Your fitness coach might keep on pushing you to eat healthier and exercise regularly; however, it may not always be enough. At times, it takes more than a healthy diet and regular sessions at the gym to get rid of those extra fat layers. Back then, no one could do much about it – not until modern research and technology came up with ways to make cosmetic procedures more efficient and less invasive.
Today, there is one standard procedure that is popular among people who want to eliminate their body fat – CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is a kind of quick treatment that targets areas of fat on a client’s body then freezes them. As a result, dead fat cells are absorbed and eliminated as waste – this procedure lasts over a few weeks. Hence, this treatment can be beneficial if your expectations are reasonable. However, you must know what to expect and determine if it’s right for you.
What Exactly is CoolSculpting?
A noninvasive body contouring treatment, CoolSculpting freezes fatty tissues and destroys 20 to 25 percent of fat cells on the targeted area through cryolipolysis – reduction of body fat without damage to other tissues.
‘Cryo’ is an ancient Greek word which means cold, while ‘lipolysis’ implies the breakdown of fat. Cryolipolysis is nonsurgical – needles, scalpels, are not necessary, and it does not leave scars. Often, it’s called “lunchtime procedure” as there’s very little time off – no skin is sliced, nor blood is shed.
Its Brief History
Back in 2010, CoolSculpting got FDA’s first approval. Afterward, it gained attention when it got rebranded as noninvasive treatment liposuction – minimizing love handles and bra bugle. Not too long ago, this nonsurgical fat-reducing tool was cleared to tackle the area that is more difficult to alter with diet and exercise – which is the chin.
Why Should You Choose Cryolipolysis for Excess Fat?
- Ideal candidates are relatively fit but have extra amounts of stubborn body fat – not easily reduced by proper exercise.
- The procedure is noninvasive.
- There are no long-term or significant side effects.
- Anesthesia and pain medication is not needed.
- The procedure is ideal for the abdomen, love handles, and the back.
Does It Help with Weight Loss?
One must note that cryolipolysis isn’t a way to lose weight; people must see it as a way to eliminate fat in specific problem areas – not a replacement to diet and exercise. Moreover, it won’t result in significant weight loss – it can only be most effective if used as a supplement to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Who Can Try It?
People must avoid cryolipolysis if they have:
- Loose skin
- Poor skin tone
- Cryoglobulinemia – a condition where abnormal proteins of blood thicken in cold temperatures.
- Cold urticaria – a skin condition causing hives on the skin when it gets cold
- Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria – a kind of anemia that destroys red blood cells in cold temperatures
Doctors can use cryolipolysis to help their clients kill fat cells in areas of your body, such as:
- Under the chin and jawline
- Thighs
- Belly
- Back and sides
- Under the butt
- Along the bra line
- Upper arm
What Are the Risks?
Cryolipolysis is noninvasive – it does not require cuts, anesthesia, or medications that could cause an allergic reaction. Hence, the rate of complications and side effects is lower than with more invasive procedures like liposuction. It is done at the doctor’s office – there’s no need to schedule recovery time. Hence, you can drive yourself home after the appointment.
However, there are a few side effects – there can be a feeling of pulling or tugging on the skin and intense cold. Plus, there can be a little swell and a sore feeling afterward.
Results
For optimum results, one must take a few treatments – single treatment yields very minimal change, even unnoticeable to clients at times. However, there’s always hope – experts agree that more procedures are done, more results will be visible.
Results are permanent if the client maintains a healthy lifestyle – those eliminated fat cells are never coming back. CoolSculpting does nothing that will affect a body’s ability to store fat. Plus, it doesn’t prevent the body from storing calories.