What Is CoolSculpting® and How Does It Work?

You’ve tried dieting, cardio, weightlifting, and just about everything else you can think of to burn those stubborn bulges, but nothing seems to work. Guess it’s just time to invest in some Spanx and accept those love handles once and for all, right?  Wrong.  Believe it or not, there is a safe, convenient solution that has been FDA-approved for treating stubborn fat…a solution that DOESN’T involve going under the knife.  It’s called CoolSculpting®!  CoolSculpting® is a non-surgical treatment that uses controlled cooling to help reduce stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.  Now, we'll admit, the idea that you can selectively freeze and reduce fat cells without damaging any of the skin or surrounding tissue seems crazy, like something out of a movie, but it's true.  The concept came about when doctors observed that children who were given pain-relieving popsicles grew up to be adults with dimples because the cold from the popsicles killed the fat cells in their cheeks. The doctors realized that it was possible for cold to kill fat cells without damaging the surrounding tissue.

How does it work?

Vacuum pressure is used to pull your fat bulge into a device with two cooling plates and hold it there. The plates cause the tissue to drop in temperature, close to freezing, and over the period of an hour the fat cells harden, crystalize and begin a gradual breakdown process. The entire process takes two to four months, during and after which patients see an undeniable reduction in fat in the treated area.

How long does it last?

CoolSculpting® is performed in “cycles,” each one taking an hour and covering one area. The number of cycles required for the area you’re looking to treat is best discussed with your doctor. To give you a general idea, however, love handles are treated in independent cycles, so treating both sides would take two hours.

Who is the best candidate for CoolSculpting®?

CoolSculpting® isn’t a good substitute for liposuction and was never intended as a weight loss treatment. However, if you are already within 20 pounds of your ideal body weight and are maintaining that weight (or are losing weight), it could be a great option.  The treatment works best if the area you’re targeting has a fat bulge that you can easily grasp with your hand. If you pinch more than a couple of inches the bulge may not fit in between the two cooling plates, which would prevent it from working properly.

Is it really safe?

This treatment may seem too good to be true, but the reality is that it’s extremely safe. It’s been performed thousands of times with great success. It’s especially safe when compared to other methods of fat reduction like liposuction, because there is no anesthesia or incision involved.  In fact, the entire treatment is so convenient you could have it performed over your lunch hour while you read a book, worked on your phone or computer, or even took a nap. It’s definitely not necessary to set aside an entire day for your treatment and there is zero recovery time. As soon as the treatment is complete you can return to your regular routine, including work and exercise.  If this is something you think you would be interested in learning more about, contact us today so we can schedule your consultation.