Many people in today’s society are looking for effective ways to reshape their bodies and eliminate fat. Some achieve great success with healthy eating and regular exercise yet continue to struggle with stubborn fat in certain areas, most commonly along the abdomen and flanks. The gold standard in permanent superficial fat removal and body re-shaping has been Liposuction. Unfortunately, liposuction comes with significant drawbacks such as scar, pain, uneven results, anesthesia risks, and in some rare cases even death. The recovery time after liposuction can also be significant. Coolsculpting has emerged as an effective alternative to liposuction in eliminating stubborn fat on a permanent basis. This FDA-cleared, non-invasive fat reduction treatment has now been expanded to areas beyond the abdomen and flanks to offer a serious and attractive alternative to those wary of the downsides of liposuction.

Interested in learning the pros and cons of this Procedure and what it is good for and what it is not? Read on!

What is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a non-surgical fat-reduction treatment. As such, there is no surgery, no anesthesia and no needles or knives involved. Instead, Coolsculpting uses controlled targeting freezing of fat pulled into an applicator to produce the lasting effects of stubborn fat removal.

What is Cryolipolysis?

Cryolipolysis technically means the destruction of fat cells. Cryolipolysis is the science behind how the CoolSculpting procedure works. This was first discovered when two science researchers at Harvard University—Dieter Manstein, MD and R. Rox Anderson, MD—discovered that children who consumed popsicles had cheek indentations or dimples. It was eventually discovered that this was a result of localized freezing from the tissue exposure to popsicles leading to localized fat reduction in these children’s cheeks.

How does Coolsculpting Compare to Weight-Loss Surgery and Liposuction?

Surgical options for fat removal are often more effective at immediate large-scale (no pun intended) fat removal compared to Coolsculpting. The downsides of surgery, however, can involve medication, injections, scarring, pain, downtime, and can result in serious complications—even death. With Coolsculpting, the degree of fat loss in targeted areas is less (about 20-25% compared to up to 50-70% with surgery and liposuction. The fat loss with Coolsculpting, however, is more gradual (over weeks rather than immediate in some cases). This means that the results appear natural to your friends, family, and colleagues. It also means there is much less likelihood of abnormal and unsightly loose skin requiring further procedures (surgery such as a Tummy Tuck in some cases). 

Another difference from weight loss surgery and liposuction is that Coolsculpting requires no recovery or down time as a non-invasive procedure. Once the procedure is complete, you’ll be able to carry on with your regular routine activities leaving with no scars or pain but rather just a sculpted version of yourself..

How does CoolSculpting Work?

CoolSculpting is a true and tried procedure that has been shown to be safe and effective in producing lasting fat-reduction effects. The Coolsculpting technician will apply controlled cooling to your target fat areas. This will result in selective freezing of fat cells to the point where it triggers their death and ultimate removal from the body through the immune system. Nerves, blood vessels, skin, and all other tissues in the path of the targeted fat freezing are spared from this effect.

What is the CoolSculpting procedure?

Generally, your CoolSculpting procedure will work like this:

Step one: book your consultation

First, you’ll meet with a specialized clinician for a one-on-one consultation. The two of you will discuss your goals, and then look at your body from all angles in order to choose which areas will be targeted.

Step two: develop your treatment plan

Everyone’s body is different, which means every treatment plan will be different as well. Your Doctor will work with you to figure out which areas need to be treated, and how many treatments it will take.

Step three: treatment day

A gel pad and applicator will be applied to your targeted areas, which will deliver controlled cooling to the fat cells. As the treatment is non-invasive, as soon as it’s complete, you’ll be back to your daily routines.

What is Coolsculpting not good for?

If you are looking for overall weight loss, rather than targeted reduction of fat in a specific area (such as love handles) then Coolsculpting is not what you are looking for. Coolsculpting is effective in permanently reducing fat in superficial areas that can be pinched. Most of the problem contributing to being overweight is a result of inner fat, the so called visceral fat, that cannot be treated with Coolsculpting. Coolsculpting is effective in reducing the fat in superficial areas in most parts of the body. Examples include belly fat, flanks, inner thighs, outer thighs, the so-called “double chin”, arms (batwings), bra bulges, and banana rolls (fat just underneath the buttocks). 

All in all, CoolSculpting is a great way to reduce superficial fat without having to do either invasive internal surgery or liposuction. As the boom in non invasive non surgical medical aesthetic technologies continues, the need for liposuction and weight-reduction surgeries will continue to decrease. Instead, more and more people are turning to non invasive yet effective  alternatives such as CoolSculpting!

ABOUT US

Body Sculpting Regina is a state of the art Medical Aesthetics facility with cutting edge non invasive technology such as Coolsculpting, Hotsculpting, Microneedling, Hair loss treatment, Acne treatments and the other laser technologies and products guided by superior experience and care.