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How Does CoolSculpting Work?

How CoolSculpting Works is through a process called Cryolipolysis, or what’s more commonly known by its brand name CoolSculpting, has become one of the most popular nonsurgical treatments for the reduction of body fat.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), nearly a half-million CoolSculpting procedures have been performed worldwide. Considering that it’s still a relatively new treatment — first introduced into the United States in 2010 — this statistic attests to its popularity.

Of course, there are other treatments available to reduce body fat, including both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. As a result, you might be skeptical of CoolSculpting and whether it really works. In short, it does, in fact, reduce body fat. To better understand how it’s able to remove unwanted fat from your body, though, you must first understand the basics of this increasingly popular procedure.

What Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical procedure that involves the use of a vacuum machine to freeze fat in select areas of the body. It was pioneered by Zeltiq Aesthetics during the mid-2000s. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Zeltiq Aesthetics the green light to market its innovative new procedure as a treatment for fat on the sides of the body.

Later, in 2012, CoolSculpting was approved by the FDA for the removal of stomach fat as well. Zeltiq Aesthetics has since been acquired by the Irish pharmaceutical company Allergan, but CoolSculpting is still offered by select aestheticians, including Radiance Medspa Atlanta — and it’s only becoming more popular.

Does CoolSculpting Really Work?

It absolutely works! According to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, CoolSculpting reduces fat in the targeted area by approximately 20.4% after two months and 25.5% after six months. In other words, CoolSculpting doesn’t just offer a temporary reduction of body fat. It offers long-lasting results that aren’t found in other fat-reduction procedures. This is because CoolSculpting destroys the targeted fat cells, ensuring that they don’t come back.

It’s import to note that CoolSculpting isn’t designed for weight loss. Rather, it’s a body contouring procedure that’s used to reduce body fat. If you have one or more areas of your body where fat is a problem, you should consider scheduling a consultation for CoolSculpting. It’s a safe and effective alternative to liposuction that can reduce the concentration of fat in targeted areas by up to 25%.

coolsculpting questions

How It Works: What You Need to Know

CoolSculpting works by using cold to destroy problematic fat cells. During a typical procedure, an aesthetician will first apply gel to your skin. Next, he or she will place a vacuum machine, known as an applicator, to the targeted area. The applicator then draws the fat into its hollow interior where it’s chilled using cool air. When this occurs, you may feel a slight numbness or tingling sensation in the targeted area. But after a few minutes, these minor side effects should subside.

The applicator is the primary machine used to perform the procedure. It features a wand-like attachment that’s placed directly over the targeted area of your body. Once in place, the applicator will suction your body fat into a tube, which is where the magic happens. The applicator will then blow cool air over your skin to freeze the underlying fat cells.

For CoolSculpting to work, fat cells must be exposed to a temperature of 39 degrees to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature range, fat cells will die without risking damage or cellular death to skin or muscle tissue. Going back to the basics of chemistry 101, cold causes things to contract. Therefore, CoolSculpting will cause the immediate shrinkage of fat cells, soon followed by the death of those targeted cells.

You’ll probably notice a reduction of body fat in the targeted areas after just a few weeks. However, the full results of CoolSculpting typically occur after two months. By two months, the targeted fat cells will die. While a single session will yield noticeable results, you can have additional CoolSculpting sessions for even greater results.

CoolSculpting can be performed on most areas of the body where there’s a high concentration of fat. The makers of this procedure have a motto: “If you can squeeze it, you can freeze it.” Whether you’re looking to reduce fat on your stomach, sides, arms, back or elsewhere, you should consider CoolSculpting. It works for any area of the body where you can squeeze the fat.

You can expect a typical CoolSculpting session to last for 35 to 75 minutes. After the cooling process has been performed, the aesthetician will perform kneed the targeted areas of your body to further improve the results. During the procedure, you can relax while reading a book, using your smartphone or by watching TV. Some people even use this opportunity to take a nap. When the CoolSculpting procedure is finished, you go back to your daily life. Since it doesn’t damage your skin or muscle tissue, there’s no downtime for recovery with CoolSculpting.

Will CoolSculpting Work for Me?

Because it’s a noninvasive and nonsurgical procedure, CoolSculpting will work for most men and women who are looking to reduce their body fat. With that said, it shouldn’t be used as a treatment for obesity or weight gain. Neither CoolSculpting nor any procedure should be used as a substitute for dieting and exercising. If you are trying to lose weight, focus on dieting and exercising. If you’re looking to reduce the amount of fat in specific areas of your body, on the other hand, CoolSculpting is the answer.

The key thing to remember is that CoolSculpting is a body-contouring procedure, so it won’t necessarily make you lose weight. It uses cold air to freeze fat cells, thus causing cellular destruction of body fat. With its precise temperature of 39 degrees to 41 degrees Fahrenheit, the surrounding skin and muscle tissue will remain healthy and unharmed. You may look visibly slimmer in targeted areas, but CoolSculpting won’t have any noticeable impact on your weight.

According to the ASAPS, men and women suffering from cold-related medical conditions shouldn’t seek CoolSculpting. If you currently suffer from cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobulinuria or cold urticaris, you should talk to your primary care physician beforehand. He or she can advise you on whether or not you are a suitable candidate for CoolSculpting. But as long as you don’t suffer from any cold-related medical condition — and you aren’t overweight or obese — you should be an ideal candidate for this fat-reduction procedure.

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The Bottom Line

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved procedure for the reduction of body fat. It works by freezing fat cells until the point of destruction but without harming the skin or surrounding tissue. An aesthetician will use an applicator that suctions the targeted body fat into a small tube where it’s exposed to cool air. As the temperature of the air inside the tube drops, the fat cells begin to shrink and die.

There are other noninvasive procedures available to reduce body fat, some of which include the use of radio frequency and laser light. However, most of these procedures are more expensive than CoolSculpting and offer poorer results. For the permanent reduction of body fat, you can’t go wrong with CoolSculpting. It’s been approved by the FDA for this purpose, so you can rest assured knowing that it really works.

Click here to learn more about CoolSculpting Elite At Radiance or Request a free consultation today!

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