Written by: Ask the Expert

Non-Surgical Fat Reduction: THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Throughout my near 20 years of experience as a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, there has always been a very common theme in my practice: the fear of surgery and anesthesia.

My job involves the inevitable need to know about psychology. What I’ve noticed is that the more need for control the person has, the more averse they are to relinquish it. You all know who you are. You are the ones that hate to fly, plan everything, and tend to stomp on the imaginary brake pedal in the passenger seat. With that said, few things are exemplary of relinquishing control as the experience of undergoing a surgical procedure. Despite the potential benefits of improving your appearance with a simple surgical procedure, the thought of going under, quickly erases the thought. So you live with the extra fat, and the discipline required for the necessary diet and exercise waxes and wanes on a daily basis, with inevitable failure.

Coolsculpting to the rescue. Otherwise known as cryolipolysis, Coolsculpting does a modest job (compared to liposuction) in reducing fat. The studies report about 24 percent in fat reduction per area treated. Not to brag, but liposuction can remove up to 95 percent, but I digress. We are not talking surgery here. Coolsculpting has been around for almost 10 years, and is not going anywhere. The treated areas are defined by the treatment “box,” or the treatment head of the device. This “box” sucks your skin and fat inside and cools the tissue. Fat cells are weaker than the skin cells, and are killed in the process. The skin takes a hit from the cold, but it recovers in a few hours. It takes a couple of months for the body to absorb the dead cells, but for a surgery averse person, this is heaven. The process does have its limitations. The treatment areas are sharply defined by the “box”. This means that fat outside the box will not be affected. In some cases a “shark bite” appearance can lead to less than optimal results. What to do?

TruSculpt 3D to the rescue. This non-surgical technology is newer, and uses radiofrequency (heat) to kill the fat cells. The radiofrequency penetrates harmlessly through the skin, and targets the fat cells. The dead cells are also removed by the body in a couple of months. The advantage of this technology is the movable hand-piece.

In my quest for the holy “non-surgical” grail, I decided to combine the therapies, and the results are astounding. The synergy of both modalities provide amazing results that I’ve never seen in the past from the individual therapies. Also, previously treated Coolsculpting patients can have those unsightly “shark bites” treated for a smoother contour.

I call the combined therapy, Fire and Ice. The best non-surgical way to sculpt your body. So to all my controlling friends out there, that want to get their bodies ready for summer, have their cake, and eat it too, try combined Coolsculpting/TruSculpt therapy.


An International, multilingual Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Jose Soler-Baillo brings to South Florida a refreshing, modern approach to Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Soler-Baillo earned his Medical Degree at the prestigious Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, trained in General Surgery at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, and received extensive training in Plastic Surgery in Miami, New York, and Texas. Dr. Soler-Baillo is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For more information please visit, resultsmd.com, email info@soler-baillo.com, or call 786.661.3491.

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Last modified: June 7, 2018