CoolSculpting or Cryolipolysis is a fat-freezing method that aims to get rid of stubborn fat in specific areas of the body. The temperature at which fat freezes is higher than the temperature at which skin freezes. Therefore, the whole idea of Cryolipolysis is to freeze the fat underneath the skin without harming the skin.

CoolSculpting is a safe, effective way to help your body dissolve stubborn fat cells in specific, targeted areas. The cold temperatures used by CoolSculpting “kills” fat by freezing the cells, causing them to disintegrate and be flushed out of your body (without injuring surrounding tissue and nerves). Side effects are minimal and typically include minor swelling, bruising, or numbness.

Unlike liposuction, anesthesia is not used during CoolSculpting – but this is because CoolSculpting is generally not a painful procedure. Most patients describe the sensation as feeling a little uncomfortable or stinging at first, with any discomfort gradually decreasing. 

Because CoolSculpting uses intense cold and suctioning to eliminate fat cells, you can expect to feel some minor pain, swelling, numbness, or bruising immediately after the procedure. You may experience prolonged tenderness in treated areas for anywhere between a few days to a few weeks following CoolSculpting, depending on your body’s healing process.

Preparation for CoolSculpting can include any of the following: 

• Moisturizing your skin.

• Avoiding caffeine for up to two hours before your appointment. 

• Drinking plenty of water.

• Wearing comfortable, loose clothing. 

• Avoiding the tanning bed for at least one week beforehand.

• Avoiding anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications (unless approved beforehand by your doctor).

• If you smoke, you should abstain from smoking up to two weeks beforehand (and extend to two weeks after your treatment is completed).

Your movement will be limited during your CoolSculpting treatment, so you may also want to prepare by downloading an episode of your favorite show or bringing a book to your appointment. Depending on your treatment areas, your provider may also have specific guidance to help you best prepare for CoolSculpting.

Your service provider can help you determine how many CoolSculpting sessions you need, as this is highly customizable and depends on a variety of factors. These factors include: 

• The treatment area. For a smaller treatment area, one or two sessions may be enough to help you reach your goals. For larger treatment areas, you may need three or even four sessions. 

• The amount of fat. Some treatment areas carry more fat than others, which could require additional sessions. 

• Your weight. The best candidates for CoolSculpting are within 20 pounds or so of their ideal weight, as CoolSculpting is meant to help tone and shape (rather than lose weight). If you are further away from your goal weight, you may need additional sessions to see your desired results. 

Your body’s unique response to CoolSculpting can also play a role in how many sessions are needed. Starting with one session is a great way to explore how your body responds and how effective CoolSculpting is for you.

For repeated treatments in the same area, most providers recommend waiting at least one month between CoolSculpting sessions to ensure fat cells are broken down and removed. 

In some cases, your service provider may suggest waiting longer depending on the size of your treatment area. For example, larger areas may require more time between sessions than smaller areas. Lifestyle may also play a factor in scheduling, as patients who already have an established workout routine may be able to have their next session sooner than patients who do not.

CoolSculpting is a safe, effective, and highly rewarding procedure for patients who struggle to get rid of stubborn fat through diet and exercise alone. Answering the following questions can help you decide whether CoolSculpting is right for you: 

• Am I in generally good health?

• Am I within 20 pounds of my target weight?

• Am I comfortable with feeling extreme cold and suctioning?

• Do I still struggle with getting rid of fat deposits, even with a diet and exercise regimen?

• Do I have enough fat in my target areas to pinch?

If you’re still unsure whether CoolSculpting is right for you, you may want to schedule a consult to get a personalized assessment. A consultation with a service provider is a great way to learn more about the procedure, share your personal goals, and get a better idea of the kind of results you can expect.

Your CoolSculpting consult will focus primarily on a conversation about your aesthetic goals, the areas you want to target, and your ideal budget for treatment. The service provider may show you examples of before and after photos of similar patients to help you see the type of results that others have experienced. 

Based on your goals, target areas, and budget, you will receive a personalized CoolSculpting treatment plan. Along with a personalized plan, a consult is also a great opportunity for you to ask any questions you have about the procedure. Before your consult, we recommend making a list of any questions you have about how the process works, how long it takes to see results, and what kinds of side effects you can expect.

• Melts away stubborn pockets of fat

• Destroys fat cells

• Desired aesthetic results

• Non-invasive

• Minimal discomfort during treatment

• Can use to treat various areas of the body

• Improves definition of the treated area

You may be a good candidate for CoolSculpting if:

• You are in generally good health

• You are not pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant

• You are near your target weight

• You have enough fat to treat

• You are not interested in Liposuction

• You have realistic expectations of the results

You may be denied Cryolipolysis if:

• You do not have enough fat to pinch

• You are severely obese

• You are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant

• You have a severe illness or infection

CoolSculpting is not surgery, and it does not involve needles, which uses the cellular response to cold to break down fatty tissue. Extracting energy from fat layers causes the fat cells to die gradually while leaving surrounding nerves, muscles, and other tissues unaffected. During the months following treatment, the digested fat cells are sent to the lymphatic system to be filtered out as waste.

CoolSculpting can be used to reduce fat in many areas, including:

• Inner and outer thighs

• Upper/lower abdomen

• Hips (or love handles)

• Arms

• Chin

• Bra and back fat

• Underneath the buttocks

A gel pad and applicator will be put on your specified treatment site. The applicator provides controlled cooling into the targeted fat. A handheld device with applicators similar to the nozzles of a vacuum cleaner will then be moved over your skin while administering suction and cooling technology.

If you are getting multiple areas treated, some clinics may have several machines that allow them to treat various areas in one visit.

Sensations of pulling and pinching during the treatment are normal, but overall the medicine should cause minimal pain. Immediately after treatment, your service provider will massage the affected area to break up any frozen deep tissue and aid your body to begin to absorb the destroyed fat cells.

Each targeted area can take between one and three hours. While waiting for the treatment to be completed, it is recommended that you bring a book, listen to music, or even work on a laptop.

There is minimal to no downtime following treatment, and you will be able to immediately resume your normal activities. There is minor redness or soreness in the treated area in some rare cases, but this will subside in a few days/weeks.

After you receive your treatment, you will see noticeable results between one and three months. This is because fat cells are slowly being removed from the body, and it can take up to four to six months after your final treatment to see results.

For some people, one session is sufficient in order to achieve their desired result. During your consultation, your service provider will estimate how many sessions you will need, but most treatments can be completed in just two sessions. For example, one session can get rid of 20-25% of fat in one treated area.

The cost of each session depends on the size of the area being treated and the size of the applicator used. In Canada, small applicators cost approx. $750-900, and the larger sizes can go upwards of $1000.

CoolSculpting or Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive procedure and is relatively safe to undergo. There are some common side-effects, which include:

• Intense sensations of cold

• Tingling

• Stinging

• Aching

• Cramping

• Pulling

Once the treatment area is numb, these sensations tend to subside. After treatment, you may experience some temporary side effects that usually go away within a few days. These include:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Aching

• Tenderness

• Skin sensitivity

171/239 people who received CoolSculpting/Cryolipolysis rated the treatment “Worth It” (72%)

– Source: realself.com