There are so many different cosmetic procedures now that target different parts of the body, it can be hard to know what to choose.
Many people are opting for less invasive treatments that have minimal recovery time, and in some cases can even be done in a lunch break!
With our lives becoming more and more busy, we don’t have much time to work on ourselves, which is where fairly quick treatments like CoolSculpting come in to play.
But, what exactly is CoolSculpting? And how does it work?
Read on to find out more.
Coolsculpting is a cosmetic procedure that uses cold temperatures to kill fat cells. This is called ‘cryolipolysis’, and is a non-invasive and non-surgical treatment that has little to no recovery time.
CoolSculpting is best suited to someone who has already reduced their body fat through a combination of diet and exercise but is having trouble losing fat from specific areas of their body.
A session of CoolSculpting involves the patient getting comfortable in a bed or a chair, and having metal panels or applicators placed on the area to be treated, or having the fat placed in between the two panels.
These are then rapidly cooled down to a temperature that is just above freezing, and this temperature targets the fat cells, freezing them.
CoolSculpting does not damage the skin or any other surrounding tissues, it just targets the fat cells only.
Once the treatment is completed, the area is usually massaged by the clinician to help disperse the frozen fat.
Freezing the fat in this way causes the death of the adipose tissue, and the body then removes them from the body with the body’s own detoxifying system.
CoolSculpting is a treatment that targets specific areas of problem fat and is not a tool for all over body fat reduction.
Once you have reduced your weight through other means, but are having trouble shifting fat in certain areas, then CoolSculpting can come in handy.
The most common areas to have this treatment done are, the upper arms, under the chin, belly, thighs, and lower back.
CoolSculpting for buttocks is another common way to use this treatment. Sometimes, no matter how many squats you do, it is impossible to move that fat from the buttock area.
CoolSculpting can help sculpt the area, and give you the look you want.
Each session of CoolSculpting takes around an hour, maybe more or less depending on the area being treated. As there is no anesthesia, and the skin barrier is not broken, you can continue with your normal activities immediately after having the treatment.
A common question that is asked about CoolSculpting is ‘are the results long-lasting’. This is not a simple answer.
In one way, yes the results of CoolSculpting are permanent, and this is because the freezing of the adipose tissue causes that area of fat to die. So those exact cells that have been targeted can never come back, as they have been killed and removed from the body.
However, should you gain weight in the future, you can easily deposit fat in those areas again, so after a CoolSculpting treatment, it is important to keep looking after your body.
CoolSculpting is not an instant cure for unwanted fat. This treatment works with your body, and the body has to remove the dead fat cells in its own time, so the results are slower than you may think.
CoolSculpting causes a reduction in fat in the treated area by around 25%, you will start to see results about 3 weeks after the treatment, but you won’t see the final results until around six months after having the procedure performed.
With CoolSculpting being a non-invasive and non-surgical procedure, the risks are minimal, but there are risks associated with everything, and CoolSculpting is no different.
The most common side effects people experience after CoolSculpting are bruising, redness or swelling at the site of the treatment, but this generally causes minimal problems and resolves with no treatment.
A small percentage of people will experience a complete loss of sensation at the treatment site, but again this tends to resolve with no treatment a week or two after the procedure.
A rare side effect is to have more fat accumulation at the treatment site, for reasons unknown, and further CoolSculpting treatments would not be advised.
Those with certain medical conditions, or who are pregnant should not have this procedure.
If you decide it’s something you want to do, make sure to have a thorough consultation with a reputable, licensed doctor.