CoolSculpting® And Competition

CoolSculpting® is still the market leader in non-invasive fat removal. Competition is coming, but nothing has come close to producing the results in fat reduction that CoolSculpting® has. Lately, I have had patients ask me about two other devices: truSculpt™and SculpSure®. Since they are newer to the market, they must work better, right? Well, sorry to disappoint but the answer is no. Here’s why:

truSculpt™ is a radiofrequency device that is FDA-approved to heat tissue. It has no FDA indication for fat removal at all. According to the FDA, truSculpt provides topical heating for the “purpose of elevating tissue temperature for the treatment of selected medical conditions such as relief of pain, muscle spasms, and increase in local circulation.” The procedure is most often described as painful and basically does little to remove fat.

SculpSure® and Zerona® are lasers that heat tissue. When fat is heated at 42-47 degrees C, fat cells start to leak their contents. It can be tricky maintaining that heat consistently and comfortably. But, the biggest issue with these devices is depth of penetration. SculpSure® penetrates about 2.5cm into the skin, and Zerona® penetrates less than that. To really get significant fat reduction you would have to do multiple procedures, making it cost prohibitive. In fact, the models in the SculpSure® brochure are thinner looking, helping to highlight its effect.

The other issue is permanency of the fat removal. These devices, called Low Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), seem to dissolve fat quickly and have a high early satisfaction rate; but beware. LLLT causes nearly immediate emptying of targeted fat cells and results are noticeable as soon as the treatment is completed. However, because LLLT does not cause fat cell death, it is believed that recurrence of fat deposition is greater than that of other devices, (Kennedy, Verne, Griffith, Falto-Aizpurua, Nouri, 2015, p. 1687). “This finding was best demonstrated in a LLLT study by Gold et al. (2011), who reported that circumferential reduction at 12 weeks (0.32cm) was half of what it was at four weeks (0.64cm),” (Kennedy, Verne, Griffith, Falto-Aizpurua, Nouri, 2015, p. 1687). In simpler terms, half of what you lose will be back in a few weeks.

People always want the newest and best thing on the market. But, why spend your money testing equipment when the research is free and reliable? With prices the lowest we have seen for CoolSculpting®, now is the best time to try it. Call Colorado Skin and Vein at (303) 683-3235 or fill out our online contact form for your free consultation, and see how we can shape your body for the new year!

Reference: Kennedy, J., Verne, S., Griffith, R., Falto-Aizpurua, L., & Nouri, K. (2015). Non-invasive subcutaneous fat reduction: a review. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,29(9), 1679-1688. doi:10.1111/jdv.12994