Fat Freezing Vs Fat Melting — What’s The Difference & Which One To Choose?
October 19, 2022
The days of invasive fat reduction procedures like liposuction and surgical removal are numbered. Advancement in medical aesthetics has made non-invasive methods of achieving a contoured and taut physique a reality minus the risk of pain and complications associated with traditional invasive liposuction.
These non-invasive treatments are the go-to for those who want to remove fat bulges that simply would not bulge despite having a sensible diet and exercise regime. The ability to use heat on one hand and cold on the other to achieve significant fat reduction must appear contradictory to any logical person. Is it all just imagination and media hype? Not so … for these treatments are supported by solid scientific evidence and are uncontroversially FDA-approved.
So, today as one of the few clinics in Singapore to offer a full suite of non-invasive fat-reducing body contouring treatments, DermClear’s Medical Director Dr Chin Yee Choong will help break down what the difference between fat freezing and melting is, how they are able to achieve their fat reduction effects and guide you on the choice of the right fat removal procedure to address your concerns.
Fat Freezing – A Chilly And Cool Proposition
Fat freezing, also known as cryolipolysis, is a non-surgical fat reduction and body contouring treatment that works by exposing fat cells in specific areas of the body to extremely low temperatures in a controlled time period. The sub-zero temperature crystallises the fat cells underneath the skin causing them to meet a chilly end. Subsequently, the body’s natural processes eliminate the dead fat cells. Unsightly fat bulges gradually shrink as a result and desired body contours are achieved. Unlike liposuction which carries the risk of scarring and long recovery times, fat freezing procedures do not damage the surrounding tissues. It is a hop-on, hop-off procedure with short recovery times and does not pose any of the terrible risks associated with traditional surgical methods. Fat freezing has been successfully used to reduce fat bulges of the abdomen, thigh, upper arms, back, flanks, and chin … now, isn’t this just simply cool?
Fat Melting – A Hot and Sizzling Proposition
Opposite to fat freezing which uses low temperatures, fat melting uses heat instead to eliminate unwanted fat. This seems more understandable as we are all aware of high temperatures causing damage to living cells and tissues. Simply put, fat cells are more sensitive to extremes of temperatures, either low or high, compared to other normal cells. Devices employ radiofrequency or intense laser to penetrate deep within the skin, target the deep fat cells to heat them up and destroy them while avoiding damage to the overlying skin. As the procedure is non-invasive, unnecessary trauma and perforations associated with surgical liposuction and surgical tummy tuck are avoided. Fat melting procedures are clinically proven to be safe and are able to reduce up to 25% of fat cells in the treated area in numerous scientific studies … a hot and sizzling proposition indeed!
What Is The Difference Between Fat Freezing and Fat Melting?
Although both fat freezing and fat melting use extreme temperatures to eliminate the fat cells, the former utilises sub-zero temperatures to freeze and destroy fat cells, whereas the latter utilises heat to damage and eliminate fat cells. While both applications are proven to be effective against stubborn fat, fat melting procedures have the added advantages of being faster to perform, able to treat multiple areas at the same time and can result in skin tightening and addressing skin laxity at the same time. The suction clamps used for fat freezing procedures may also be more uncomfortable during treatment. The key differences between fat freezing and fat melting are summarised in the table below.
*individual results may vary.
Fat Freeze Or Melt – An Informed Choice
Both fat freezing and fat melting treatments destroy fat cells and can help you achieve your desired body contour. Apart from the key differences in treatment times, application areas, results and potential side effects, there are other factors that need to be considered to in order make an informed choice of which is more suitable for you. These factors include your body weight and fat levels, fitness level, problem areas, skin laxity and tolerance to pain. A detailed pre-treatment consultation with the doctor will help determine the more suitable treatment option. For some, it may be superior to alternate between fat freezing and melting procedures to extract the best benefits that a single modality may not be able to achieve. Additional shock wave therapy and pressure drainage procedure may be added to speed up the removal of the “liquefied fat” to achieve faster body contouring results.
With an extensive experience of over 30 years, Dr Chin brings you his intricate knowledge, precise science behind body-contouring treatments, and his consummate skills in a variety of applicators to treat different areas and a range of body shapes and sizes. Assisted by his team of highly-trained staff, he provides in-depth consultation and evaluation to understand your needs and goals to suggest the best-suited treatment option. The time to finally bid a ‘chilly’ or a ‘warm’ goodbye to those stubborn fat areas has come. Call us today at 6356 5005 or WhatsApp us at 9366 8855 to book your non-obligatory personalised consultation.