Plastic Surgeon Dr. Dean Kane of Baltimore Answers Question Regarding CoolSculpting
Q. What are your opinions on the results of CoolSculpting versus Liposonix? I’m not overweight (BMI 20), and work out regularly, but can’t lose a pocket of fat on my lower abdomen. I can’t afford to spend thousands on something that doesn’t work. Also, does Liposonix result in permanent fat removal?
A. Congrats on such a great BMI! Non-Surgical Body Fat reduction is based on the transfer of energy across the skin into the fat to selectively destroy or fatally alter fat cells.
These energy devices since the creation of them some 20 years ago have been mostly disappointing. Their down fall is that they:
- hurt too much or injure the skin to accomplish their goals or
- they do not deliver the energy required due to the patient’s inability to tolerate the pain.
The energy’s used are:
- laser ie focused light waves (eg. Sculpsure)
- ultrasound ie focused sound waves (eg. Liposonix)
- radio-frequency (eg. ThermiSMOOTH)
- direct heat
- cooling (eg. CoolSculpting)
Other than CoolSculpting, the others depend on heat. CoolSculpting is tried and true. It cools the fat to a non-frozen temperature that it selectively turns off the cells ability to function and dies (apoptosis).
Other than Zerona, a laser device which has fallen from use, the injured cells from the above die and do not come back. That is not to say that ALL the cells die so those remaining and those distant from the machines “reach” remain active and able to absorb redistributed calories to become bigger.
There are several devices on the market.
| Device | Manufacturer | Mechanism | Wavelength |
| SculpSure | Cynosure | Laser | |
| Curve | YOLO Medical | Low level laser | 658 nm |
| Lapex 2000 | Meridian Medical | Low level laser | 658 nm |
| Zerona | Erchonia Corp | Low level laser | 635 nm divergent beams |
| Strawberry | Laser Lipo Ltd | Low level laser | 660 nm |
| I-Lipo | Chromogenex | Low level laser | 650-660 nm |
| Smoothshapes | Cynosure | Low level laser | 650 nm and 915 nm |
| Lumislim Titan | Medisico Plc | Low level laser | 650 nm and 940 nm |
| BTL Exilis Elite | BTL Aesthetics | Radiofrequency | |
| BTL Vanquish ME | BTL Aesthetics | Radiofrequency | |
| Thermage | Solta Medical | Radiofrequency | |
| Endymed | Caesarea | Radiofrequency | |
| Infini | Lutronic | Radiofrequency | |
| Tri-pollar | Pollogen | Radiofrequency | |
| Liposonix | Solta Medical | Thermal Focused Ultrasound | |
| UltraShape | Syneron/Candela Inc | Nonthermal Focused Ultrasound | |
| CoolSculpting | Zeltiq Aesthetics | Cryolipolysis | |
| Lipo Angel Plus | Lipo Angel | Ultrasonic Cavitation, Radio Frequency, Low Level Laser therapy |
As you can see, other than CoolSculpting, the “800 pound gorilla”, almost all the others and more are not even around anymore.
Cost is an issue due to the expense to purchase these machines, the on-going costs of supplies, maintenance and training of personnel.
Good luck in your quest to find the “perfect” option for yourself. I wish you the best.
This information is not meant as medical advice. It is provided solely for education. Our practice would be pleased to discuss your unique circumstances and needs as they relate to these topics.
