Choosing how to treat stubborn fat

If a pocket of fat has outlasted every diet and exercise plan you have tried, the next question is how far you want to go to remove it. Bellava offers more than one answer, and the honest way to choose is to compare them side by side. All of them are available under one roof in Bedford Hills, a little over four miles from Goldens Bridge by I-684 and the Saw Mill River Parkway — roughly eight minutes without traffic.

Laser lipo: light instead of a cannula

Laser lipolysis sends pulses of laser light through optical fibres, through the skin and into the fat. Fat cells absorb the light selectively and rupture; nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue around them are spared. Your body then absorbs what is left of the cells on its own.

No incisions, no anesthesia and no downtime — you carry on with your day.
Possible slight soreness or tenderness, rarely any bruising or swelling.
Gradual tightening and slimming, reaching its fullest result within six to eight weeks.
Suited to love handles, thighs and the abdomen.

CoolSculpting: cold instead of heat

CoolSculpting is Bellava’s other non-surgical route. Controlled cooling triggers the natural death of targeted fat cells, which the body flushes out over the following months. You feel cold and some pulling from the applicator; afterwards there is no recovery time, and the final result shows after two to four months. It is popular for the abdomen, flanks, back, thighs and under the chin.

Surgery, when fat is not the whole story

Neither laser lipo nor CoolSculpting removes loose skin or repairs stretched abdominal muscles. When those are part of the picture, Bellava’s board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Chang Soo Kim, may recommend a tummy tuck, which he frequently combines with liposuction of the flanks, hips or thighs, or a mommy makeover, in which liposuction is often one of the procedures. Surgery involves incisions and several days of downtime at the least, so it is weighed against the non-surgical options rather than assumed.

How the decision gets made

A consultation at Bellava starts with your medical history and an examination of the areas that bother you. The provider then explains which approach fits — or which combination — taking into account how elastic your skin is and how much fat there is, and is straightforward about what each can realistically achieve. Insurance questions and financing are covered at the same visit.

Goldens Bridge patients ask

Which is better, laser lipo or CoolSculpting? Neither is better for everyone. Both are non-surgical and need no downtime; your provider will recommend the one that suits the area and your goals.

Can I go back to work the same day? Yes. With laser lipo you can return to your normal routine straight after the appointment.

Where can I read more? On the main laser lipo page, and in Bellava’s before and after gallery.

Laser Lipo for Goldens Bridge, NY