Tummy Tuck Vs CoolSculpting: Who Is A Good Candidate For Each?

What is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, also called a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure used to improve the abdominal contour by removing excess skin from the abdomen and tightening the abdominal muscles. Good candidates for abdominoplasty include those who have experienced significant weight loss, or women who have stretched muscles resulting from pregnancy and/or weight fluctuations. Most healthy individuals who cannot achieve their goals via diet and exercise may qualify for a tummy tuck.

What is CoolSculpting?

What if you don’t have a lot of excess skin or stretched muscles, but do have a bit of stubborn fat around your tummy? You may be a good candidate for CoolSculpting , a procedure that eliminates small amounts of stubborn fat safely and effectively, without surgery or downtime.

Good candidates for CoolSculpting have noticeable but still minimal bulges; the CoolSculpting fat reduction procedure is specifically designed for those who have small pockets of unwanted fat that resist diet and exercise. Those with larger amounts of fat are unlikely to get the results they desire via CoolSculpting; in these cases, liposuction, high-BMI lipo or lipo 360 are often better choices. Additionally, while CoolSculpting is an excellent, non-invasive option for “spot contouring” small problem areas for those with good skin elasticity, it is not a good choice for anyone who requires more significant contouring or who has loose or sagging skin. If skin elasticity is an issue, a standard abdominoplasty, plus-size tummy tuck or extended abdominoplasty may be required.

What Tummy Tucks and CoolSculpting Are Not

Neither abdominoplasty nor CoolSculpting are weight loss procedures. Tummy tucks remove excess skin, but do not remove fat. They are also considered major surgery, and are therefore an invasive procedures with considerable downtime required. CoolSculpting, on the other hand, is ideal for removing small pockets of excess fat, is non-invasive, and requires no downtime, but does not tighten loose or sagging skin. However, both procedures can be very effective for addressing problem areas that do not respond to diet and exercise.