Coolsculpting and Emsculpt are two new technologies for fat removal available in the US. They do essentially the same thing but at different rates, with different results (at least initially).
Coolsculpting is approved to be used on love handles (flanks), abdominal muscles (the “muffin top”) and back fat.
Emsculpt is approved to be used on the thighs, upper arms and buttocks.
What is the difference between Coolsculpting and Emsculpt?
- Coolsculpting freezes your fat cells to remove them; Emsculpt is more like an intense workout for your muscles, causing them to grow bigger which makes the fat cells appear smaller.
- Coolsculpting results are immediate; Emsculpt takes about 3 months for results to be noticeable.
- Coolsculpting is only approved for “spot” fat removal (love handles, muffin top, back fat); Emsculpt is approved for both “spot” and “large area” fat removal (upper arms, thighs, buttocks).
- Coolsculpting takes one hour; Emsculpt takes about an hour and a half.
- Coolsculpting has more possible side effects; Emsculpt has less possible side effects.
Cost of both Techniques
You can do 2-3 of Coolsculpting sessions (typically 4 weeks apart) per area for an average total cost of $1500-$3000; For Emsculpt you would need 3-4 treatments per area (typically every 4 weeks) for a total cost of $5000-$8000.
Coolsculpting has been available since 2009 and Emsculpt just started being FDA approved this year (2015).
should I choose Emsculpt or Coolsculpting?
First figure out what you are trying to achieve – if it’s spot fat, do Coolsculpting; If it’s large areas, choose Emsculpt.
Then consider cost – Coolsculpting is cheaper for treating “spot” fat; Emsculpt is cheaper if you want to treat multiple areas with a single session.
Finally, think about how important it is to have immediate results and what the possible side effects are for each treatment.
Emsculpt and Coolsculpting are both great options for getting rid of stubborn fat.