Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting

Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting | RefinedMD

Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting

Even though CoolSculpting literally freezes away fat with no needles, surgery, or downtime, it’s not actually a weight-loss procedure. Still, it’s one of the most requested treatments at RefinedMD for good reason. CoolSculpting targets small amounts of unwanted fat and exposes these areas to cold enough temperatures to freeze and kill fat cells, thus providing customized contouring and sculpting. It’s actually ideal for those who are already near or at their goal weight but struggle with spot reduction—because there’s no way to spot reduce through diet and exercise alone. When we diet and exercise for perceived fat loss, we’re actually shrinking fat cells but have zero control over which fat cells shrink first or fastest. Everyone is born with a unique body type that can make it difficult to achieve the look we want.

Liposuction is a surgical method that removes larger amounts of unwanted fat. At RefinedMD, we also offer liposuction via Dr. Roy, but CoolSculpting is the top pick for those who want to avoid surgery, surgical bruising, and the inherent downtime that comes with more aggressive procedures. However, CoolSculpting is not a one and done treatment and results aren’t immediate. Let’s take a look at how it works and if it might be for you.

The Basics of CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is technically known as cryolipolysis. Unwanted fat cells are externally exposed to specific frigid temperatures, leading them to crystallize and break down inside the body. This process takes time. The body will then naturally and safely metabolize and expel the dead cells in the weeks following the treatment. CoolSculpting is FDA-approved as a non-surgical method for sculpting the body. Most people require 4 – 6 cycles spaced about one month apart to achieve optimal results, and full results take about 6 months to be revealed.

The sessions themselves are fairly straightforward. During your appointment, a gel pad is placed on the target site to protect the skin (remember, the temperatures used in CoolSculpting are very cold!). Next, the skin that overlays the target site is vacuum-sealed in a special applicator. Most CoolSculpting sessions take about 30 minutes, but many people opt for back-to-back sessions (for example, targeting the abs and then the upper arms). The cold temperatures of the process naturally numb the area, but you might feel a tingling sensation during your treatment—don’t worry, it’s not painful. After your cycle, your provider will massage the area to thaw out the fat cells. In total, a single CoolSculpting cycle treating one area can take 35 – 60 minutes.

Updated Technology

CoolSculpting has been the gold standard in non-invasive body sculpting for many years. However, the technology has continued to improve and today, CoolSculpting reduces fat by even higher percentages, and faster. On average, there is a 20 – 25 percent fat reduction in the treated site 4 – 6 months after the final treatment. The amount of fat will also partially dictate how much you lose. Also remember that CoolSculpting is not an alternative to diet and exercise, but a complement to it. It’s important to keep up a healthy lifestyle during and after your CoolSculpting cycles. CoolSculpting is a zero-downtime process, so it’s not going to get in the way of your workouts.

You can also combine CoolSculpting with other treatments to maximize results. For example, Emsculpt NEO can build muscle while also burning away extra fat. It’s very common to combine these two treatments and maximize results. If you struggle with cellulite, as the vast majority of women and some men do, options like Emtone can help to release the stubborn, rigid tissues that amplify it. There are also a myriad of skin tightening treatments, such as Thermage FLX, that can help to turn back the clock and return skin to a more youthful, taut appearance.

Starting Your CoolSculpting

Right now is the perfect time to start CoolSculpting because you’ll be able to see the results just in time for summer vacations. Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to many non-surgical cosmetic treatments. Since CoolSculpting is a slow and steady process, we recommend taking photos, measurements, and gauging how your clothes fit for progress tracking instead of depending on a scale. You might not notice any shift in the scale, especially if you pair CoolSculpting with Emsculpt NEO or weight training, but you will certainly begin to sculpt and contour your body with the first session. Schedule your consultation or appointment today by calling RefinedMD or completing the online contact form.