Deposits of extra fat can give the appearance of advancing age to both face and body. Many people try their best to eliminate these problematic fat deposits with diet changes and exercise programs; dedicated fitness buffs and athletes go the extra mile with hours at the gym and even strict calorie rationing to get rid of body fat that keeps them from looking their best. But what if, despite best efforts, diet and exercise don’t work to eliminate fat in problem areas?
CoolSculpting Technology Eliminates Fat Deposits
CoolSculpting Body Contouring is a noninvasive fat-freezing treatment that gets rid of stubborn fat in certain areas of the body, and is one of the many anti-aging procedures now available in Sterling Heights. The medical term for the procedure is “cryolipolysis”, which cools fat to a temperature that destroys it while leaving skin and other surrounding tissue unharmed. Since skin is over 60% water, and fat does not consist of much water at all, the treatment uses temperatures that are not cold enough to freeze the skin, but are cool enough to freeze fat cells. The procedure was invented by scientists who studied earlier cooling technology and found that it could selectively eliminate fat cells without disturbing the skin or affecting fat distribution elsewhere in the body.
CoolSculpting is approved for eliminating fatty deposits under the chin and jawline, under the bra line and buttocks, and in the thigh, abdomen, back, sides, and upper arm areas. Although it is not a treatment for obesity, it does eliminate targeted areas of excess fat that don’t easily go away with diet and exercise.
CoolSculpting Advantages
CoolSculpting has many benefits which make it a more desirable option for some patients than exercise alone or other treatments such as liposuction. It’s nonsurgical, noninvasive, does not use needles or require anesthesia, and requires no recovery time. Unlike dieting and exercise, CoolSculpting does not require sacrificing meals or excess time spent at the gym. There are no incisions, so there’s no scarring after treatment. While diet and exercise change the size of fat cells in the body, they do not decrease their number; in contrast, the fat cells frozen by CoolSculpting never return because the body eliminates them, leaving behind a more sculpted look.
How CoolSculpting Works
CoolSculpting is an in-office procedure that typically takes between 35 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the area treated. A gel sheet is placed over the area to allow better contact with the skin and then a wand connected to a cooling machine is moved over the area. Vacuum applicators draw the targeted tissue into the applicator cup, and controlled cooling is applied. The procedure freezes fat cells in the area treated and starts to break them down. During the process a patient may feel a slight pulling or tugging on their skin, and an intense cold that usually subsides within 5 to 10 minutes as the area numbs. Patients frequently listen to music, read, or even work on the computer or nap during the procedure.
Preparing for CoolSculpting
Although the procedure doesn’t require much preparation, dermatologists in Sterling Heights suggest that patients make sure they’re healthy before undergoing CoolSculpting treatment. Although minimal bruising can sometimes occur with CoolSculpting treatment, it’s a good idea to avoid anti-inflammatories such as aspirin before the procedure; this will help reduce any bruising that may occur.
CoolSculpting Side Effects
Afterward, the patient may feel a little sore, similar to the soreness experienced after a workout. Sometimes mild swelling, bruising, or redness can occur, and it’s not unusual to have numbness or “pins and needles” sensations in the treated areas for a few days after treatment. However, most side effects are mild, and go away after a short time; serious side effects are rare. A study from 2015 reviewed the results of cryolipolysis procedures over one year, and found that any post-treatment pain usually lasted no more than 3-11 days and went away on its own.
CoolSculpting Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has certified CoolSculpting as a safe medical treatment for reducing body fat in most people. However, CoolSculpting isn’t a suitable option for every patient. Patients who have loose skin, poor skin tone, Raynaud’s disease, or severe sensitivity to cold temperatures are not candidates for CoolSculpting. In addition, patients with certain rare conditions, such as cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria should not seek CoolSculpting treatment. Further, Coolsculpting treatment should not be received during pregnancy. Patients considering CoolSculpting should consult a dermatologist in Sterling Heights to see if Coolsculpting is right for them.
What to Expect After CoolSculpting
Following treatment, the cooled fat cells begin a process called “apoptosis” and will begin to shrink. Within a few weeks of treatment, these dead fat cells are naturally broken down and flushed out through the liver.
Results may begin to show in as little as a few weeks, with most people seeing the full results of CoolSculpting three months after the procedure. In many cases, just one procedure may be enough to meet the treatment goal of losing fat cells. However, additional treatments produce even more pronounced results and are desirable for many patients. Since each procedure results in a noticeable reduction of fat in the area that has been treated, many patients opt to have a second treatment three to four months after their first, enhancing initial results and making them even more noticeable.
Because CoolSculpting doesn’t treat obesity, it shouldn’t replace a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet and regular, moderate exercise are suggested to maintain CoolSculpting’s amazing results.
CoolSculpting’s Results
CoolSculpting is an effective method of fat reduction. A 2009 study found that CoolSculpting can freeze and eliminate up to 25 percent of the fat cells in any given part of a person’s body. Studies show that it is safe and effective, with risks being few and rare. CoolSculpting does not cause liver damage, and side effects are generally mild and resolve quickly. About 82 percent of people who underwent the treatment would recommend this innovative treatment to a friend. A dermatologist specializing in anti-aging procedures in Sterling Heights can determine whether CoolSculpting is right for each patient.