With warmer weather on the horizon, many of us are looking at how we can feel great about how we look. To help the men and women of San Antonio, we have equipped our Sonterra and La Casita offices with some outstanding options for improving body contours. We understand that more choices can only add to confusion regarding which treatment may be right for you. Why are there so many different ways to sculpt the body, anyway? We want to talk about this here.
Some non-surgical body sculpting treatments destroy fat cells with cold, or cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting). Some use thermal energy. For example, UltraShape is a popular fat reducing treatment that destroys fat cells with ultrasound energy. Each of these systems is FDA-approved and capable of reducing fat in areas such as the abdomen, flanks, hips, and thighs. Each offers the benefit of having no downtime or need for anesthesia. Additionally, both CoolSculpting and UltraShape work by instigating the metabolism of unwanted fat. Therefore, it takes several weeks for the full extent of improvement to be recognized after either of these treatments. The outcome, a slimmer physique, can last several years when healthy lifestyle habits are maintained.
Similar Results, Different Actions
The primary difference between CoolSculpting and UltraShape is that one uses very cold temperature, and one uses ultrasound.
During CoolSculpting treatments, which may take about an hour, fat cells are cooled to precise temperatures that cause their liquid contents to turn to crystal form. The body perceives this crystallization as a type of damage that warrants fat cell removal. After treatment sessions, as much as 30% fat reduction may occur in a given treatment area.
UltraShape treatments, which can take up to an hour, affect fat with pulses of focused ultrasound that penetrate the outer membrane of fat cells to cause destruction. The cells that are targeted during treatment are subsequently processed by the body and eliminated for good. One of the benefits noted by patients who have received UltraShape is that they start to see results within a few weeks.
When treatment options have been proven capable of safely and effectively reducing fatty tissue, we ultimately look at the finer details of treatment, and how those meet individual patient preferences.
Learn more about how we can help you feel great in your body. Call our Sonterra office at (210) 370-9995 or La Casita office at (210) 692-3000 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bucay.