenderness for a couple of weeks
SculpSure
- 1060nm laser: fat cells are heated
- 25 minutes, up to four flat applicators at once
- No suction, rare bruising; good for flatter areas like the upper abdomen and bra line
- Mild soreness for a few days
We offer Coolsculpting and SculpSure at both offices. Dr. Darvish recommends one or the other, or both for different areas, after examining how your body carries fat. BodyFX is added when the skin over the area also needs tightening.
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More about body contouring
Does Coolsculpting actually work?
Yes. Coolsculpting is FDA-cleared and in clinical studies reduces the fat layer in a treated area by 20 to 25 percent per session. It freezes fat cells, which die and are cleared by the body over two to three months. It works best on pinchable pockets in people near a stable weight. It is not weight loss, and results depend heavily on correct applicator placement and candidate selection. Read more
Is Coolsculpting permanent?
Yes, the fat cells destroyed by Coolsculpting are gone permanently; adults do not grow new fat cells. However, the fat cells that remain in the area can still expand if you gain weight, so maintaining a stable weight preserves the result. Most patients keep their contour for years. The same is true of SculpSure and other fat-destroying treatments. Read more
How do I get rid of a double chin without surgery?
Three non-surgical options reduce a double chin: Kybella injections dissolve the fat permanently over two to four sessions; Coolsculpting with the mini applicator freezes it in one or two sessions; and radiofrequency tightening like Forma or Fractora firms loose skin under the chin. Adding jawline filler (Volux) sharpens the result. The best choice depends on whether fat or skin laxity is the main issue. Read more
What is the best non-surgical fat reduction treatment?
The best non-surgical fat reduction treatments are Coolsculpting (freezing), SculpSure (laser heating) and BodyFX (radiofrequency with vacuum), each of which permanently destroys 20 to 25 percent of fat in the treated area per session, and Kybella for the chin. The right choice depends on the area, whether the fat is pinchable, and whether the skin also needs tightening. None is a substitute for weight loss. Read more
Does BodyFX work for cellulite?
Yes. BodyFX is one of the few treatments that improves cellulite because it addresses its causes: radiofrequency heat relaxes the fibrous bands that pull the skin into dimples, reduces the fat that pushes between them, and tightens the skin over the area. A series of six to eight weekly sessions produces smoother thighs and buttocks with no downtime. Results last a year or more with maintenance. Read more
Can loose skin after weight loss be tightened without surgery?
Mild to moderate loose skin after weight loss can be tightened without surgery using radiofrequency treatments like BodyFX and Forma Plus for the body and Forma or Fractora for the face and neck, often combined with Sculptra to rebuild collagen. Significant excess skin after large weight loss generally needs surgery. Starting tightening treatments during weight loss gives the best outcome. Read more
What is SculpSure and how does it work?
SculpSure is a non-invasive laser treatment that permanently reduces fat in 25 minutes. A 1060nm laser heats fat cells under the skin to a temperature that damages them while a cooling plate protects the skin. The body clears the cells over six to twelve weeks, reducing fat in the area by about 24 percent per treatment. It is FDA-cleared for the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs and under the chin. Read more
How many Coolsculpting sessions do I need?
Most areas need one to two Coolsculpting sessions. Each session removes about 20 to 25 percent of the fat in the treated area, so a second session two to three months later roughly doubles the reduction. Larger areas like the abdomen often need multiple applicator cycles in one visit to cover the whole area. Your consultation maps the applicators and sessions so you know the full plan and cost up front. Read more