Diet and exercise can take you only so far in achieving the body you desire. Even if you’re at your goal weight, stubborn bumps, bulges, muffin tops, and a double chin can make you feel less attractive. Fortunately there’s a safe, effective remedy to remove those last traces of unwanted fat—Coolsculpting.
What Is Coolsculpting?
Approved by the FDA, Coolsculpting is a non-invasive procedure that freezes subcutaneous fat cells (fat directly under the skin). The procedure destroys fat cells that in turn are absorbed by the body. Coolsculpting is effective in destroying stubborn fat cells in the following areas:
- Outer & inner thighs
- Chin
- Upper arms
- Abdomen
- “Love handles”
- Below the buttocks
- Back area
Coolsculpting is completely different from liposuction. No anesthesia, needles, incisions, or other medical procedures are necessary to complete the procedure.
How Does It Work?
During your Coolsculpting appointment, a trained physician applies a handheld device that looks similar to a mini vacuum cleaner to the target area. The device cools the area while simultaneously applying suction. After the procedure, fat cells in the target area die while adjacent nerves, muscle, and skin tissue is unharmed. The body then processes the dead fat cells through the lymphatic system, which filters it out as a waste product.
Coolsculpting patients report little pain during the procedure, although some feel a sensation of pinching or pulling. The physician will massage the affected area after a treatment session to help the body absorb the destroyed fat cells. Each session takes one to three hours. You may need several sessions to attain about the maximum result of 25% fat reduction in the target area. Many patients read a book, listen to music, or take a nap during a session.
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting offers many benefits to its clients. Studies have shown that the procedure is safe with no adverse effects such as increased fat levels in the bloodstream or liver damage. It’s important to know that Coolsculpting is not a weight loss tool. It’s intended to treat relatively small areas of fat that can’t be lost by diet and exercise. Additionally, only those of a healthy weight are candidates for the procedure.
Risks from Coolsculpting are minor. Some patients report the following side effects during a session:
- Feelings of extreme cold
- Tingling
- Stinging
- Cramping
- Pulling
After the procedure, patients have reported these side effects at the treatment site:
- Redness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Skin sensitivity
What’s the Recovery Process?
Most patients who undergo a Coolsculpting session resume their normal routine immediately. Although some patients experience bruising or redness after treatment, these side effects usually resolve within a few weeks. Many patients take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help with swelling and pain.
Most patients also report positive results about three weeks after a session. Peak results occur around the three-month mark, while the entire process of the body flushing away fat can take six months. 79% of patients said that their “clothes fit better after Coolsculpting” and 82% shared they would recommend the procedure to friends.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Coolsculpting, contact us at Glamoi Med Spa today. Our highly trained team offers Coolsculpting in addition to other high-quality aesthetic procedures in our state-of-the-art facility.