The CoolSculpting technique is considered non-invasive since it does not need any incisions, anesthesia, or the insertion of any surgical equipment into the body. CoolSculping is a relatively new procedure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only gave it the green light in 2012. Zeltiq Aesthetics owns the trademarks for both CoolSculpting and cryolipolysis.
CoolScuplting is a method of fat reduction that targets fat in body regions that are more difficult to eliminate through diet and exercise. These areas include the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. It is safer than more traditional procedures of fat reduction, such as liposuction, which is one of those approaches. However, despite the fact that it is generally risk-free, it is essential for individuals to be informed of the potential adverse consequences.
What is coolsculpting?
The CoolSculpting brand name refers to a fat-freezing procedure that freezes fat cells in targeted areas of the body in an effort to reduce localized pockets of excess fat. Cryolipolysis is the name given to this process. 2010 was the year when the FDA gave its approval.
It works by subjecting fat cells to temperatures below freezing in order to break them down, just like other types of cryolipolysis. Cold temperatures have a greater impact on fat cells than on other types of cells. This indicates that the cold does not cause harm to other cells, such as those found in the skin or the tissue underneath it.
After seeing what takes place in fat when it is exposed to extremely low temperatures, researchers hit upon the concept of cryolipolysis. Skin may get frozen at lower temperatures than fat can. Your fat is frozen to a temperature at which it can be destroyed by the cryolipolysis device, but your skin and other tissues are not affected in any way by the procedure.
How does Coolsculpting Work?
The fat cells that lie beneath the skin are the ones that are targeted by the CoolSculpting process, which uses carefully regulated chilling. Fat cells that have been treated are crystallized, or frozen, and subsequently killed. After some time has passed, your body will naturally metabolize the fat and get rid of these dead cells.
Coolsculpting Procedure
Cryolipolysis is not the same as surgery, and it does not include the use of needles. The apparatus places the portion of your body that your doctor want to treat between two paddles so that it may be treated. Your doctor will leave the paddles in place for around 35 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes because of how rapidly they cool down. During that time, the procedure eliminates around 20–25 percent of the fat cells in the region that is being targeted.
It’s possible that the full effects won’t become apparent for a few months, but you should start to see some improvements in only a few weeks. Over the course of this period of time, your immune system will gradually eliminate the dead fat cells.
Are You a Good Candidate for Coolsculpting?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure that may remove undesired fat and excess fat from certain parts of the body, such as the thighs, hips, and belly, without the need for surgery. However, despite the fact that it is a treatment that is both highly safe and quite successful, it is not the best option for everyone:
- You are in good health overall: Even though Coolsculpting isn’t surgery and usually has fewer risks and a much shorter recovery time than surgery, it is still a medical procedure and is usually recommended for people who are in good health overall. There is a chance that nerve pain or bruising will happen after the surgery. The less likely you are to have side effects, the better your health. Tell the person doing your Coolsculpting if you have any long-term health problems or other worries about your health.
- You’re not pregnant or considering pregnancy: When you’re pregnant, coolsculpting might not be the best idea. Even though no studies have been done to see how Coolsculpting might affect a fetus or a pregnancy, it might not be a good idea to have it done during the nine months of pregnancy. Many things happen to your body when you’re pregnant. You might end up with more fat on your stomach after the pregnancy, or you might gain weight during those nine months. Either way, you won’t be able to see the results of Coolsculpting.
- You’re almost at your goal weight: Coolsculpting does get rid of fat, but it’s not supposed to be a way to lose a lot of weight. Most of the time, people lose up to 25% of the fat they don’t want in the treated area. Getting more than one treatment can help you lose a little more fat. But Coolsculpting won’t help you lose 20, 30, or even more than that much weight on its own.
- Liposuction is not something you want: Coolsculpting can be a great way for some people to avoid having liposuction. If you and your plastic surgeon talked about liposuction but decided against it, Coolsculpting might be the right choice for you. Because it takes less time to heal, you won’t have to miss as much time from work. Coolsculpting also doesn’t need anesthesia, and the treatment isn’t invasive in any way. This can make it a better choice for people who want to avoid surgery.
How Effective is Coolsculpting?
In clinical studies, it was shown that one treatment of cryolipolysis could reduce subcutaneous fat at the treatment site by up to 25%. 86 percent of the people who were treated got better. At 73%, the rate of patient satisfaction is higher than with other noninvasive lipolysis methods.
Coolsculpting Side Effects
Cryolipolysis has been shown to be a safe way to change the shape of your body, and it doesn’t hurt too much. Even though there isn’t yet a procedure that everyone agrees is the gold standard for noninvasive body contouring, cryolipolysis is thought to be safe, effective, and has a high rate of patient satisfaction. The most common side effects are:
- pain
- temporary redness
- bruising
- numbness
Those coolsculpting side effects usually go away 14 days after treatment. The most common complaint is pain that starts 2 weeks after the procedure and goes away on its own. This happens in 0.1% of cases.
Coolsculpting vs. Laser Lipo
So you want to get rid of a stubborn area of fat that won’t go away no matter what you do. You’ve heard of CoolSculpting and laser liposuction, but you’re not sure which one is best for you. The main difference between CoolSculpting and laser lipo is how each treatment destroy the fat cells you don’t want.
Duration
Both treatments take about an hour to two hours, depending on how many areas you want to treat. During these procedures, you will only feel a little bit of pain.
Recovery
CoolSculpting has almost no downtime, so you can go back to your regular activities right away. After treatment, people often feel mild pain, minor swelling or bruising, and temporary numbness in the area that was treated. while Laser lipo takes a few days of recovery time, and you can expect to have a bit of bruising and swelling.
Results
With laser lipo, you can see a reduction in size within the first week, but the final results can take up to 6 months. Laser lipo treatment is more aggressive, and a single procedure can get rid of 50–70% of the fat in the treatment area. But you might need to have liposuction again, especially if you get bumps or dimples.
The first results of CoolSculpting can be seen in as little as three weeks, and the final results can be seen in three to four months, with an average permanent reduction of 20 to 25 percent of tissue. Getting the best results may take more than one treatment, depending on the area being treated and your own needs.
Cost
Laser liposuction usually costs a little bit more than CoolSculpting. A typical laser liposuction treatment can cost between 3000 AED to 8000 AED per area, while a CoolSculpting treatment for two or more areas can cost between 1000 AED and 4000 AED. Most of the time, insurance won’t pay for either treatment.