Fat Sculpting With CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting, or cryolipolysis, is a noninvasive treatment that freezes stubborn fat cells. The frozen cells die and are eliminated by the body naturally.
The procedure is safe and effective for most people. However, it’s not a weight loss method and shouldn’t replace healthy eating and exercise. It’s also not for pregnant women.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that destroys unwanted fat cells in the body to help you achieve your ideal shape. This treatment uses a revolutionary cryolipolysis technology to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat in the abdomen, flanks, chin, arms, and back that can persist even after rigorous exercise and a balanced diet. By reducing the excess fat layer in these troublesome areas, CoolSculpting can reveal the underlying muscles to give you a more defined physique.
During a treatment session, the CoolSculpting applicator is placed on the target area and delivered controlled cooling to freeze the fat cells in the targeted zone. You may feel some achy or uncomfortable sensations initially, but these feelings usually subside as the treatment area becomes numb. Most clients are able to read, work, or nap during their session, which lasts about 35 minutes.
Once the target cells are frozen, your body naturally flushes out these crystallized cells over the weeks following your treatment. In just a few months, you will see a noticeable reduction in the size of your problem areas. Some patients need more than one treatment to see their full results, and Dr. Green can customize a treatment schedule for your specific needs and goals.
Unlike invasive surgical procedures like liposuction, CoolSculpting is completely painless. The treatment is comfortable and safe for most patients, though it’s not an appropriate option for obese individuals. You will still need to maintain a healthy weight to preserve your results.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting is a FDA-cleared fat reduction method that uses a specialized cooling technology to sculpt the body and eliminate stubborn fat pockets. It’s a noninvasive procedure that can slim the waist, thighs, love handles, and under the chin. A practitioner suctions the area of excess fatty tissue into an applicator and then applies a targeted cooling to break down the cells. The cold temperature only affects the fatty cells, not the surrounding skin and underlying tissues.
The body then naturally eliminates the dead cells through the liver within one to three months. CoolSculpting can reduce the amount of fat by up to 25% in a treated area, and many people benefit from multiple treatment sessions.
After a session, which can last up to an hour fat sculpting and doesn’t require anesthesia or downtime, you can return to your normal activities immediately. Most patients see a noticeable change within a few weeks, with full results in about six months.
If you’re considering a CoolSculpting session, it’s important to find a reputable provider who is trained and experienced using the device. Look for a doctor who is certified with the official CoolSculpting website’s “find a provider” tool. Additionally, your practitioner should use the latest version of the CoolSculpting device—either the CoolSculpting or CoolSculpting Elite. Newer, wider paddles enable doctors to treat more surface area with each session and deliver a faster treatment time.
What Are the Side Effects of CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat-reduction treatment. It is popular among men and women with stubborn fat that does not respond to diet or exercise. The treatment can be used to contour the thighs, belly, arms, flanks, back and bra fat, chin or other areas. CoolSculpting has been FDA approved since 2010 and is safe for most people.
A tugging or pulling sensation is common during the coolsculpting abdomen procedure as fat cells are frozen and die. Other side effects may include redness, swelling or bruising at the treatment site. These side effects usually go away within a few days or weeks.
A good CoolSculpting provider will not push this treatment on a person who is a poor candidate. This includes people with a BMI of over 30 or who are clinically obese. There are other, more invasive procedures that can be used to treat these types of individuals. The CoolSculpting practitioner will also not recommend this treatment if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. In addition, patients with medical issues like diabetes or liver disease should avoid this treatment. These conditions can interfere with the body’s ability to process fat cells. Once the fat cells are frozen and killed, they will not come back, but overall body weight can influence how long CoolSculpting results last. The best way to keep your results is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Can I Have CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a noninvasive cosmetic treatment that removes fat cells from problem areas. It’s based on the science of cryolipolysis, which involves cold temperatures to kill fat cells without damaging the skin or muscle tissue. It’s popular because it can target stubborn fat that resists diet and exercise.
Ideal candidates are adults who have excess fat in the subcutaneous fat layer. This is the fat that’s easily pinchable, unlike visceral fat that lives deep in your belly and can’t be moved with exercise or diet. CoolSculpting is also a good option for eliminating fat bulges under the jaw or in the neck, which gives a double chin.
Although it’s safe for most people, you should discuss the procedure with your doctor to see if you are a good candidate. If you have a neurological or skeletal condition, or if your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, CoolSculpting could cause severe complications. You should also avoid this procedure if you have a skin disease such as psoriasis, rosacea or lupus.
CoolSculpting is a great option for people who don’t want or can’t undergo surgery to remove excess fat. Most patients start to see results in three weeks, with the most dramatic changes happening two months after treatment. Because the fat cells that are destroyed by CoolSculpting don’t return, your results are permanent as long as you continue to maintain a healthy weight.