Cryolipolysis Treatment

Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive fat reduction treatment that targets stubborn areas of fat in the abdomen, flanks (love handles), and upper arms. The treatment is based on freezing fat cells without damaging surrounding skin, nerve fibers, blood vessels, and muscle tissue.

Side effects are rare, but they can include pain, tingling, and itching.

What is Cryolipolysis?

Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive way to reduce the number of fat cells in the body. It is a great solution for those who are at an ideal weight but have developed pockets of fat that don’t respond to diet or exercise. This procedure can be performed on various sites of the body, such as the belly, thighs, bra fat, back, and underside of the buttocks.

During the cryolipolysis treatment, an applicator is placed on the area and cooled to below freezing temperature, which helps kill the fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissue or skin. The treatment is not painful and takes less than an hour, so it can be done during a lunch break.

While it is not a treatment for obesity, many people find that after a few sessions they are significantly thinner in the targeted area. The results of the fat reduction are permanent, as long as a healthy diet and regular exercise continue to be practiced. This procedure is recommended for people who are in good overall health and do not have neurological or orthopaedic issues.

How Does Cryolipolysis Work?

Cryolipolysis works by freezing fat cells to below body temperature, which causes them to die off by a natural process called apoptosis. The dead cells are then removed from the treatment area. This process does not damage nerve fibers, blood vessels or muscle, and it leaves the skin unharmed.

Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive procedure that has gained popularity as an alternative to more invasive methods of fat reduction, such as liposuction. In addition to its effectiveness, it is also relatively safe and requires no downtime.

The technique was developed, in part, by observing what happened when kids ate popsicles. The cofounders of the process, which is marketed under the brand name CoolSculpting, noticed that the fat in their children’s cheeks froze and turned into red indurated nodules, but did not affect the surrounding tissue. This led them cryolipolysis treatment to hypothesize that fat cells are more sensitive to cold injury than other cells.

A doctor who specializes in cryolipolysis can help patients determine how many treatment sessions will be necessary to achieve their desired results. It’s important to note that this procedure is not a weight loss method and only removes excess pockets of fat in the chin, arms, belly, hips, flanks (love handles) and abdomen.

What Are the Benefits of Cryolipolysis?

Fat freezing, also known as cryolipolysis, reduces fat deposits and bulges in stubborn areas of the body that are resistant to diet and exercise. This noninvasive procedure destroys unwanted fat cells by exposing them to cold temperatures that trigger cell death, leaving your body’s natural processes to naturally remove and process the dead cells.

This treatment works on your subcutaneous fat, the layer of fat that’s underneath your skin. However, it can’t target the visceral fat that’s stored in your internal organs and is often the cause of excess weight gain and obesity.

After a fat freezing session, your immune system slowly clears away the damaged cells over several weeks. This is why it can take a few months for you to see final results from your cryolipolysis treatment.

A common side effect of this treatment is redness, numbness and/or bruising in the area that was treated. This is because the cold temperature causes blood vessels to constrict, which can lead to temporary skin discoloration. It is not recommended for people with severe varicose veins, dermatitis or Raynaud’s disease (a rare condition that restricts blood flow to the fingers and toes). It’s also important to note that this treatment is not a substitute for healthy eating and regular exercise.

How Long Does Cryolipolysis Last?

Cryolipolysis (better known cryolipolysis treatment as “CoolSculpting”) is one of the most popular noninvasive fat reduction treatments on the market. It’s empirically shown to decrease stubborn areas of fat that resist exercise and diet.

The premise is that the fat cells in your body are more sensitive to cold temperatures than other types of cells. Therefore, when the fat cells are frozen they die and break down. The injured cells are then eliminated naturally through your lymphatic system. The procedure lasts about an hour, and you can watch TV or use your smart phone during the treatment.

Ideal candidates for cryolipolysis are patients with a localized fat bulge that has not responded to diet and exercise. The procedure can be performed on multiple areas of the body and can be repeated as needed. However, patients with skin conditions like cryoglobulinemia, cold urticaris or paroxysmal cold hemoglobulinuria should not undergo the treatment. You should see results within 2-4 months after your session, and they are considered permanent. If you’re ready to make a change in your life and lose the stubborn pockets of fat, Noom can help you get started today.

What Are the Side Effects of Cryolipolysis?

Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive procedure. The treatment uses applicators that are positioned over targeted fat bulges and cooled to below freezing temperatures. This causes the fat cells to die. The resulting dead cells are eliminated by the body naturally. Because the fat cells do not regenerate, results can last for a long time.

The technology behind cryolipolysis was inspired by something called «popsicle panniculitis.»8 This is a condition that occurs when children accidentally swallow frozen popsicles. The fat beneath the skin becomes red and inflamed, but the overlying skin remains intact. This observation led to the idea that fatty tissue is more sensitive to cold injury than other types of tissues.

Cryolipolysis is a good option for people who want to reduce a localized fat bulge that persists despite diet and exercise. It is not recommended for people with loose skin or who have cold-related conditions, such as cryoglobulinemia, cold urticaris and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (a rare type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia that causes damage to red blood cells). Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also avoid the procedure.