For years, liposuction maintained its position as the gold standard for fat reduction treatments. In more recent years, as technology has continued to advance, other alternatives are showing up and challenging liposuction’s status.
One of the most popular treatments today for ridding the body of stubborn, unwanted fat is called Coolsculpting®.
What is Coolsculpting®?
Coolsculpting® was developed in 2008, by two doctors who created an original prototype to see if the method would work on pigs. It did. The technique they developed used controlled cooling and gave the world a way to freeze fat cells and eliminate them without having to undergo surgery.
It was originally brought to market as a way to numb patients’ skin who were undergoing dermatology procedures, and it received its first FDA approval in 2010 for that purpose.
After that, the FDA approved the Coolsculpting® technique for freezing stomach fat and excess fat tissue in the hips and thighs, using a large application device. As the company developed smaller applicators, Coolsculpting® was also cleared for removing fat under the arms, along the bra line, and submental fat, also known as a double chin.
Where Does Coolsculpting® Work?
Coolsculpting® can work in almost any area of the body where excess fat has accumulated and is non-responsive to healthy eating and exercise. It works in many of the same areas traditionally treated in the past with liposuction. Some of these problem areas include:
- Stubborn stomach fat
- Muffin top or love handles
- Excess fat on the hips or buttocks
- Fat pockets on the back
- Unwanted fat on the thighs
Who is a Good Candidate for Coolsculpting®?
Coolsculpting® is not intended to be a weight loss treatment. It works best for men and women who have given their best efforts to lose weight but still have unwanted pockets of stubborn fat. These can show up as noticeable bulges around the waist, in the upper arms, on the thighs or as a double chin.
Generally speaking, most patients who have Coolsculpting® treatments are within about 30 pounds of their goal weight.
How is Coolsculpting® Done?
Coolsculpting® uses a “cold applicator,” cooling the area down to 30°-40°F and maintaining it there for about 35 minutes. This crystallizes the fat cells, freezing them and causing them to die. They’re processed by the body and eliminated within a few weeks in the same way it takes care of all dead cells.
In the beginning, you may feel some pressure and become aware of the intense cold, but that feeling rapidly dissipates as the area becomes numb. You may feel some pulling and tugging or pinching, and for some patients, it can be somewhat uncomfortable. When the time is up, the cooled tissue is massaged for a few minutes.
What Happens After the Coolsculpting® Treatment?
After the procedure, you may experience some minor side effects, including:
- Numbness
- Stinging
- Pain and redness
- Swelling and bruising
These are all temporary and will usually diminish on their own.
There is no downtime, and you can return to your normal activities immediately. You should start to see changes within a few weeks, but the most amazing results will not show up for a couple of months.
It takes time for the body to process and flush the dead fat cells. It can take as much as three months following your Coolsculpting® treatment, so be patient. You may also need additional treatments, depending on your goals and desired results, but once the fat cells have been eliminated, you’re rid of them for good!
