Do you have unwanted fat? Sure! Who doesn’t!! There are millions of people in the United States looking for an effective treatment for unwanted fat. From legitimate exercise programs and healthy eating to all of the countless diet fads and gimmicks. What if you are taking great care of yourself with a healthy and balanced diet, exercise regularly but still can’t lose those unwanted pockets of fat? CoolSculpting can do just that and it can help! When you lose weight, fat cells shrink but the number stays the same. This is why we all have our own “problem” areas.
With CoolSculpting, the fat cells are damaged and killed so you actually reduce the number of fat cells in the treated area. CoolSculpting is gaining popularity so we decided to take the time to explain the process and answer some of the more common questions about CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting FAQs
What is Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is a fat-freezing technology to treat troublesome bulges of fat so they aren’t so troublesome anymore.
How does Coolsculpting work?
Simply put, Coolsculpting freezes fat permanently. The device uses precise cooling to freeze your fat cells to -11C which crystallizes the fat cells, leading to the death of 20-25% of the fat cells in the target area. Your body will then remove these damaged and dead fat cells over the next few months. No incisions, no down time, no anesthesia, and no missed work.
Why is everyone talking about Coolsculpting?
- Natural Looking, Lasting Results – After one session, the treated area will gradually appear smoother and more toned over the course of the following three months, but many see fat reduction after just four weeks!
- Safe & FDA-Cleared treatment – CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling to target and freeze away fat cells. Developed by scientists at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, it’s the only FDA-cleared fat freezing technology. The treatment is safe on your body – but tough on stubborn fat.
- Convenient & Comfortable – Each cycle of Coolsculpting is only 35-45 minutes. During their session, some of our patients read, get work done, watch Netflix – or even sleep!
- Professional Medical Team – Dr. Gentry and our professionals administer the process at Rejuvenated Medical Spa. While CoolSculpting is an innovative technology, our team members are very familiar with the process, and can even give you insight into the amazing results they’ve experienced first-hand.
Is Coolsculpting permanent?
CoolSculpting produces long-lasting results. Fat cells grow and shrink based on exercise, caloric intake and other factors, so maintaining a stable weight helps preserve your results. Treated fat cells are eliminated, and as long as you do not gain large amounts of weight, the number of fat cells in the treated area stays lower.
Is CoolSculpting safe? What are the side effects?
CoolSculpting is generally well-tolerated, and the most common side effects are temporary, including redness, swelling, bruising, numbness or tingling, and cramping in the treated area that typically resolve within days to weeks. As with any procedure, there are risks. A rare but serious side effect called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) has been reported with cryolipolysis, and your medical history and candidacy are reviewed during a consultation so our team can decide whether CoolSculpting is appropriate for you.
What is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)?
Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) is a rare side effect in which tissue in the treated area hardens and enlarges instead of shrinking, sometimes described as a firm, applicator-shaped bulge. It typically appears two to five months after treatment, may require surgical correction in some cases, and is one of the reasons our team reviews your full medical history before any treatment.
What areas can be treated?
CoolSculpting is FDA cleared to treat fat bulges in the following places: Learn more about CoolSculpting at Rejuvenated Medical Spa
- under the chin
- underneath the buttocks (aka “banana roll”)
- upper arms (aka “batwings”)
- inner thighs
- outer thighs (aka “saddle bags”)
- abdomen
- flanks (aka “love handles”)
- back fat or bra fat.
How long does it take to see results?
Most patients will begin to see results at around week 5 or 6 but full results are not seen until about 12 weeks following your procedure. We are the only clinic in the area that uses a device nicknamed the “fat cracker” that can improve and speed up results. The “fat cracker” is an optional treatment using soundwaves that can be performed once weekly for 4 weeks to speed up the fat removal.
How much does CoolSculpting cost?
CoolSculpting typically costs $600 to $900 per session. Your total depends on the treatment area and the recommended number of sessions to meet your goals, all confirmed at your consultation. During a session, each cycle uses an applicator on the target area for roughly 35 to 45 minutes, and multiple cycles or sessions may be recommended depending on your body contouring goals.
How many treatments will I need?
How does my body get rid of the fat?
Your body recognizes the damaged fat cells and clears them away through normal processes. The dead fat cells are then cleared and removed by your lymphatic system. Most patients do not notice their bodies clearing the dead fat cells.
What is the recovery following Coolsculpting?
Most patients experience soreness in the treated area for about 3 days followed by a tingling or slightly numb sensation for 7-10 days. Dr. Gentry hopped out of the chair and began injecting Botox immediately after his treatment. Many patients choose to go back to work. We have even had patients exercise right afterward. Some of the best parts about CoolSculpting is that there is no downtime, no time off work, no surgery, no anesthesia, and results are permanent.
Am I a candidate for Coolsculpting?
The only way to know for sure if you are a good candidate is to have an in-person consult. Our consults are free. Most people who are within about 20-30 lbs of their goal body weight can be a good candidate for Coolsculpting.
Who should not get Coolsculpting treatments?
The CoolSculpting procedure is not for everyone. You should not have CoolSculpting if you suffer from Cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. In addition, other medical conditions such as hernia repair may alter your treatment plan. This is why a provider evaluates every patient prior to treatment to ensure your safety
Is Coolsculpting a weight loss treatment?
No, CoolSculpting is not a weight loss treatment. CoolSculpting will help sculpt the bulged or pockets of fat for a better appearance. CoolSculpting should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and is not a substitute for a proper diet and exercise regimen.
Couldn’t I just exercise more?
Your health, in addition to your physical appearance, is largely reliant on a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. CoolSculpting shouldn’t take the place of either of these, but rather act as an aid that can help you accomplish your goals. Diet and exercise can help reduce the appearance of fat cells, but they don’t permanently rid your body of them. CoolSculpting freezes off fat cells for good, enhancing your diet plan and serving as great encouragement for continuing a healthy lifestyle.
What happens if I gain weight down the road?
Many people, after seeing the results from their CoolSculpting procedure, take even better care of themselves. However, if you do gain weight, you may gain it evenly all over your body, not just in the treated areas. You will however have fewer fat cells in your treated areas, so most patients see increased tone in treated areas, even after gaining weight.
When was this procedure discovered?
The science behind the CoolSculpting procedure, called cryolipolysis , was discovered by physicians Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD and R. Rox Anderson, MD, of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Drs. Manstein and Anderson and their team conducted research demonstrating that, under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, subcutaneous fat cells are naturally more vulnerable to the effects of cold than surrounding tissues. Their initial work, published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in November 2008, concluded that prolonged, controlled, local tissue cooling can induce selective fat cell reduction and subsequent loss of subcutaneous fat without damaging the overlying skin.1 This discovery, called “selective cryolysis,” led to the development of the patented technology behind the non-invasive CoolSculpting procedure.
CoolSculpting vs. liposuction: what’s the difference?
A method of fat removal, liposuction is a surgical procedure that often requires individuals to undergo general anesthesia. It works by using large tubes to pull out fat from targeted areas of the body, leaving individuals with immediate results. However, it’s an invasive procedure and can require weeks of recovery. CoolSculpting doesn’t require surgery and therefore does not require anesthesia or incisions and has no downtime.
How is the Coolsculpting procedure different from other non-invasive procedures?
The controlled cooling of the CoolSculpting procedure targets and eliminates only fat cells. Other treatment modalities, such as lasers, radiofrequency and focused ultrasound, affect fat cells and may affect other adjacent tissue in a way that is not comparable to the focused CoolSculpting method of cryolipolysis. Although heat can help tighten skin, cold is much better than heat for reduction of fat. Fat cells can be frozen without damaging surrounding cells. It is much more difficult to safely damage fat cells with heat because the skin can burn at temperatures lower than that required to damage fat cells.
Does insurance cover Coolsculpting?
No, Coolsculpting is a purely aesthetic treatment and is not covered by any insurance programs.
Why should I choose Rejuvenated Medical Spa for my Coolsculpting or other aesthetic treatments?
- Rejuvenated Medical Spa is the only CoolSculpting location in Northwest Arkansas that provides an assessment by a physician to be sure CoolSculpting is appropriate for you. Dr. Gentry evaluates every CoolSculpting patient prior to treatment.
- We offer Zimmer or “Z wave” treatments to improve your CoolSculpting results. This is a device that uses sound waves once weekly for four weeks following your treatment. This may help speed up your results and may improve overall results as well.
- We offer free, no obligation consults for CoolSculpting. Contact our Fayetteville team to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
