CoolSculpting® is the brand name for cryolipolysis, a non-invasive body sculpting method that employs intense cold to destroy fat cells and aid in the reduction of undesirable fat pockets. A special device is put on top of the skin in the treatment region, releasing temperatures low enough to freeze fat cells, thereby killing them. Skin, muscle, and nerve tissue freeze at lower temperatures than fat, therefore they are unharmed.

For roughly an hour, a CoolSculpting® gel pad and applicator are applied to the region to be treated. The vacuum device pulls in the fat deposits, and the temperature progressively drops, causing the fat cells within to freeze. Because it is a low-risk, non-invasive process, patients can read, respond to emails, or watch an episode of their favorite program while the device is functioning and, after a minute massage to relieve numbness and swelling caused by the operation, can resume their normal activities.

The FDA approved CoolSculpting® in 2010 as an effective and safe alternative to liposuction for decreasing fat bulges on the belly, hips, inner and outer thighs, back, upper arms, behind the buttocks (known as banana rolls), and under the chin. Sessions last 35 minutes to an hour, and studies have indicated that a fat loss of up to 25% is normal per treatment, with most patients pleased after 1 to 2 treatments.

As a cosmetic surgery, CoolSculpting® does not address the underlying cause of excess fat and is not a therapy for obesity or weight reduction. Someone who has a metabolic disorder that causes weight growth or lives an unhealthy lifestyle may have a resurgence of fat. CoolSculpting® burns existing fat cells, which are permanently removed, but new fat cells can form, which is why a healthy lifestyle is critical in sustaining the treatment’s effects.

Because CoolSculpting® is a non-invasive process, there is little to no recovery time and most patients may resume their usual daily activities right immediately. If there are any side effects, they are mild – there may be modest redness or pain in the treated region – and usually fade away within a few weeks. Original benefits may be visible three weeks following the surgery, and the body may continue to eliminate fat for up to six months after the initial therapy. Because CoolSculpting® concentrates on particular parts of the body, another treatment is typically unnecessary unless a new location is being targeted.

Most people see a loss in fat within three weeks of receiving a CoolSculpting® treatment, with the most dramatic effects occurring four to six months later. As long as a healthy diet and lifestyle are followed, the final effects should be permanent since the fat cells destroyed in the therapy will not return and the fat contained inside them will be permanently eliminated from the body. People frequently require more than one treatment to obtain the desired results, and further CoolSculpting® treatments can be planned to assist them in achieving and maintaining their new physique.

CoolSculpting® destroys fat cells in frozen areas of the body, and these dead fat cells are naturally broken down by the body’s lymphatic system and absorbed as regular bodily waste through the liver within a few weeks after treatment.

For more information, call us. We serve patients from Chesapeake VA, Chevy Chase MD, Alexandria VA, Portsmouth VA, Norfolk VA, Virginia Beach VA, Suffolk VA, Laurel VA, Atlee Ridge VA, Henrico VA, Poindexters VA, Elmont VA, Kingstowne VA, Groveton VA, Annandale VA, Springfield VA, Hybla Valley VA, Jacksonville NC, Half Moon NC, Piney Green NC, Pumpkin Center NC and surrounding areas.