The world can be divided into two kinds of people: weight losers and weight gainers. The weight losers try all the possibilities from exercise to dieting, but still, they couldn’t get the perfect body shape they would dream for. Those stubborn fats can be removed using a lot of modern-day techniques, including surgical and nonsurgical. People usually prefer nonsurgical methods, and Coolsculpting is one of them.
A lot of doubt arises while adopting a new method of fat removal, especially whether it is safe, whether it gives a long-lasting effect, whether will it contribute to weight loss, whether will it take a toll on your purse, and many such.
This article intends to give a complete insight into coolsculpting so that the readers could gain all the possible information in a single stop.
What is Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting, also known as cryolipolysis, is a fat removal procedure without surgery. It is more like a body contouring process. It works based on the principle of cryolipolysis, which uses cold temperatures for freezing fat cells.
This fat-freezing treatment has become popular these days among weight loss practicing members. Since this technique involves fat removal without surgery, Cool Sculpting has gained worldwide attention.
Coolsculpting is a nonsurgical procedure in which a plastic surgeon uses a device to freeze the fat cells in a targeted area under the skin. After this, once the fat cells are frozen, they can be gradually broken down easily and can be removed from the body by the liver.
Who Invented Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting – Dieter Manstein invented the fat freezing treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital and Rox Anderson from Harvard Medical School. In 2008, cryolipolysis studies were carried out on pigs, and Dieter and Rox created a prototype for advanced studies.
Coolsculpting was a safe and new technique, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. Coolsculpting and cryolipolysis are registered trademarks of Zeltiq Aesthetics.
Why Coolsculpting?
Though there are a number of ways followed throughout the world for weight loss, coolsculpting has become more unique as it is a non-surgical procedure and a non-invasive technique.
Though it looks like surgical treatment, there is no break or rest time after your treatment. This means once you had finished undergoing your treatment procedure, you can immediately leave for your daily routine activities without any break and you can even go for a workout.
Can Anyone Get Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is a safe and approved procedure by the FDA. Any person who is unable to shred down his fat despite exercises can try it. However, it has been recommended that few persons can refrain from trying that.
However, the best results are achieved for those who have an active lifestyle and 40 to 50 KG from their ideal weight. This is because the non-invasive fat removal procedure helps in destroying the excess fat cells in a targeted area and might not give expected results in extremely obese cases.
People suffering from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria are advised to avoid this technique of fat removal without surgery as it might cause serious complications in them.
If you seem to have the symptoms of the problems mentioned above, it is better to avoid Cool Sculpting. However, it is advised to consult a doctor before you decide to undergo fat-freezing treatment.
Coolsculpting Procedure
As the name suggests, Cool Sculpting is a cooling process. The modernized procedural settings have been much relaxed that people can even bring their laptops for work, watch a movie, or even take a short sleep or nap while undergoing the procedure. Due to this kind of simplicity, the coolsculpting by cryolipolysis is also called fat freezing at home.
Here is how the procedure works. Assume the cool sculpting machine to be a giant Vacuum suction hose, which can apply a moderate suction pressure on a specific targeted area. This giant vacuum suction hose is called the Applicator.
The Applicators usually look like rounded paddles and are available in four sizes. After applying suction pressure in the targeted fat areas, the Applicator then applies carefully regulated cooling panels or cooling plates over the targeted areas.
These cooling plates help to crystalize the fat cells below a temperature, where they are irreversibly damaged. This scientific process is called cryolipolysis.
After this, the crystallized fats are broken down and treated by the liver and are eventually disposed of the body by the body’s own mechanism.
This cold fat removal is much more effective for those targeted areas, where fats are difficult to melt even after workouts and other weight loss procedures.
Theoretically, cryolipolysis or coolsculpting can just tackle any unwanted fat bulges in the body by the technique of suction and cooling.
Is Cool Sculpting Safe?
As mentioned earlier, coolsculpting had been approved by the FDA in 2010, and it is entirely safe.
There is zero chance of any wounds as it is a technique of fat removal without surgery. Since the method adopted is non-invasive fat removal, the risks of coolsculpting are very less when compared to other surgical methods of weight loss.
While irregularities might occur in terms of fine-tuning by the plastic surgeon, doesn’t cause any sort of swelling or wound cuts. However, is advised to consult for further risks with a doctor.
Coolsculpting Vs. Weight Loss
It is a common misconception that this cold fat removal technique is a part of the weight loss program. However, Cool Sculpting and weight loss are entirely different even though they seem to travel in the same boat.
When you are losing weight, you do workouts, exercises, and dieting, which works on the fat and starts to melt them. This melting of fat indicates that the fat cells are reducing in size, but still, the fat cells are not completely destroyed.
This means that when you skip the diet/exercise/workouts, then the fat cells can become bigger at any time, and your efforts may go in vain, and again you have to start from scratch.
Whereas in this cool sculpting weight loss technique, you freeze the fat off, and they get destroyed in the liver. Hence the chance of regaining fat takes a lot of time.
How Much Fat can be Lost with Fat Freezing?
The fat-freezing treatments can be able to reduce 20 to 30 % of the body fat, say an average of 25 %. Technically speaking, the non-invasive fat removal treatment does not reduce the size of the fat cells; rather, it reduces the number of fat cells by freezing and destroying them.
As mentioned above, Cool Sculpting is not a weight-loss method; it is a fat-loss method. It removes the fat from the targeted areas of the body where you couldn’t lose fat even after heavy workouts and diets. They are called stubborn fat cells.
However, the destruction of the stubborn fat cells will automatically take you to shed some kilograms. You tend to lose a couple of pounds in a specific area. If you have more than one area to lose fat, then you need two to three sessions of coolsculpting, on the contrary, if there is a large amount of stubborn fat accumulated in a single area, one session of coolsculpting is enough.
How Much is Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is not the same for all persons. It might vary from person to person with many considerations.
The size of the area of fat removal, and the number of areas of fat removal are the major factors that influence the cost.
Higher the size of the body area, the higher the cost. If you need to freeze fat off in more than one area, the cost may again go high. In other words, the person undergoing the treatment procedure determines the cost of it.
The official website of coolsculpting says that a non-invasive fat removal procedure costs around an average of $2000 to $4000 per session.
Assuming the cool sculpting treatment of an arm, it costs around $650, which means the treatment for both arms might cost you up to $1,300. In the case of arms, a single session is enough to produce the desired results.
Multiple sessions might require if you want to reduce arms and thighs and belly simultaneously. Hence the cost increases accordingly.
Additional factors include the place of living, consultant charges if any, and follow-up checkups or treatment as desired.
Are Cool Sculpting Results Permanent?
This is the place coolsculpting weight loss takes a leading edge when compared with other methods of weight loss.
When you follow workouts and diets, the fat cells reduce in size, so if you skip the regular workouts or diet, it takes no time in regaining the lost weight.
On the contrary, coolsculpting involves freezing fat cells and destroying them. So the results are almost permanent in nature and long-lasting.
It may take 3 to 4 months for the frozen fat cells to be completely destroyed by the liver. Still, the chance of regaining fat in the same area in this duration is minimal.
However, too much of negligence might create and build new fat cells in the same area in the long run. Though Cool Sculpting gives long-lasting results, the individual should take minimal care and maintain a diet for better future results.
Cryolipolysis Treatment Areas
The coolsculpting procedure is not restricted to any particular area of the body. It can be applied to any part where there is stubborn fat that needs to be reduced.
Prime areas include as follows:
Calves: The extra fat which accumulates behind the legs, if treated by cryolipolysis, gives good results and you can focus more on physical and cardio workouts
Arms: The cool sculpting cellulite treatment is best when you want a physically attractive figure through your arms. The ‘wings’ kind of shape after a workout can be more perfectly attained.
Neck: For those who got that extra fat on the neck due to obesity, which looks like a thyroid, coolsculpting gives better results than dieting.
Face: Suffering from double chin issue? Cryolypolysis freezes and destroys the excess fat to have a beautiful fat-free face.
Lipomas: Lipomas, commonly known as skin lumps can occur on any part of the body like arms and legs, it causes severe problems when it compresses the nerves underneath. The fat freezing technique is proved to be effective in treating them.
Abdomen: The primary application of coolsculpting goes for the fat freezing in the abdominal area, where people who suffer from a big belly can shred their stubborn fats easily.
Back Fat: Also known as banana rolls, coolsculpting can remove them in a single treatment thereby increasing the beauty of the back
Bra Fat: Commonly, a trouble-making fat in the appearance of a lady, the non-invasive fat removal technique helps you to attain a perfect shape without any scars.
Male Chest: Obese male finds it very difficult to reduce the extra accumulated chest fats even after sessions of tiring work out. This fat removal without surgery is one of the most efficient ways to shred fat.
Love Handles: Though the belly fat seems to reduce through workouts and dieting, the love handles take a long time to dissolve. In such cases cryolipolysis gives the best solution
Lower stomach: They are the stubbornness fat in the body, and coolsculpting provides the best results, just like reducing the stomach fats.
Other areas such as knees, thighs, flanks, hip dips, and outer thigh are those areas that attain the best results through coolsculpting.
Coolsculpting Benefits
The best benefit of coolsculpting is it is a technique of fat freezing at home. You no need to get admitted to a hospital, no downtime, and taking rest for a couple of days. Instead, you can start your daily routine immediately the next day.
Coolsculpting has the highest rate of efficiency when compared to other techniques of fat reduction.
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive fat removal technique, and hence it doesn’t create any wounds or scars in your body.
The procedure is so simple and easy, and in addition to this, it is a painless and effective procedure.
It doesn’t involve the entire body, instead concentrates on hotspots of stubborn fats. Moreover, multiple areas can be treated at the same time, and the best results can be achieved in 3 to 4 months.
Cool sculpting gives long-lasting, almost permanent results than other methods of fat removal.
Coolsculpting Risks and Side Effects
Coolsculpting is usually not advisable for patients suffering from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. There might be some immediate and long-term side effects.
Immediate side effects include symptoms such as minor swelling, tingling sensation, stinging feel, tenderness of the treated area, numbness, and skin sensitivity.
However, this kind of effect hardly lasts for a week or two. There is another risk of a tugging sensation to be experienced throughout the treatment period when the cooling panels are rolled over the targeted area.
A rare case called Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia might occur where the fat cells start growing in size rather than reducing. There is no scientific explanation for this occurrence. However, these rare cases don’t occur in men.
Does Insurance Ever Cover Cool Sculpting?
Though coolsculpting is a fat-freezing treatment, it is considered a cosmetic treatment. Usually, in most of the insurance norms, the cosmetic procedure won’t be covered.
Hence The non-invasive fat removal technique usually won’t be covered under insurance. However, there are many financing options available in the market which could be made use of.
Coolsculpting Alternatives
There are many similar alternatives to cool sculpture that targets the fat cells in a specific area and destroys them. Some of them are listed below.
Sculpsure: They are the shortest non-invasive treatment method. Instead of freezing the fat cells, it heats them up to a breaking point to destroy the fat cells. They last up to 25 minutes.
Zerona: They are also a non-invasive fat reduction technique, which uses a cold laser for targeting the fat cells. It is the gentlest and least effective form of fat treatment.
Vanquish: This technique is used when a larger area of the body is to be treated. Vanquish uses radio frequency to heat the fat cells to death
Liposuction: This uses suction technology to reduce the fat from the targeted region of the body, such as the thighs, arms, and belly. However, studies proved that it doesn’t cause much change in weight.
Coolsculpting FAQ
What is Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is a technique of non-invasive fat reduction in targeted areas, where the fat does not reduce even after diet and workouts.
What is the technique of coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting follows the technique of cryo lipolysis, where the fat cells are frozen by cold temperature and then destroyed by the liver.
Does coolsculpting give immediate results?
The results could be seen within 8 to 12 weeks of the process. Multiple sessions might require if the fat content is high or the target area is big.
Does coolsculpting require multiple sessions?
In a single area, if the fat is more, it might require multiple sessions with an interval of a minimum of 30 days. Multiple locations can be treated in a single day.
Is coolsculpting successful?
Coolsculpting is the most successful treatment among the available non-invasive fat techniques such as sculpture, Zerona, vanquish, and liposuction.
Is coolsculpting safe?
Coolsculpting was a safe and new technique, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012. Coolsculpting and cryolipolysis are registered trademarks of Zeltiq Aesthetics. Further consultation with doctors is advisable.
Is coolsculpting equal to weight loss?
Coolsculpting helps you to reduce weight, but it is not the weight loss program or diet which you need to follow. Fat cells reduce in size in case of weight loss, but they are destroyed by coolsculpting.
How many fats can be lost by coolsculpting?
20 to 30 % of the targeted fat can be reduced. However, it depends on the size of the area to be treated and the number of locations to be treated.
How much does Coolsculpting cost?
The official website of coolsculpting says that a non-invasive fat removal procedure costs around an average of $2000 to $4000 per session. It also depends on the area size and number of locations.
Are the results permanent:
The results are long-lasting. It takes a long time for the stubborn fat to regenerate. However, a proper diet is required to avoid fat accumulation in the future.
Does Coolsculpting completely destroy body fat:
Coolsculpting does not focus on total body fat. It only focuses on those facts which don’t melt even after a proper diet and workout. Those fats are called stubborn fats.
What areas can be treated by coolsculpting?
The areas that could be treated under coolsculpting include calves, arms, neck, face, lipomas, abdomen, back fat, bra fat, chin, double chin, flanks, thighs, hips dips, knees, legs, love handles, lower stomach, stomach, outer thighs, and male chest.
Does coolsculpting have any side effects?
Usually, there are short-term side effects such as minor swelling, stinging feet, and numbness of treated areas. A rare case of Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia might occur in women where the fat cells grow instead of shrinking.
Is coolsculpting covered by insurance?
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive fat treatment and comes under cosmetic treatment, and hence it won’t be covered under insurance. However, recently some firms are ready to provide financial assistance.
Conclusion:
Cool Sculpting has been clinically proved to be safe and result-oriented than most non-invasive fat removal techniques around the world. It doesn’t deprive you of your daily routine, doesn’t make you sweat like anything, doesn’t make you count your calories, and doesn’t ask you to hit the gym twice a day. It leaves no traces, no scars, or marks but brings your body to the desired shape, which you would have probably missed due to the stubborn fats. Especially for those who are just 40 to 50 kg above their ideal weight, this fat-freezing treatment is a blessing in disguise after they lose their hope of losing stubborn fats.
