CoolSculpting®
If you are at or near your target weight but have stubborn pockets of fat that just won’t go away no matter how diligent you are with diet and exercise, CoolSculpting may be the solution you’re looking for. This innovative treatment can help target and eliminate stubborn fat for good.
The CoolSculpting® procedure eliminates stubborn fat safely and effectively, without surgery or downtime. This fat reduction treatment is the only FDA-approved procedure to use controlled cooling to safely target and eliminate diet-and-exercise-resistant fat. CoolSculpting results are proven, noticeable, and lasting, so you'll look and feel great from every angle.
CoolSculpting® can be used on the abdomen, love handles, thighs, arms and back. Although some patients report weight loss following CoolSculpting, it is a spot reducing procedure, rather than a weight loss procedure. Ideal candidates for CoolSculpting are people looking for reduction of specific stubborn areas of fat. They are at or near a healthy weight and not significantly overweight. Most healthy people with problem areas of fat can achieve great results from treatment with CoolSculpting.
COOLSCULPTING® FAQS
WHAT IS COOLSCULPTING®?
CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared non-surgical treatment that can permanently eliminate stubborn fat. We use advanced cooling technology to crystalize fat cells, which are naturally eliminated by the body over time. CoolSculpting is intended to specifically target problem areas of diet and exercise resistant fat and is not intended as a weight-loss solution.
Unlike other methods of fat reduction, CoolSculpting involves no needles, surgery, or downtime. Results look natural and can be seen as early as 4 weeks following treatment, with the most dramatic results after 12 weeks. With CoolSculpting, your body will look flawless no time.
DOES IT HURT AND WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
For the first 5 to 10 minutes, you may feel intense cold as the treated area becomes numb. Since most applicators use a vacuum to draw fatty tissue in, you may also feel some tugging, pulling, and/or mild pinching. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb. Many people read, watch videos, work on their laptop, or even take a nap during their CoolSculpting treatment.
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR COOLSCULPTING®?
Good candidates for CoolSculpting will have noticeable bulges of fat that they are able to pinch. While eliminating stubborn fat, CoolSculpting is not a weight loss solution or a substitute for surgical methods such as liposuction. Scheduling a consultation is the best way to find out if you are a candidate for treatment.
This treatment is safe for all skin types and can be repeated depending on the amount of subcutaneous fat in the area being treated. Candidates for this procedure should be within their ideal weight range, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet. They should have noticeable fat pockets that have not been eliminated by way of diet and exercise.
WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED?
CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental (under the chin) and submandibular (under the jawline) areas, thigh, abdomen and flank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks (also known as banana roll) and upper arm. It is also FDA-cleared to affect the appearance of lax tissue with submental area treatments.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY TREATMENT?
The applicator will be placed on the treatment area and there will be a slight sucking sensation as it adheres to your body, followed by that signature cooling effect. During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb. Many people read, watch videos, work on their laptop, or even take a nap during their CoolSculpting treatment.
After the applicator is detached, your provider will do a brief massage on the area to break up the treated fat cells and enhance the fat reduction. That’s it! Following the procedure, soreness, numbness, tingling, and inflammation are all common side effects. These symptoms shouldn’t keep anyone from their normal day to day activities.
IS THERE ANY DOWNTIME?
Because the CoolSculpting procedure is completely non-surgical, it’s typically very easy to return to your normal activities after the treatment. Often, patients go back to work on the same day. When you have a CoolSculpting treatment, there are no needles, no surgery, and no downtime.
HOW LONG IS THE TREATMENT AND HOW MANY TREATMENTS DO I NEED?
During your consultation your CoolSculpting provider will help you create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific goals. The length of your CoolSculpting treatment will vary depending on the number of areas being treated during one visit. The latest technology of CoolSculpting can treat one area in 35-60 minutes. However, some patients chose to have more than one treatment during the same office visit which accounts for a longer treatment time.
ARE THE RESULTS PERMANENT?
Once the treated fat cells are crystallized (frozen), they die and are naturally processed and eliminated from the body through the lymphatic system (which means you will typically expel them through sweat or urine). When they are gone, they are gone for good. Once fat cells are destroyed, they are gone forever.
Fat cells killed by CoolSculpting are permanently removed as the adult body is unable to create new fat cells. Removed fat cells cannot regrow and the body will not replace them with new fat cells. However, it is still possible to gain fat back in the area if one gains weight. Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
WHAT ARE THE PRE-TREATMENT AND POST-TREATMENT CARE INSTRUCTIONS
PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Our providers ask that you:
- Wear loose and comfortable clothing to your CoolSculpting® appointment.
- Are properly hydrated before your treatment session
- Ensure that the skin in the area(s) to be treated is clean and free from any cuts, wounds, or lesions
POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
We ask our clients to avoid the use of anti-inflammatory medications for 5 days post CoolSculpting. The fat freezing procedure creates inflammation and that is what helps kill off the fat cells, so we don’t suggest taking anything that will hinder this process. Avoiding any of the over the counter NSAID such as Ibuprofen, Advil, Excedrin, Aspirin, Motrin, etc. is advised. Also natural supplements that are anti-inflammatory such as Turmeric, Fish Oil, Arnica, etc. should be avoided as an extra precaution as well. So what do we suggest to take for discomfort? Tylenol.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
The price for CoolSculpting® procedures varies by patient depending on your areas of concern, the number of treatments needed, and your ultimate goals. Most patients at Sona Dermatology opt to treat multiple areas, but each person is different. We are more than happy to accommodate your individual needs and create a plan that works for you. Please see here for more pricing information.
CoolSculpting Fat Reduction
HOW DOES COOLSCULPTING® WORK?
CoolSculpting eliminates fat through a process called cryolipolysis. Fat cells in the treatment area are exposed to extreme cold, causing their internal structure to crystalize. When fat cells freeze, they die and are then metabolized by the body and naturally eliminated through the body’s natural process. Don’t worry: This process happens so gradually, you won’t necessarily notice a difference in your day-to-day life. The CoolSculpting process only impacts fat cells, all other skin and surrounding tissue is unaffected by the treatment.
Fat cells killed by CoolSculpting are permanently removed as the adult body is unable to create new fat cells. Removed fat cells cannot regrow and the body will not replace them with new fat cells.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR COOLSCULPTING®?
Ideal candidates for CoolSculpting are people looking for reduction of specific stubborn areas of fat. They are at or near a healthy weight and not significantly overweight. Most healthy people with problem areas of fat can achieve great results from treatment with CoolSculpting.
This fat reduction treatment is the only FDA-approved procedure to use controlled cooling to safely target and eliminate diet-and-exercise-resistant fat.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM COOLSCULPTING®?
A CoolSculpting patient will notice their full results approximately 3 months after treatment. Depending on the size of the treatment area, patients may need multiple treatments to get to their goal. These additional treatments can take place as early as four weeks out. Once fat cells are destroyed, they are gone forever. However, it is still possible to gain fat back in the area if one gains weight. Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.
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