What Is Coolsculpting - Risks, Benefits And Side Effects (2023)
Shalu Bhati
Updated At 09 Jul 23
Ever heard about CoolSculpting? No? Do you want to know more about this “fat erasing” procedure? Then, stick here for a while and keep reading.
We have had a love-hate relationship with body fat for as long as we can remember. A wave of liposuction’s popularity was followed by a wave of love and acceptance for one’s body. Fat or no fat, at the end of the day it comes to an individual’s health and other personal preferences. If you have accepted your body with some beautiful bulges here and some bouncy rolls there, then good for you. But, if you have failed to join the acceptance bandwagon and are struggling with the fat deposits on your body, mentally or physically, then it is okay too. Both of these situations are normal.
Getting rid of stubborn fat has always been troublesome. But, with the advent of liposuction things became easier. The popularity of this procedure was at an all-time high around 2000. However, from 2000 to now in 2020, liposuction has lost its seat of popularity to another latest advancement—CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is the new kid on the block that boasts of magically erasing the stubborn bulges of fat from your body and that too without going through surgery. It seems magical, right? But does the hype makes it worth trying? We will find all about CoolSculpting in this article.
We have covered the following:
- What Is CoolSculpting?
- How Is CoolSculpting done?
- Benefits Of CoolSculpting
- CoolSculpting Risks And Side Effects
- CoolSculpting Price
- How Is It Different From Other Similar Procedures
- FAQs on CoolSculpting
Let’s begin!
What Is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure that uses extremely cold temperatures to reduce fat. It is a patented brand name for fat freezing.
It is an innovative method to change your appearance that uses the technique of cryolipolysis. The stubborn fat deposits under your skin’s surface are targeted and then eliminated with the help of extreme cold. It is a popular treatment that boasts of having more than 8 million cycles performed across the world.
You can enhance the shape of your body and get rid of the stubborn fat deposits with the help of this procedure without having to go under the knife. No needles or anesthesia are involved. Since this procedure is non-surgical, you don’t have to worry about the recovery period or the surgical scars. You can go about your daily business immediately after the procedure. Isn’t it wonderful?
There are times when no matter how much change you bring in your diet or exercise certain pockets of fat don’t budge. CoolSculpting was created as a method to target those stubborn fat pockets. You can avail of the CoolSculpting treatment through a trained plastic surgeon. This procedure lasts from anywhere between 1 and 3 hours.
How Does It Work?
As stated earlier, CoolSculpting is the name of the brand while the science behind it is called cryolipolysis. It is based on the body’s natural response to cold. It targets the fat cells located in the subcutaneous layer of fat that is right under the skin.
This procedure makes use of controlled and effective cooling to target stubborn fat cells. These cells are rendered frozen during the CoolSculpting procedure which eventually destroys them. These dead fat cells are then removed by the body through the natural elimination process via the lymphatic system over the next few weeks.
While the fat in the targeted areas will be eliminated, the untreated areas will stay the same as before. This is a permanent procedure as it is not shrinking your fat cells but killing them off. However, if an unhealthy lifestyle is followed after the procedure, it can lead to weight gain. You will begin to see the results of CoolSculpting only after a few weeks after your body has eliminated the dead fat cells. The complete results can take up to 3 months to show.
How Is CoolSculpting Done—The Process In Detail
Now you know what is CoolSculpting. But before jumping on how it is done, first let’s see how a candidate must prepare for this procedure.
You must do your homework before committing to this procedure. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon specifically trained in CoolSculpting. Check if you are a suitable candidate or not. Generally, an ideal candidate must be healthy and almost near their ideal weight. Extremely obese and overweight people are not as ideal as this is not a weight-loss procedure. This procedure is also not suitable for people with a history of Raynaud’s disease or those who have severe sensitivity to cold.
Also, avoid taking anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin before undergoing this procedure.
Now, let’s see how this procedure is done.
- The trained professional will use a handheld device that comes with an applicator nozzle. This nozzle will remind you of the one in a vacuum cleaner. Worry not, it won’t hurt.
- In the next step, they will apply a gel pad and the applicator to the area that is to be treated. They will then move the applicator all over the targeted area while controlling both the cooling and the suction. This will continue until the point the freezing temperatures destroy the fat cells.
- As the last step, the professional will massage the area to break down any frozen tissue to ensure that your body can absorb these destroyed cells easily.
CoolSculpting can help you get rid of almost any unwanted bulge or roll of fat. Generally, it is used to target the following areas:
- Upper and lower abdomen
- Love handles
- Inner and outer thighs
- Arms
- Double chin
- Bra and back fat
- Fat underneath butt
For CoolSculpting to work there must be enough fat on the targeted area for the applicator to work upon.
Benefits Of CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting is an innovative way to reshape and contour your body. It is a targeted procedure that has proved its effectiveness in multiple clinical trials. It has been found that CoolSculpting can reduce up to 25 percent fat. Following are some known benefits of CoolSculpting:
- Non-surgical
- Non-invasive
- Minimal recovery time
- Permanent
- Even-elimination of fat cells from the targeted area
- Effective than other fat-reducing treatments
- Targets stubborn fat that cannot be removed even by exercising
- Involves minimal risks
- Natural-looking results
- Doesn’t harm the skin barrier
Is CoolSculpting Safe?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared CoolSculpting as a safe medical treatment. It received first clearance in 2012 for CoolSculpting abdomen and love handles. Later on, it was cleared to be used for multiple other areas. FDA’s clearance has been based on the results of many clinical trials that proved this procedure’s efficacy and safety.
Risks and Side Effects
The research on CoolSculpting is still limited. But it has been found that since this procedure is non-surgical, the risks involved are minimal. Even though CoolSculpting has been approved to be safe and has minimal risks, it has certain side effects like other procedures.
Some common side effects of CoolSculpting experienced during the procedure include:
- Sensations of intense cold
- Tingling
- Stinging
- Pulling
- Aching
- Cramping
Common side effects after the procedure include:
- Redness
- Bruising
- Skin tenderness and sensitivity
- Swelling
CoolSculpting Price Check
The CoolSculpting price depends upon many factors including the targeted area, size of the area to be treated, size of the applicator, desired outcomes, and location of health facility among others. The price for larger areas is higher than that of smaller areas.
For multiple areas, it will cost you anywhere between $2000 and $4000. For a large area, the average cost is around $1500 and for a smaller area, the average cost is about $900.
How Is CoolSculpting Different?
CoolSculpting has proven to be a magical treatment with loads of benefits and minimal risks and recovery time. Several clinical trials have proved its efficacy and with about 8 million procedures been performed worldwide, its impressive results are well known.
CoolSculpting is often confused with other similar fat-reducing procedures. Let’s find out their differences.
A. CoolSculpting vs Liposuction - What's The Difference?
- Liposuction has been around for a longer time than CoolSculpting. Liposuction was developed in the 1980s and was at its peak popularity in 2000. It was amongst the top 5 fat reducing treatments in 2014. CoolSculpting is a recent innovation that was cleared by the FDA only in 2012.
- It is a surgical procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. CoolSculpting, on the other hand, is non-surgical and does not require anesthesia.
- Liposuction has a recovery time that lasts up to a few weeks while you can get back to your daily life immediately after a CoolSculpting procedure.
- Liposuction can be said to be an aggressive approach towards fat reduction as it removes significant amounts of fat deposits in one go whereas in CoolSculpting only small fat deposits can be removed over a few sessions.
- Liposuction delivers immediate and dramatic effects. However, CoolSculpting gives out natural results that take a few weeks to show.
- CoolSculpting is not a good option for extremely obese and overweight people while liposuction is a good option for them.
B. CoolSculpting vs SculpSure – What’s The Difference?
- SculpSure is almost similar to CoolSculpting but it follows an opposite approach. The latter uses cold to kill fat cells whereas the former uses heat.
- SculpSure uses a fairly high temperature that can get uncomfortable and painful for some whereas CoolSculpting uses cold temperature that numbs the area and is thus, less uncomfortable.
- CoolSculpting requires a decent amount of fat for the applicator to work but SculpSure can be used for little amounts of stubborn fat located here and there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What happens to the fat after CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting kills the fat cells in the targeted areas using freezing temperatures. These dead cells are then removed by the body through its natural elimination process via the lymphatic system.
Q. What is CoolSculpting for double chin?
CoolSculpting for double chin is a non-surgical procedure for removing stubborn fat and reshape the chin. It will kill the fat cells and help you get rid of the double chin permanently.
Q. How does CoolSculpting arms work?
CoolSculpting can be done for upper arms to target the stubborn fat. Extremely cold temperature is used to kill and then eliminate the fat cells. You would be able to notice a visible change in a few weeks.
Q. How does CoolSculpting stomach work?
The professional would use an applicator on your stomach. They will control the cooling and suction while moving the applicator all over your stomach. They will continue this till the fat cells are deeply frozen. Due to the extreme cold, the fat cells would die and eventually eliminated by the body through the lymphatic system.
Q. Does CoolSculpting for thighs work?
Yes, CoolSculpting for thighs works very effectively. Thighs are a commonly targeted area for this procedure.
Q. Is CoolSculpting at home possible?
CoolSculpting cannot be done at home. People have tried to replicate the procedure using ice but it has been ineffective. There are also some potential dangers involved. However, fat freezing can be done at home using special devices.
Q. What are CoolSculpting effects on the liver?
The dead fat cells are flushed out of the body by the liver. To ensure a good liver function, you must maintain a healthy lifestyle and drink enough water. CoolSculpting has not yet shown to be harmful to the liver.
Q. What is the difference between CoolSculpting and cryolipolysis?
CoolSculpting is the patented brand while cryolipolysis is the science behind it. Both of these procedures kill fat by freezing it. CoolSculpting is a brand that uses cryolipolysis technology.
