Coolsculpting is a non-surgical treatment to remove unwanted body fat. It is also called cryolipolysis or cold body sculpting. In this medical procedure, a plastic surgeon will freeze your body’s subcutaneous fat or the fat just below your skin. Your body will gradually break down the fat cells and remove them through your liver, helping you lose weight. The process is non-surgical and non-invasive. It doesn’t involve any incisions, needles, or anesthesia.
Coolsculpting is a new technique to remove stubborn body fat. The process is completely safe and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010.
Contents
How Does Coolsculpting Work
The idea of coolsculpting came up when scientists observed how the fat reacted to frostbite. They found that fat will freeze at a higher temperature. The principle of cryolipolysis was developed from this. The cryolipolysis device freezes the fat, which is why the process is sometimes also referred to as freeze sculpting. The skin and other body tissues remain unharmed.
Researchers have discovered that the process can reduce the fat layer by 25 percent. However, the result is not immediate. It will take several weeks before the frozen fat cells are removed through the liver.
It can help remove body fat from the following areas –
- Belly
- Thighs
- The sides and back
- The upper arm
- Below your chin and the jawline
- Below the butt
- Along your bra line
It is now one of the most effective fat removal methods. It has become very popular as well in the United States, Canada, and many other parts of the world. Since coolsculpting received FDA approval in 2010, there has been an 823 percent increase in the popularity of this treatment.
If you are in Toronto, Canada, you can go to this certified coolsculpting clinic to get the process done safely. One of the most popular clinics in the city, it is located at 249 Queens Quay W Toronto, tel: 647-696-5533.
Who Should Get the Treatment
Cryolipolysis should never be the primary method of removing excess body fat. Eating a good diet and doing regular exercises should always be the priority. However, your doctor may recommend the method if you have tried exercising and changing your diet but still cannot lose weight.
A good candidate for this method will be someone close to his or her weight loss goal. Maybe, the person has only about 10 pounds of excess weight and is unable to remove the stubborn fat from some body areas. It works for people who just have to lose 25 percent fat.
However, remember, coolsculpting cannot remove visceral fat or the fat that is deep inside your body surrounding your organs.
Is Coolsculpting a Safe Process?
The process is not only non-invasive, it is also deemed to be safer than the traditional fat reduction surgery methods like liposuction. Most people won’t feel anything at all. The therapist will use a device with two cooling panels. In most instances, there will just be a tugging feeling on the skin between these two panels.
It will take about an hour. There is no recovery time as there is no cutting, anesthesia, or tissue manipulation. This means you can return to your normal activity immediately. However, you may still feel numbness around the treatment area for a few days. The feeling can be there for up to a month in some instances.
There will only be minor side effects if any. They will be only around the treatment area and will go away in a few days.
Here are some of the common side effects –
- Pinching sensation
- Redness
- Minor swelling
- Firmness
- Stinging
- Tingling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Skin sensitivity
- Numbness
- Muscle cramping
- Moderate or mild pain
In some rare instances, cool body sculpting may also can diarrhea because the dead fat cells are being removed from your body. There can be some itchiness as well. Some people have also reported a sensation of fullness in the throat, neck, and chin region.
Why You Must Always Get Coolsculpting from a Trained Pro
Whether there will be any risk of side effects and complications will depend on the professional who performs the process. An experienced person will be able to do it safely. This is precisely why you must always work with a trusted and experienced plastic surgeon or dermatologist.
Schedule an appointment with the person and ask any question that comes to your mind. Discuss your health condition and inform the person about any medication you might be on. Clear all the doubts in your mind before you say yes to this procedure.
Always remember, coolsculpting is a new medical procedure. There are very few professionals who know how to do it safely and even fewer therapists who actually have the experience.
Who Should Avoid Coolsculpting
Freeze sculpting or cool sculpting is an absolutely safe process if it is being done by a knowledgeable and experienced professional. But even then, this procedure is not for everyone. You should avoid it if you have –
- Poor skin tone
- Loose skin
- If you are pregnant or trying to conceive
- If you are breastfeeding
- If you have cryoglobulinemia, where your blood proteins thicken when the temperature drops
- If you have Raynaud’s disease or cold urticarial, where you may have hives on your skin in cold temperature
- Avoid if you have the cold agglutinin disease, where a temperature change can kill your red blood cells
- Avoid if you have a skin condition like dermatitis
- Also avoid if you have a skin condition related to immunity like psoriasis and eczema
- It is not for those with diabetic neuropathy
- Avoid if you have a history of hernia close to the area of treatment
- If you have an implanted medical device like a pacemaker
- If you are using a blood-thinning medicine
- It is best to avoid if you are suffering from chronic pain
- If you have an anxiety disorder
For most people, coolsculpting or cryolipolysis will be a safe and extremely effective treatment plan without surgery. It works for both men and women who want to remove unwanted body fat. It may take up to three months for you to see the results, but you can be sure that the process is safer than many other surgical treatments. You are certain to lose between 20 and 25 percent of your body fat. There is no downtime as well.