Cryolipolysis, commonly referred to as CoolSculpting, freezes away stubborn fat cells without harming surrounding tissues – providing noninvasive spot fat reduction solutions for persistent bulges and dimples. This nonsurgical process has become popular with patients looking for spot fat reduction options.
Over four to six months, injured fat cells gradually eliminated by the body resulting in an average fat reduction of 20 percent of their original size.
How it works
Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive technique that harnesses your body’s natural processes to eradicate fat cells. As an FDA-cleared procedure, cryolipolysis targets and eliminates diet- and exercise-resistant fat cells for noticeable and lasting results. Fat freezing destroys targeted fat cells without harming nearby tissue allowing lymphatic drainage systems to take over naturally removing dead cells via lymphatic drainage over several months.
Fat freezing involves targeting specific fat cells with a vacuum-like applicator and cooling them to cause their cells to freeze, before moving the applicator on to another area of the body until desired results have reached. Although fat freezing is generally safe, side effects may arise; such as decreased sensation in treated areas. These side effects usually subside within weeks.
Like traditional weight loss techniques, cryolipolysis is noninvasive and can performed right in your doctor’s office without anesthetics. This convenient solution to eliminating stubborn fat deposits has made this treatment increasingly popular as an alternative approach.
CoolSculpting, the fat freezing procedure popularly known as liposuction, recently evaluated in a new study and found to be both safe and effective, producing noticeable and long-term results with few complications or side effects. The research paper, published in Science Advances journal, involved over 1,400 participants.
This study marked the inaugural use of CoolSculpting technology to treat women with abdominal obesity. It demonstrated its safety and efficacy for treating fat accumulation on stomach, flanks, upper back, and abdomen regions; additionally, a high proportion of participants reported being satisfied with their results.
Though laser hair removal procedures are generally safe, there are certain patients who should avoid going under the knife. Pregnant women and those suffering from skin disease are advised against receiving it; similarly, those who experience Raynaud’s phenomenon, where cold temperatures cause a loss of blood supply to fingers and toes, should avoid going through with it as this treatment could compromise blood circulation to their hands and feet.
One in 100 patients may develop paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, in which fat cells expand. It’s more prevalent among male patients of Hispanic descent and may cause the affected areas to have red, hardened areas.
What to expect
Cryolipolysis, commonly referred to as CoolSculpting, is an innovative new procedure that uses frozen fat cells to eliminate them without surgery. Ideal for people unable to shift stubborn fatty deposits through diet and exercise alone, CoolSculpting targets specific problem areas like belly, outer thighs and upper arms for treatment and takes 4-6 months before showing results that last – improving your appearance while providing motivation to change lifestyle habits for good! It should note however, this treatment won’t eliminate all your fat. However, it may help improve appearance while giving motivation needed change that’s necessary in changing lifestyle habits for good.
Cryolipolysis offers people an option for eliminating body fat without restricting diet or surgery, with many turning to this new noninvasive way to shrink stubborn fatty deposits without surgery or restrictive dieting. Cryolipolysis should not see as weight loss solutions but instead targeted toward pockets of fat resistant to diet and exercise programs.
For this procedure, an applicator of appropriate size and shape must select for use on the targeted area. A gel pad will then be placed over it to protect skin before any fatty bulges are gently vacuumed into its hollow. Treatment takes roughly an hour while patients typically watch TV, use their phones, or read during this time; when finished the applicator will be removed and massaged over treated area to maximize final results.
After treatment, injured fat cells will gradually be eliminated by your body over several months. The process may be repeated to address multiple pockets. Some individuals require multiple sessions for optimal results while others see results within just one session. At your consultation appointment, a doctor will evaluate your problem areas and suggest the number of sessions needed in order to meet your goals.
Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia affects less than 1 percent of patients and occurs due to an unexpected increase in fat cells. Men are three times more likely than women to experience this condition.
Cryolipolysis Cost
CoolSculpting (cryolipolysis) is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure commonly known for body contouring. The treatment can help remove stubborn fat that doesn’t respond well to diet and exercise; however, it should not be seen as a means of weight loss and should only be seen as one part of leading a healthy lifestyle.
This proven technique is founded in hard science and has been demonstrated as effective. Its success lies in fat’s lower freezing point than skin tissue, making it easy to target fat cells without damaging other tissue – this makes the technique ideal for use on stomach, back, thighs, bra fat and underarm areas as well as love handles and double chin reduction.
Cryolipolysis involves applying a protective gel pad over the area being treated, before pressing a paddle-like applicator onto your skin surface and sucking away unwanted fat deposits. After several minutes have passed, they remove their paddle and massage the area until finally lifting their paddle off your skin for good – usually taking between 35 to 60 minutes per treatment and needing at least three for optimal results.
While the FDA has granted clearance for this treatment, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s not designed as a weight-loss procedure. Instead, it works best when used by those near their ideal body weight but who have stubborn pockets of fat in stubborn places; or those struggling to lose weight due to genetics or an unhealthy lifestyle.
FDA research indicates that this form of therapy can cause side effects in some individuals, such as redness, bruising, tingling or numbness in the area treated; these typically resolving within months.
Not to be missed out: this procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore isn’t covered by health insurance plans. While proven safe and effective, it shouldn’t replace healthy eating or physical activity for weight management or visceral fat treatment which increases risk factors for serious health issues.
Cryolipolysis Side effects
Cryolipolysis is an FDA-approved procedure that uses extreme cold to target fat cells in specific parts of the body and eliminate them through freezing temperatures. It has become one of the most sought-after noninvasive body contouring treatments, especially among people who are struggling to shift localized fat without diet or exercise alone. Furthermore, this approach has no reported serious side effects and offers pinpoint precision when targeting fat so patients can be sure they will see results they want.
This treatment can be applied to areas including abdomen, thighs, buttocks, flank areas (love handles), upper arms and under the chin. Typical areas treated by this process are muffin tops, love handles or saddlebags that typically accumulate fat. After these cells die naturally in four to six months and are eliminated by our bodies through natural processes, this can result in up to 20 percent less fat being present on that area.
Though most patients of cryolipolysis experience no adverse events, according to a 2023 Aesthetic Surgery Journal study some may experience mild to moderate side effects. Common adverse events included discomfort for 59 patients; skin blanching for 49; vasovagal reactions occurring in 15; skin hyperpigmentation occurring in 8; contour irregularities occurring three times; nerve injuries occurred once.
Less frequently, less than 1 percent of patients may develop paradoxical fat hyperplasia – an increase in fat cells within a treated area that happens three times more frequently among men than women and is most prevalent among people of Hispanic or Latino origin. Although not harmful, this condition may require liposuction to correct.
Other less serious side effects may include the formation of ice crystals in tissue, which usually aren’t painful but may still be uncomfortable. Furthermore, fat cells can often repopulate their previous locations despite treatment – although this may not be considered serious by patients expecting their results to last permanently.
