It is one of the year’s hottest trends. It is one of the most talked about procedures in plastic surgery! It is discussed on several radio stations/commercials, and there are even celebrities endorsing this product. CoolSculpting® – I am sure you have heard of it; however, you may still have questions and even wonder if it is right for YOU?
CoolSculpting® is a fat reduction procedure that is done in our office with our estheticians, Michelle and Elaine. It is a noninvasive therapy to help eliminate obstinate fat cells forever. There is minimal pain, if any, associated with this treatment, and there is absolutely no downtime! You can shop, go out to eat, and even exercise immediately after the procedure.
Ideal candidates for CoolSculpting® are people looking for reduction of stubborn areas of fat. They are at or near a healthy weight and not significantly obese. Most healthy people with problem areas of fat can achieve great results from 1-3 treatments of CoolSculpting®.
What is CoolSculpting® and how does it work?
CoolSculpting® is a spot reducing procedure rather than a weight loss procedure. It is the only non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses controlled cold temperatures to rid the body of unwanted fat – the type of fat that resists all efforts through diet and exercise. Treated fat cells are frozen, then die. Over time, your body will naturally process the fat and eliminate these dead fat cells (3 months or longer) through the lymphatic system, leaving a more sculpted you. Patient can expect up to a 25% fat reduction per treatment site per session. Remember, the fat cells will never reappear in the treated area following completion.
The submental region (double chin), upper arms, flanks, upper and lower abdomen, inner thighs, outer thighs, banana roll, and saddle bags may all be treated with the CoolSculpting® device. There may be more than one treatment session required for optimal results, depending on the amount of fat that needs to be eliminated. The number of sessions will be discussed and determined during your consultation process.
We discussed the ideal candidate; now, who is not a candidate for the CoolSculpting® Procedure?
You are not a candidate to undergo the CoolSculpting® procedure if: you are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to become pregnant, have an abdominal hernia or history of a hernia in the abdominal region, or if you are a client with a BMR (basal metabolic rate) greater than 34. This will be determined during your consultation.
Common Complications of CoolSculpting®
During a CoolSculpting® procedure, the esthetician will place a roll of fat between two cooling panels on the part of your body that’s being treated. This can create a sensation of tugging or pulling that you’ll have to put up with for 35 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes. Ideally, the discomfort goes away within the first 15 minutes of treatment, due to the cooling and numbing of the skin. Following the treatment, there may be a mild amount of pain at the treatment site. These sensations typically begin soon after treatment until about two weeks after treatment. The intense cold temperatures that the skin and tissue are exposed to during CoolSculpting® may be the cause. You may also experience temporary redness, swelling, bruising, and numbness at the treatment site. A very rare but serious side effect of CoolSculpting® is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. It occurs more commonly in men. This means the fat cells in the treatment site grow larger rather than smaller. It’s not fully understood why this occurs. While it’s a cosmetic rather than physically dangerous side effect, paradoxical adipose hyperplasia does NOT disappear on its own. Fortunately, this is very rare.
If you are interested in this popular fat reduction procedure and believe you are a candidate, please call the office to set up a consultation with our estheticians, and your personal care plan will be developed. One of our certified CoolSculpting® estheticians will provide you with information on the procedure and discuss how many cycles and treatment sessions you will require.
End the year with a bang or start off fresh in 2018 by calling our office today for your CoolSculpting® Consultation.