CoolSculpting Treatment for Weight Loss
CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved cryolipolysis treatment that removes fat from specific areas of the body. A cryolipolysis treatment uses cold temperatures to freeze the fat cells and eventually destroy them. This procedure helps get rid of stubborn fat from areas of the body that do not respond well to diet and exercise.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a branded cosmetic treatment based on cryolipolysis that aids with fat reduction by killing fat cells around the surface of the skin. Some areas that CoolSculpting uses to help with fat loss include outer and inner thighs, upper arms, chin, abdomen and sides.
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive treatment, which means it does not require anesthetic, cuts or surgery. This makes this fat loss treatment safer compared to techniques like liposuction. However, you must also be aware of the potential side effects before you opt for a CoolSculpting treatment.
During the treatment, the therapist will run the CoolSculpting device over the skin above the area you want to remove the fat from. The device will vacuum over the area of fatty tissue to cool the fat cells. The freezing temperature numbs the area and you may even feel a cooling sensation.
A typical CoolSculpting procedure takes about an hour. There’s no recovery time as there’s no damage to the skin or tissue. You may experience soreness in the area, just like you may feel after an intense workout or a slight muscle injury.
Once the procedure is completed, it could take about 4 to 6 months for the fat cells to break down and leave the body. During this period, the fat in the area will reduce by about 20%.
Side Effects of CoolSculpting
Even though the data available is limited, CoolSculpting is generally considered a safer alternative to surgical fat loss techniques like liposuction.
Most people who go through this procedure do not feel anything during the treatment, other than a tugging sensation where the skin is between the two cooling panels of the device.
As the treatment is non-invasive, it does not require any anesthesia, cutting or even tissue manipulation. This means that you can go back to your normal activities immediately after the treatment concludes.
You may notice some minor side effects around the area of the treatment. These side effects typically subside within a few days after the procedure. Here are some common side effects of CoolSculpting:
- Firmness
- Redness
- Stinging
- Bruising
- Pinching sensation
- Tingling
- Minor swelling
- Numbness
- Tenderness
- Skin sensitivity
- Muscle cramping
- Mild pain
Some people might experience some of these side effects for a few weeks after the treatment. Other side effects that people have experienced after the CoolSculpting technique are:
- Itchiness
- Diarrhea, as the dead cells are destroyed
- A feeling of tightness around the throat for treatments involving the chin or neck area
Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting and other types of fat freezing procedures have an excellent success rate. They are highly effective at removing fat from the body and produce minimal side effects when compared to other treatments like liposuction.
It’s a science-based procedure that will freeze and kill fat cells from specific parts of the body. The team at CoolSculpting has carefully developed this technique based on years of research and development.
By applying targeted cooling to specific areas, CoolSculpting can reduce fat by up to 25%. You can enjoy these benefits without any downtime or invasive surgical procedures.
Research shows that CoolSculpting is an effective and relatively safe treatment to remove stubborn fat from the body. A 2015 review assessed 19 previous research studies of cryolipolysis.
The review found that when studies assessed the fat reduction using a caliper, people lost about 14.67% to 28.5 percent of body fat after a cryolipolysis treatment. When the studies measured fat reduction using ultrasound, people lost about 10.3% to 25.5% of body fat.
The review also found that there were no major health risk factors after the CoolSculpting procedure. Liver function and lipid levels remain unchanged given that CoolSculpting is a cosmetic fat loss process.
How Long Do the Results of CoolSculpting Last?
CoolSculpting kills fat cells and those destroyed fat cells won’t return.
However, that does not mean new fat cells won’t appear. For best results and to maintain the results of CoolSculpting, you must follow a healthy lifestyle. If you do not exercise or routinely indulge in unhealthy eating habits, you are likely to see the fat return.
