CoolSculpting
Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center offers CoolSculpting treatment for patients who want to improve their body shape. Individuals who have struggled with reducing stubborn pockets of fat that remain despite attempts at vigorous exercise and low-calorie diets can now benefit from the latest FDA-approved therapy for fat reduction. For years, liposuction was the only technique that addressed these pockets of fat, but CoolSculpting now offers a non-surgical, non-invasive alternative to literally chill away excess fat cells. You can expect minimal recovery time and resume normal day-to-day activities immediately after the treatment. For most patients, two or more treatment sessions are recommended to reach their body contouring goals. The result is a 20-25% reduction in fat cells per treatment and visible improvement appearance in target areas with a body contouring effect and noticeable difference in volume.
Typical target areas include the abdominal area, the sides of the waistline (so-called “love handles” and “muffin tops”), the thighs, the area below the chin, underarms (“bat wings”), and most other places where excess fat can be found. It is important to not confuse the removal of fat cells with actual weight loss and programs designed specifically for weight loss. This is a body contouring technique rather than a way to treat a weight problem. It can be effective for removing relatively large fat deposits that might make someone near ideal bodyweight appear more overweight than they actually are.
Who is a Candidate for CoolSculpting Treatment?
The CoolSculpting procedure is designed for people who want to permanently reduce fat cells in specific areas. The CoolSculpting procedure is NOT a weight loss solution (unlike weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass).
Good candidates for the CoolSculpting procedure are:
- Men and women with stubborn fat pockets
- Has noticeable fat bulges in certain areas
- Looking for permanent reduction of fat cells in a given area
- Wants a non-surgical alternative to liposuction
- Has subcutaneous fat that is pinchable and squishy or soft
A consultation with our CoolSculpting Specialist Katelyn will help determine whether CoolSculpting is right for you and discuss your best treatment options.
How CoolSculpting Works
CoolSculpting treatment uses a process known as cryolipolysis to safely and effectively freeze and destroy fat cells in targeted treatment areas. We begin the CoolSculpting process by directly applying gel pads and a cooling applicator to the targeted area. This chills the location to a safe, controlled temperature that is above freezing, but below normal body temperature. The targeted temperature affects fat cells, but does not impact other tissues, including skin, blood and organs. Chilled fat cells perish and are naturally eliminated by the body over time. Within a matter of weeks, the result is a leaner, more sculpted look.
We perform CoolSculpting sessions right in our office, within 35-75 minutes depending on the location and size of the targeted area. For most patients, two or more treatments are recommended to achieve the best results.
What Results Can You Expect?
Patients report a cooling sensation during treatment, but most do not experience any significant discomfort. Treatments do not require any pre-treatment or post-treatment care, so you can return to your daily routine and activities without interruption.
Noticeable changes in body appearance appear as quickly as 3 weeks after treatment. The most dramatic results will take time as the body flushes out affected fat cells and will become most visible after 2 months with continuous improvement over the course of the next several months. CoolSculpting results are long term because those fat cells, once eliminated, are gone for good and do not return.
Although no medical treatment is entirely without risks or potential side effects, remarkably few have been found with CoolSculpting. On rare occasions, patients may experience mild, temporary redness, numbness, or minor bruising that subsides quickly.
CoolSculpting vs. Liposuction
Both CoolSculpting and Liposuction remove fat cells. The difference between these two procedures lies in the process each uses to eliminate fat and how the body responds to treatment.
Surgical vs. Non-Surgical
Liposuction is an invasive surgical procedure in which a vacuum device attached to a cannula (a medical suction tube) sucks fat from the body. Surgery is performed in the operating room, where the patient undergoes anesthesia before treatment begins. CoolSculpting is used as a non-surgical, non-invasive alternative that chills fat cells in specific areas of the body to a lower temperature that does not impact surrounding tissue, but which does do away with fat cells. It is a more gentle and gradual process in which fat cells die and are naturally removed from the body.
Procedural Outcomes
Liposuction patients see an immediate difference, but they typically have to spend some time recovering from pain, bruising, and other issues. In most cases, CoolSculpting patients wait approximately a month before beginning to see the full impact of their procedure, but their patience is rewarded with outstanding results and very little inconvenience.
Downtime and Side Effects
CoolSculpting involves essentially no downtime for the patient and there may be few minor side effects and low risks. Liposuction is a surgical procedure with longer recovery periods, and there are a number of possible negative impacts, including scarring, pain, and bruising. There is also a relatively small but real likelihood of complications ranging from allergies, infections, and drug reactions, to relatively rare instances of skin necrosis or puncturing an internal organ.
Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center will be happy to review treatment options with you for best outcomes upon consultation. Contact us today to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many procedures have been completed?
What does cryolipolysis mean?
What areas can I have treated?
Why Choose Us For Your CoolSculpting Procedure?
- Experience. We have been CoolSculpting since 2016 and we are a certified-CoolSculpting practice
- We have the latest applicator technology to shorten treatment times and enhance comfort during treatment.
- A dedicated CoolSculpting Specialist supports you.
- A dedicated and comfortable treatment room enables quicker appointment availability.
- Board-Certified Physician overseeing treatments.
Getting Started
Are you ready to see what CoolSculpting can do for you? If you wish to learn more or would like to schedule a consultation, contact us today!
*Please note that CoolSculpting should not be considered a substitute for weight loss. Rather it is an FDA- approved treatment that really does eliminate fat without downtime or serious discomfort.
