Top CoolSculpting Specialist Questions and Answers

CoolSculpting® is the brand name of Cryolipolysis, a technology that freezes, and ultimately destroys, fat cells. It works by sucking rolls of fatty tissue into a special applicator which then cools them to a temperature that freezes and kills the fat cells inside. The fat released from these cells is then processed through the lymphatic system before being expelled from the body in urine and faeces. Skin, muscles and nerves are left unharmed as they freeze at lower temperatures than fat.

First approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010, CoolSculpting® is considered a safe and effective alternative to liposuction for reducing stubborn fat bulges on the abdomen, hips, inner and outer thighs, back, upper arms, beneath the buttocks (known as banana rolls) and under the chin.

Since it is a low-risk, non-invasive procedure patients can read, answer emails or even take a nap while the device is working. A quick massage after the procedure provides relief from any numbness or swelling caused by the device, and also helps to break down frozen deep tissue and allow the body to absorb the dead fat cells.

CoolSculpting® is cleared by the FDA to treat nine different areas of the body:

– Flanks (love-handles or muffin top)
– Abdomen
– Inner thighs and outer thighs
– Excess fat under the chin, also known as submental fullness or a double chin
– Bra fat
– Back fat
– Fat underneath the buttocks (“banana roll”)
– Upper arms
– Below the jawline

One round of CoolSculpting® is effective in treating small areas of stubborn fat, but for larger areas multiple treatments will likely be required. Each treatment will be performed a few months apart, to give the body enough time to respond naturally and dispose of the fat cells through the normal processes. The ideal time to wait between treatments is four months, but repeat sessions can be done after one or two months if required. In theory, there is no limit to how many procedures a patient can decide to have.

In order to speed up the process, it is possible to have two or three different areas treated at the same time, but this is reliant on there being two or three machines available that can be used simultaneously. If you are looking to have more than one area treated in the same session, you will need to check that your location of choice is able to facilitate this. Again, time has to elapse before these areas can be treated again to ensure that any possible side effects have diminished.

Studies have shown that CoolSculpting® is effective in removing unwanted fat from the treated area by as much as 25%. A 2009 study published by PubMed Central, a highly respected affiliate of the National Institutes of Health, stated that cryolipolysis reduced the fat layer of its test subjects by over 20% at two months and 25.5% after six months, post treatment. Further tests confirmed that there was no long-term damage done to the skin or nerves.

Yes, we do! At Assure Wellness Group we are pleased to provide CoolSculpting® procedures to those of our patients who are wanting to rid themselves of those stubborn love handles or other troublesome areas. We also offer a wide range of other services such as medical weight loss, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, treatment for sexual health issues such as erectile dysfunction or sexually transmitted diseases. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Chesapeake VA, Norfolk VA, Portsmouth VA, Alexandria VA, Hybla Valley, Springfield, Jacksonville NC, Half Moon, Piney Green, Surf City NC, Sloop Point, Holly Ridge, and surrounding areas.