When Spanx can no longer hide unwanted bulges, turning to medical methods of removing fat sounds like a good idea, fat-freezing and liposuction are methods of permanently removing unwanted fat from the body.
What is Liposuction?
Liposuction removes fat from the body through the principles of negative pressure and suction – if you’ve ever used a straw to suck up black pearls in bubble tea, you’d probably have an instinctive idea of how liposuction works
The surgeon usually makes an incision near the treatment area, injecting IV fluids to loosen the fats before injecting a long, narrow tube that sucks out the loosened fat. The surgeon will usually push and pull this narrow tube back and forth in the treatment area to remove as much fat as possible.
What are Fat-Freezing Treatments?
On the other hand, fat-freezing generally works on the principle that fat cells die when cooled to a specific temperature, and fat cells freeze faster than skin cells. This way, a non-invasive device can freeze and destroy fat cells at a controlled temperature while keeping the surrounding skin intact and unharmed.
To further destroy the fat cells, the device can deliver acoustic sound energy that shatters them, making it easier for our bodies to expel the dead fat cells through our natural metabolic processes.
This is done by applying a probe and conductive gel to the treatment area, similar to an ultrasound scan. One example of such a non-invasive device is Proshock Ice, which we offer at LS Aesthetic Clinic to eliminate stubborn fat and cellulite.
While both methods are effective for suitable candidates, which is better? Suitability can differ depending on the criteria you have in mind. We break it down for you:
Fat-Freezing vs Liposuction: A Breakdown
| Comparison Factors | Fat-Freezing via ProShock Ice | Liposuction |
| Time Taken | Proshock Ice is a non-invasive device – it uses the theory that fat cells freeze faster than skin cells to permanently remove fat cells from under your skin without the need for surgery. | Liposuction generally tends to be a 1- time procedure, and surgery usually takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the size of the treatment area. You may not see results immediately as a result of post-surgical swelling. It may take about 1-3 months to see full results as the body eliminates the fluids from the surgery over the next few months. |
| Invasiveness | This invasive surgical procedure requires cutting, stitching, and anaesthesising. Typically, a surgeon will make an incision near your abdomen and use a blunt metal cannula to suction the fats of your body. | While you will not feel pain during the surgery due to general anaesthesia, most patients generally feel some degree of pain post-surgery as the body adapts and heals. |
| Risks | While you will not feel pain during the surgery due to general anaesthesia, most patients generally feel some pain post-surgery as the body adapts and heals. | Given its surgical nature, liposuction does come with its fair share of risks, such as: Internal bleeding Punctures of internal organs Fat embolism, in which pieces of loosened fat break away and become trapped in a blood vessel or gather in the lungs, causing dangerous blockages |
| Pain | Proshock Ice is generally a well-tolerated procedure. Most patients generally do not report feeling pain during or after their treatments, as the cooling effect of the device induces numbness. | Some swelling is to be expected immediately after liposuction surgery. Downtime is expected to be about 1 week, while you will likely have to refrain from exercising for at least a month. |
| Downtime | There is no downtime associated with Proshock Ice. Feel free to resume your daily activities after! | Liposuction procedures in Singapore generally cost between $4,000 to $12,000, depending on the type of liposuction technology used and the number of areas treated. |
| Price | Prices generally range between $2,000 to $9,000, depending on the number of areas treated. | Liposuction procedures in Singapore generally can cost between $4,000 to $12,000, depending on the type of liposuction technology used and the number of areas treated. |
Disclaimer: these treatments cannot improve the appearance of loose skin, nor are they substitutes for weight loss – if you consume more calories than you burn, remaining fat cells can still expand. Eating clean is still crucial, and the golden rules still apply: stay clear from sugars – they cause wrinkles too! – and load up on those veggies.
For more information on our Proshock Ice fat-freezing body contouring treatments, call us at +65 6738 4700, enquire@lsaestheticclinic.com, or visit you at Wisma Atria, Orchard Road. We provide honest advice, quality care, and affordable prices.