Many struggle to lose stubborn fat despite a balanced diet and regular exercise. CoolSculpting is an effective treatment for lowering fat-trained parts of body composition stubbornly.
The procedure is not intended for reducing visceral fat, which surrounds organs and can lead to health issues such as high cholesterol and insulin resistance. CoolSculpting targets subcutaneous fat, which is easily pinchable and can be targeted with an applicator.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a noninvasive, painless procedure that freezes fat cells. It is FDA-approved for nine body areas, including the abdomen, flanks/sides, chin, double chin, bra fat, inner thighs, and outer thighs.
A session typically lasts about 45 minutes per area, and most patients find it comfortable enough to read a book or nap during treatment. Initially, you’ll feel an intense cold, but that subsides within 10 to 15 minutes as the area numbs.
You’ll feel pulling or tugging as the applicator draws fatty tissue into the cup like a vacuum. Some people explain the feeling as similar to sucking on a popsicle without stickiness.
It takes one to three months to eliminate dead fat cells naturally. In that time frame, most people achieve their desired results—a reduction in a jiggly area, for example, or slimmed-down outer thighs. Unlike liposuction, this noninvasive procedure doesn’t leave you with any downtime or recovery period.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
A trained technician places the applicator over your target body area and begins to control the cooling. During the treatment, you may feel cold or slight pulling on the skin, but these sensations are usually brief and go away as the treated areas become numb.
In addition, coolsculpting Virginia Beach is a noninvasive, nonsurgical procedure with no needles or surgery. It uses paddles that cool down and target a particular area for an hour or so, destroying about 25% of fat cells in the treatment area per session.
The body eliminates dead cells through its lymphatic system, as with any other kind of dead cell, and most clients see noticeable results in one to three months. One to three treatments are typically recommended, though individual response rates vary.
The most common side effect is soreness in the treatment area, which is usually mild and goes away within a few days. Other possible side effects are numbness, tingling, redness, or swelling. Rare but severe side effects can include paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, which occurs when treated fat cells grow more significantly rather than die.
What Are the Side Effects of CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting has been around for a few years and is a popular alternative to invasive and liposuction surgeries. It promises to zap stubborn areas of fat that won’t go away, no matter how many sit-ups and planks you do.
The FDA-approved procedure is a form of cryolipolysis, which uses freezing temperatures to destroy fat cells while allowing other cells in the area to remain unaffected. The process can cause a pulling sensation that some patients describe as similar to putting your hand in a bowl of ice water. Afterward, the practitioner will massage the site for two minutes to accelerate the apoptosis of the frozen fat cells.
While this noninvasive treatment is generally safe, there are a few side effects that patients should be aware of. One of the most common is Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH), which causes firm bulges in the treated area. PAH is more common in men and those with specific characteristics predisposing them to the condition.
Can I Get CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is an effective body sculpting procedure for those with a healthy weight. It’s designed to shape a toned physique by removing subcutaneous fat, not visceral fat that lies deeper and surrounds organs. CoolSculpting best addresses “muffin top” fat, love handles, belly fat, double chin fat, and more.
However, it’s essential to know that this is not a weight loss treatment, and the results will only be visible once the targeted fat cells are killed. CoolSculpting cannot prevent new pockets of fat from forming, so it may be necessary to continue the diet and exercise to maintain the results.
It’s also essential to choose a certified provider for the treatment. Some suggest seeking a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, as they are familiar with various treatments and procedures that can work in conjunction with CoolSculpting to deliver superior results. Lastly, it’s essential to understand that the side effects of this procedure can be mild and uncomfortable, such as redness, bruising, and itching.