CoolSculpting. Would you believe that this ground-breaking fat-freezing procedure was first discovered after, rumour has it, doctors noticed that children who ate a lot of ice popsicles experienced fat degradation in their cheeks!
The procedure was first approved by the FDA in 2010, but was recently in the spotlight again when it was rebranded from offering minor spot treatment, to becoming a noninvasive alternative to liposuction – with the promise of eliminating love handles and bra bulge…
HOW DOES IT WORK?
CoolSculpting procedures use rounded paddles of varying sizes to suction your skin and fat like a vacuum. While you sit back in a reclined chair for up to one hour, cooling panels get to work, crystallizing your fat cells. You experience suction and cooling sensations that eventually go numb. In fact, the procedural setting is so relaxed that patients can bring laptops to do work, enjoy a movie, or simply nap while the machine does its thing.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Above all, CoolSculpting is for someone who is just looking for mild improvements. It’s not designed for one-stop-shop major fat removal like liposuction. During a consultation the doctor will consider the client’s age, and skin quality – will it rebound? Will it look good after volume is removed? – and how thick or ‘pinchable’ their tissue is.
This must be done before treatment can be approved, because the suction panels can only treat the tissue it can access. So, if someone has thick, firm tissue, the doctor won’t necessarily be able to give them a wow result.
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?
It often takes a few treatments to achieve optimum results. The more treatments you have, the more results you will see. But eventually, up to 25-percent fat reduction can be achieved in the targetted area.
WILL IT MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT?
None of these devices shed pounds: remember, muscle weighs more than fat. When you’re shedding 25 percent of fat in a handful of tissue, it won’t add up to much on the scale. But of course, when you lose what’s spilling over the top of your pants or your bra, it still counts!
IS IT PERMANENT?
CoolSculpting is a permanent fat reduction technology, but only if you control your weight. If you gain weight, the fat WILL go somewhere-else!
Lasting improvements to your body can also be achieved by changing your behaviour through nutrition and exercise – remember though, no matter how much you work out; if you’re not going to change your diet and eating habits at all, then your body shape is not going to change either…
WHEN SHOULD YOU START IT?
With a particular goal in mind – perhaps a vacation or a wedding, plan on scheduling your session three months in advance, six at the most. Results are not visible for at least four weeks, with the fat loss reaching its peak at around eight. (Each treatment has a downtime, so you’ll want at least six to eight weeks between appointments).
IS IT SAFE?
Because this is a noninvasive procedure, the risks are very low. Wounds will not occur, and swelling is very minimal. You should of course discuss any concerns you might have with your doctor before you proceed.