Which Body Contouring Method Is Best For You

Choosing between the many body contouring treatments currently available can be confusing for perspective patients. There are several great surgical and non-surgical fat reduction treatments, many of which are effective and provide great results.

The “big 3” body contouring treatments today are liposuction (including several variations such as SmartLipo), Cool Sculpting, and Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery).

The best treatment option for each patient will depend greatly on the individual characteristics of their body and the desired end results they seek to achieve. These 5 simple questions will help you figure out which body contouring procedure is right for you.

IS YOUR BMI 30 OR LESS?

A patients Body Mass Index (BMI) needs to be 30 or less in order to be a good candidate for most body contouring treatments. You can determine your BMI by using this free calculator. If your current BMI is over 30, we would encourage you to stay focused on fitness and nutrition until you reach this threshold.

ARE YOU WITHIN 10 POUNDS OF YOUR IDEAL WEIGHT?

Individuals who are within 10 pounds of their ideal weight are great candidates for either Cool Sculpting or Liposuction. At this point many people are generally fit and have specific areas of stubborn body fat that they hope to eliminate.

Perspective patients who are over this 10-pound limit will mostly likely require a tummy tuck procedure.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LOOSE SKIN OR SAGGING MUSCLES?

If your issues stem from loose, excess skin or a separation in the abdominal muscles an Abdominoplasty will be your best option. Removing fat from an area with loose skin will actually look worse, not better. Any excess skin or lax muscles will need to be surgically removed or tightened.

However, if the targeted areas you hope to address are fat pockets without loose skin Coolsculpting or Liposuction can be effective.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO RECOVER?

Tummy tuck surgery and liposuction (both surgical options) will require dedicated recovery periods (downtime) where your physical activities are limited. Here are some great blog posts on recovering from tummy tuck and recovering form liposuction.

If you have no time for recovery, Cool Sculpting is definitely for you. This non-surgical procedure requires no needles, surgical incisions, pain medications, or anesthesia. Patients can resume their routine activities, including returning to work and exercise regimens, immediately following the treatment.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR QUICK RESULTS?

Surgical body contouring options like liposuction provide immediate results in a single session. Non-surgical body contouring like CoolSculpting requires multiple treatment sessions spread out over time before the most dramatic results are achieved.