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You’re closer to your ideal weight after practicing healthy eating and exercise habits, but you’re still unhappy with the appearance of your abdomen. You might be frustrated that your belly is still flabbier than you’d like it to be, that it retains a bulge you can’t flatten, or that loose, sagging skin makes you embarrassed to show your midriff. You’re considering treatment to take you that last step to a firm, flat, trim midsection, but you’re not sure which to choose.

In this article, we’ll explain your treatment options and help guide you to the best choice, based on your goals.

It’s Your Body, Your Priorities, and Your Choice

Every body is different and responds in different ways to aging, weight changes, and pregnancy. And every individual has different priorities in life — not just about how they look, but how much time they can take for treatment and how quickly they’d like to see results. Here are the key factors to consider as you weigh your treatment options:

Tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is surgery to tighten loose skin, repair weakened and separated abdominal muscles, and remove excess fat. It’s major surgery, but it’s the most transformative of the procedures to repair a flabby, bulging belly. With a tummy tuck, you’ll get a firm, flat, smooth abdomen and a slimmer waistline. If you have loose, sagging skin on your stomach and your belly bulge is from muscles that no longer hold your midsection flat, a tummy tuck is the only procedure that can restore a youthful appearance.

While a tummy tuck can work wonders to improve your appearance, it does require downtime for recovery. Most patients take at least two weeks off from work, and it can take several more weeks before they feel completely back to normal. For a sense of the results you can expect from a tummy tuck, view our before-and-after photo gallery.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure to remove pockets of excess fat. It’s a body-contouring procedure, not an overall weight-loss treatment, as it targets specific areas of diet- and exercise-resistant fat. In liposuction, a thin tube, or cannula, is inserted through small incisions and used to break up and remove fat deposits. The fat cells removed in liposuction are gone forever and they won’t grow back. If you gain weight after treatment, the remaining fat cells will increase in size, but there are fewer of them in the treated area, so your stomach will remain proportionally slimmer. Liposuction does not work to tighten loose skin or repair weakened abdominal muscles.

Most patients need a few days to a week of downtime after liposuction and may have some short-term swelling and bruising. The slimming effects are visible immediately, and final results appear after about three weeks. You can see examples of these results in our before-and-after photo gallery.

CoolScultping

CoolSculpting is a remarkable new treatment that uses precisely controlled cold temperatures to destroy fat cells where excess fat lingers in pinchable bulges. The technology uses a cooling device that surrounds the area to be treated, chilling the fat to the point where it is damaged, without hurting skin, muscle, and other surrounding tissue. In the weeks following treatment, these damaged fat cells are naturally processed out of the body as waste.

You’ll have no downtime after a CoolSculpting session. You can walk out of treatment and go straight back to work or resume your normal activities. Final results appear about three months after treatment, and it can take more than one session to achieve optimal results.

Learn More About Abdominal Treatments in Beverly Hills

Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery have developed an impeccable reputation for stunning, natural-looking cosmetic treatment and plastic surgery results, attracting patients from all over the world. Contact our practice today at (310) 746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a consultation and a recommendation on the abdominal treatment — or treatments — best suited to your needs. For many patients, a combination of procedures is the ideal solution.

The holiday binge is over and you’ve resolved to lose weight and slim your contours through diet and exercise. But if you’ve tried it before, you know that it’s hard to stick with the plan and succeed. And, even if you are diligent with your approach, you may still have difficulty getting rid of stubborn bulges.

CoolSculpting, an innovative, non-invasive method of freezing away diet- and exercise-resistant pockets of fat, can give you a boost to help you meet your body-shaping goals. CoolScupting is not a substitute for healthy eating and exercise habits and it is not, on its own, a weight-loss solution. But by giving you a head start and removing long-standing bulges, the treatment can make you feel better about your body and power your commitment to healthy eating and exercise habits.

1. Team Approach

Social support is a key element in a successful diet and physical activity programs. When you work with a coach at the gym you’re more likely to build exercise into your weekly schedule and keep raising the bar on your health goals. Exercising with a friend can be a big motivator, too. Weight Watchers and other group diet programs leverage the power of social forces to push us to stick with a program and achieve results. It’s easier to fall back into old habits if nobody else will notice, harder when you know you have to report your weight to a group. 

Treatment with CoolSculpting is another way to adopt a team approach to reaching your health goals. It can help you feel that you’re not in it alone and that you have support as you make positive health changes. The team who provide your CoolSculpting treatments are in your corner. They’re working with you to give you the great shape you’ve been working so hard to achieve.

2. Motivation

Studies show that small steps are the key to making healthy changes. By building on small successes, we are energized to keep going and make healthy habits a routine part of our lives. CoolSculpting can help you feel successful right away with quickly visible changes to your body contours, which can be a huge motivator to stick with your eating and physical-activity resolutions.

The lack of noticeable progress is the biggest source of discouragement among people trying to lose weight, and the sense of failure drives many people to give up. Losing weight takes time and rarely proceeds on an expected schedule. It can take weeks — even months — to see results from diet and exercise. CoolSculpting treatments take inches off where they bother you most. That visible change can boost your sense of self-esteem and your feelings of optimism, giving you a surge in positive motivation that can make all the difference as you work to improve your health habits.

3. Attitude

By choosing CoolSculpting treatment, you are committing to self-improvement. You’re taking action to eliminate fatty bulges that may have bothered you for years. That step reinforces the commitment to yourself that you are making by stepping up your exercise routine and paying closer attention to your eating. As you see the slimming effects of CoolSculting, you’ll be reinforcing that positive attitude. You’re saying to yourself that you matter, that your health and your appearance are worth investing in, and that you can make a change. And the quick and permanent slimming effects of CoolSculpting can fuel your positive attitude toward improving yourself. That attitude can help you make this year the one in which your resolutions take hold for long-term change.

Talk With a CoolSculpting Expert

Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery are experts in CoolSculpting treatment. They have developed an impeccable reputation for their stunning, natural-looking results. Contact them today at (310) 746-5475 or send an online request to schedule a consultation.

In recent years, CoolSculpting has experienced a boom among cosmetic procedures. Increasing numbers of men and women looking for a way to get rid of stubborn fat pockets without surgery have turned to this non-invasive option. Proponents of CoolSculpting describe transformative results with virtually no discomfort or downtime after the procedure.  After reading glowing testimonials and maybe even looking at before-and-after pictures, you may find yourself wondering if CoolSculpting is just too good to be true. It’s natural to be skeptical, so we recommend turning to the science to determine whether this is a procedure you’d like to pursue.

How Does CoolSculpting Work?

An understanding of how CoolSculpting works must first begin with a few important facts you should know about fat cells.  When you gain weight, fat is deposited in areas of your body through the expansion of existing fat cells and the creation of new cells. Unfortunately, once a new fat cell has been added, it won’t go away or die on its own.  

Weight loss allows the fat cells of the body to shrink, but they won’t decrease in number. This explains how some areas can be “stubborn” and tend to hang on to unwanted bulges despite your best exercise and dietary habits.  It is precisely these problem areas that cause patients to seek options such as CoolSculpting, or cryolipolysis.

Cryolipolysis is among the few non-surgical fat reduction procedures available to patients. Initially discovered by Harvard professors, this treatment uses extremely cold temperatures to target, freeze and kill excess fat cells in different parts of the body. Once destroyed, the cellular remains are metabolized and flushed from the area, reducing bulk to reveal a more toned and sleek appearance. More importantly, the results of this procedure are permanent and these fat cells won’t return as long as you are able to maintain a relatively stable weight.

The Verdict on CoolSculpting

While popular sites like RealSelf can offer insight from fellow patients who’ve undergone the procedure, the indisputable proof is best found in the review of scientific and clinical studies. For many patients, the decision to pursue CoolSculpting often comes down to two key questions: How well does it work and how long will it last? In the case of CoolSculpting, results from patients, physicians, and unbiased third parties all point to the same conclusion – CoolSculpting works and you can count on long-lasting results. 

During clinical trials, studies performed by various researches showcased the efficacy of cryolipolysis as a safe treatment for decreasing fat content in targeted areas of the body. A comprehensive review of the scientific research on cryolipolysis revealed that fat cells can be reduced up to 25% after a single treatment, and the vast majority of patients that undergo this procedure can see visible results.

CoolSculpting’s growing popularity among patients has made additional research and new insights into the long-term effects possible. These additional studies have demonstrated the long-term impacts of the treatment, showing that this non-surgical approach to fat reduction offers lasting results for patients who do not experience weight gain after the procedure. 

Another review of the literature examined the side effects of the procedure and found them to be minimal.  Patients express extremely high satisfaction with their CoolSculpting experience and outcomes, and the vast majority of them would recommend the procedure to their friends. From this and additional research, physicians and research scientists have concluded that cryolipolysis is a safe, comfortable, and effective treatment for patients.

Enhance Your Figure with CoolSculping Today

At Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, our experts specialize in transforming figures and lives. When it comes to non-invasive procedures like CoolSculpting, Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim focus on using the latest and most effective techniques to ensure that patients are satisfied with their results long after their procedures. To learn more about the benefits of CoolSculpting, call 310-746-5475 today and schedule your consultation at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery today!

The hottest new procedure to get rid of stubborn body fat is CoolSculpting! CoolSculpting is an amazing technology that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat. Here’s what you need to know about this noninvasive way to remove fat you can’t seem to get rid of through diet and exercise.

Schedule your CoolSculpting consultation today!

CoolSculpting is an innovative procedure that offers patients the opportunity to achieve a beautifully toned, slender figure without surgery. For many, the procedure has been the final step in tackling stubborn fat pockets along the midsection – but what about other parts of the body? Explore some of the top treatment areas where CoolSculpting has been used that aren’t your midsection

Chin and Neck

Tired of looking in the mirror and seeing an unfortunate double chin? You’re not alone. Submental fullness, or the commonly referred to as a double chin, affects men and women of all ages and weights. This stubborn collection of fat cells can also be especially challenging to remove, even with a tough workout routine. While traditional treatments may have involved liposuction and then a neck lift, CoolSculpting offers a non-invasive, non-surgical alternative. In recent years, the company developed the CoolMini, an ultra-slim applicator that allows patients to target unwanted fat below the chin. With this treatment option, patients can take years off their appearance and feel a bit more confident in their looks.

Arms

Sagging skin and increased fat deposits along the triceps and biceps can be a source of concern for many patients as they age. Even if your arms are toned and muscular, the aging process can contribute to skin laxity and fat development in the upper arms, hiding away your hard work. Rather than resort to a future filled with long-sleeve shirts and sweaters, consider CoolSculpting for your arms. Specific applicators can be used to target unwanted fat deposits that accumulate along the triceps while stimulating skin elasticity. While treating this area may require several sessions, the intervening time between office visits gives your skin enough time to recover and return to a more aesthetic position.

Chest

For men who’ve lost significant weight, losing the final fat pockets from the chest can be especially challenging. However, not every case of gynecomastia requires surgical intervention to treat. CoolSculpting offers a non-invasive alternative that can help individuals finally achieve their ideal figure discreetly.

Love handles

A flat, smooth stomach doesn’t always mean the elimination of love handles. Like the abdomen and arms, fat deposits and sagging skin that are characteristic of aging can contribute to the development of these unflattering pockets. While the adipose tissue within love handles can be shrunken, patients will always run the risk of fluctuating size unless the cells are permanently removed. CoolSculpting for love handles can help enhance a toned figure, giving it the final push necessary toward an individual’s long-desired look.

Thighs

Not all fat pockets are created equal. On the inner and outer thighs, lumps and bulges may not be what most consider “fat pockets” but are still unwanted deposits keeping patients from feeling comfortable in their appearance. With CoolSculpting, our Beverly Hills specialists can destroy fat in these hard-to-reach places, helping patients achieve their desired appearance.

Start Your CoolSculpting Journey Today

At BHPS, we know how overwhelming it can be to find the right procedure for your body and goals. By offering a wide array of treatment options as well as personalized care in a state-of-the-art environment, our Beverly Hills plastic surgeons are your partners in self-care. To learn more about how CoolSculpting and other non-surgical body sculpting procedures can be adapted to your needs and goals, call our office today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to seeing you!

 

With the holidays just around the corner, many of our patients are already looking ahead to the new year for self-improvement goals and opportunities. Most of these goals include looking for ways to improve our physiques and boost our confidence.

While a better diet and increased exercise are always options, these resolutions may not be enough to help you get the body of your dreams. If you’re just a few stubborn lumps and bumps away from achieving the perfectly sculpted physique you’ve been looking for, consider CoolSculpting. With this non-surgical fat-removal solution, you can look forward to knowing you’ve met your new year’s goal ahead of schedule. Additionally, since results are gradual, it’s best to start treatment now.

Why Diet and Exercise Aren’t Enough

A healthy, balanced diet and comprehensive workout routine are important to both weight loss and better health. Consuming fewer calories than you’re outputting and swapping carb-heavy, processed foods for nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits and meats has been the standard solution for individuals looking to lose weight.

To better understand the benefits of CoolSculpting, it’s important to look at how fat cells work. Unlike other cells in the body, fat cells grow and shrink in response to an individual’s diet and workout routine. When individuals put on weight, fat cells expand and more develop while weight loss results in shrinking cell tissue. However, weight loss does not mean fat cells are removed. Even with a vigorous workout routine and restrictive diet, it is almost impossible to eliminate accumulated fat cells (adipose tissue) without some form of physical intervention. For patients looking to eliminate the last stubborn pockets of fat and sculpt their perfect body, this challenge can be especially frustrating.

How CoolSculpting is Revolutionizing Body Sculpting

In the past, traditional body contouring procedures to remove stubborn fat cells have traditionally relied on invasive surgeries. Tummy tucks and liposuction, in particular, have been popular surgical options for patients comfortable with surgical intervention. While these procedures are very effective, the preparation and recovery timeline may not appeal to every patient. For individuals looking to avoid the lengthy recovery time of traditional plastic surgery, CoolSculpting is the ideal alternative.

Rather than relying on surgery to physically remove fat cells, CoolSculpting uses the process of cryolipolysis – the elimination of fall cells via extremely cold temperatures identified by Harvard University scientists. Through this process, stubborn pockets of fat are placed between two panels. These panels emit controlled cooling that directly targets and freezes stubborn fat cells. After treatment, your body naturally processes and eliminates the dead fat cells, leaving you with a more contoured, sculpted appearance.

Start 2019 with Your Best Foot Forward – Schedule an Appointment

If your 2019 goals include self-improvement and self-care, consider the advantages cosmetic treatments like CoolSculpting as a way of helping you achieve your ultimate dream body. To learn more about this innovative approach to body sculpting that doesn’t require surgery, call Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery and schedule your consultation with our experienced team.

 

 

When it comes to removing undesirable fat deposits and reshaping your figure, you’ve undoubtedly heard of liposuction and its less invasive counterpart, CoolSculpting, as two of the most effective methods currently available.

Both liposuction and CoolSculpting share the same goal – to re-contour targeted areas of your body – but there are several key differences in the two approaches. So how do you decide which is right for you?

While CoolSculpting illustrates the growing popularity of non-surgical cosmetic procedures, liposuction offers a surgical approach to eliminating fatty tissue. This guide presents the “skinny” on both techniques to help you choose between them.

What Is Liposuction?

Despite maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many people find themselves struggling with fat accumulating on specific areas of their body. These circumstances are often due to hereditary or hormonal factors that are outside their control. That’s why liposuction remains one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world.

Liposuction removes excess fat from specific areas of the body – including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks, and neck – by vacuuming out fat cells through a small tube called a cannula. Provided you remain within your target body weight, the fat cells removed via liposuction are unlikely to return.

While liposuction can deliver somewhat more dramatic results than CoolSculpting, neither approach is a substitute for natural weight loss, or as a treatment for obesity. You should only undergo liposuction if your goal is to contour problem areas where you have been unsuccessful at losing the fat through diet and exercise.

How Liposuction Works

Since liposuction first became available in the 1980s, there have been many refinements and advancements to the techniques doctors use to perform the surgery, which have provided patients with better results and shorter recovery times.

As with any surgical procedure, there are some potential complications associated with liposuction, which include bruising, swelling, numbness, infections, blood clots and irregular skin contouring. However, choosing to undergo liposuction under the care of an experienced, cosmetic surgeon will significantly minimize these risks.

Who Is A Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Ideal candidates for liposuction share these qualities:

What Is CoolSculpting?

Though freezing off fat may sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, that’s precisely how CoolSculpting, also known as cryolipolysis, works. This FDA-approved procedure is based on a scientific principle that frozen fat cells get flushed out of your body through natural processes – without harming the skin or surrounding tissue.

CoolSculpting is best for people who are within their target body weight, but who want to remove stubborn pockets of body fat that resist diet and exercise. Most CoolSculpting patients choose to treat their abdomen, “love handles,” back, upper arms, or thighs.

How CoolSculpting Works

For many people, the best part of CoolSculpting is that the entire process is non-surgical and requires no restrictions on activity or diet. The treatment uses a controlled device to draw fatty tissue into an applicator cup between a pair of panels, which freeze fat cells until they crystallize.

Though you may feel a pulling, pinching, or tingling sensation as the applicator first goes to work, these feelings lessen within about 10 minutes as the treated area goes numb. Many people choose to read or even take a nap while undergoing a CoolSculpting session. Since there is no need for downtime after the procedure, you can return to work immediately, with none of your co-workers knowing how you spent your lunch break.

Compared with surgical procedures, which leave patients with stitches, bruising, and scars, CoolSculpting’s side effects are relatively minimal and include numbness, tenderness, redness, and swelling of the targeted area. You can manage any discomfort with over-the-counter pain medicine.

The results of CoolSculpting are not immediate but reveal themselves gradually over the course of several months. That’s why the procedure also appeals to people who prefer to keep their treatments private. We recommend two to three treatments, spaced four weeks apart.

Who Is A Good Candidate for CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is an excellent option for patients who:

Book Your Confidential Consultation Today

If you are interested in getting liposuction or CoolSculpting in the Beverly Hills area, schedule a consultation with us to discuss your goals and expectations. Though both procedures have a long track record of being safe and effective, you are nonetheless choosing to make changes to your body that require you to weigh all the pros and cons. Our qualified, cosmetic surgeons can help you decide which option is best for you.

 

As the colder weather approaches, you might be breathing a sigh of relief at the prospect of cozying up with a big sweater and no longer having to count every calorie that enters your mouth. But just because your beach days are temporarily over, it doesn’t mean you have to let your figure go.

With cosmetic treatments like CoolSculpting and liposuction, you can still maintain an ideally contoured figure and let your curves show with confidence – even during the colder months. Read on to discover how these versatile treatments will have you reaching for a clingy sweater-dress instead of a bulky pullover when winter comes around this year.

Body Contouring Treatments: Your Winter Guide

CoolSculpting

For those who want to maintain an ideal shape during winter but would prefer to avoid the surgical route, CoolSculpting is the perfect option. This innovative fat reduction treatment works by freezing fat cells and destroying them in the process. CoolSculpting is completely safe and has been cleared by the FDA for non-invasive fat reduction. Ideal candidates for CoolSculpting include men and women who are at a healthy weight, but who still have a slight tummy pooch, love handles, or unwanted fat on the back, arms, and thighs.

Benefits of CoolSculpting include:

What to Expect from a CoolSculpting Treatment

During treatment, a device will be placed over the area where you’d like to reduce fat. The device includes an applicator cup between cooling panels. Once it’s activated, CoolSculpting uses a vacuum-like mechanism to draw your tissue into the applicator cup, where cold temperatures are applied in a highly targeted fashion. When the device is started, you may feel a tugging or pulling sensation. For ultimate safety, the device has an emergency shut-off response just in case the skin ever gets too cold. And since this treatment is non-invasive, the surrounding skin, nerves, and blood vessels will not be injured.

After treatment, your body will start to eliminate the dead fat cells that were destroyed. This cycle will take place over the first 30 to 90 days following your first CoolSculpting session, gradually revealing a more slim and sculpted body. For best results, you should aim to have two or three treatments of CoolSculpting spaced out about four weeks apart. Side effects are minor and usually include stinging, tingling, or cramping, but these sensations should subside within about 10 minutes.

Liposuction

Due to factors like aging and significant weight fluctuations, you may be left with pockets of fat that don’t respond to traditional methods of weight loss. And just because you may have traded in your bikini for a scarf and sweater, it doesn’t mean you want to give up looking good during winter. After all, the colder months bring plenty of parties and holiday gatherings to attend.

For people who struggle with exercise-resistant fat, liposuction remains the ultimate body contouring method. Ideal candidates for liposuction include those who are at a fairly stable weight and have good skin elasticity, but who have stubborn pockets of fat on the body.

Patients can expect to enjoy the following benefits from liposuction:

How Liposuction Works

There are many liposuction techniques available, but in general, your surgeon will insert a small tube or cannula through an incision, and then fat will be suctioned out. But it’s not just about removing fat. During liposuction, your surgeon will work to contour the body with every pass of the cannula to make sure that there’s an even distribution of fat. This results in ideal contours that complement your natural body shape.

After liposuction, most patients feel ready to return to work within a week, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least a few weeks. Since summer is often spent vacationing or spending time outdoors, many people find the colder months to be the perfect time to undergo cosmetic treatments like liposuction. This way you can take time off to recover without it affecting your summer plans.

With cosmetic treatments like CoolSculpting and liposuction, you can look your best for all of those holiday parties and end-of-the-year celebrations you have planned this winter. Ready to take the next step? Contact the specialists at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation for liposuction or CoolSculpting in Beverly Hills.