If you adhere to a healthy diet and exercise, you should maintain a healthy weight. But some people notice that parts of their body still have fat pockets that don’t respond to diet and exercise.
Even for the physically fit, some of the most common problem areas include the abdomen, sides, thighs, and hips. Many people opt for liposuction to eliminate this stubborn fat, but today, there is another option.
CoolSculpting can contour your body the way you want without surgery or downtime. There isn’t any surgery, anesthesia, chemicals, or needles involved in CoolSculpting, and patients can usually maintain their work schedule and other activities without missing a beat.
Below is more information about CoolSculpting, including downtime and other important procedure information.
CoolSculpting Overview
CoolSculpting is a popular non-surgical body contouring procedure that doesn’t use surgery or cannulas to remove stubborn fat pockets. The process is known as cryolipolysis and involves putting cold temperatures on the skin over unwanted fat pockets. The fat freezes without any discomfort or skin damage.
The affected fat cells are frozen with special applicators placed on the target region. Each CoolScuplting procedure takes about 30 to 75 minutes, depending on where you want treatment.
CoolSculpting Results
Note that you may not see results from this procedure immediately; it takes time for the treated fat cells to die and be removed naturally by the body.
Most patients start to see Coolsculpting results about three weeks after their treatment, but it can take up to three months before you see complete results.
The cryolipolysis process freezes the fat cells during the procedure, which destroys them, but it takes time. It will take a few weeks for your body to flush away the dead fat cells. But once that fat is gone, they will not come back. This is why you should enjoy long-term results as long as you exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Each treatment removes about 25% of the targeted fat, and if you have several treatments, it can remove even more fat so you can have your desired body contours.
Most patients are pleased with their results after one to three sessions for every treatment area. However, how many treatments you need depends on your goals; problem areas such as under the chin mak show results in only one session because it’s such a small area.
Downtime With CoolSculpting
One of the most attractive features of this procedure is it is non-surgical, so you can usually have the treatment and go back to your regular activities as soon as the appointment is over.
Some patients may have minor bruising or discomfort in the treatment area, they usually resolve in a day.
According to Dr. Otto Placik of Body Sculptor.com, a double board certified plastic surgeon in Chicago, “My patients often choose CoolScuplting because there is so little downtime. On the other hand, liposuction involves anesthesia, bruising, and swelling. And you usually need to take it easy for a few days, including taking off work and not exercising.”
If your surgeon recommends CoolScupting to meet your aesthetic goals, you can expect to have little to no downtime so you can go back to your active lifestyle.
For many patients, the lack of downtime is a significant reason they eventually choose CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting vs. Liposuction
Which treatment is best depends on what you want. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says liposuction is the best option to eliminate excess fat in several areas. Non-surgical options such as CoolSculpting offer less dramatic transformations.
Surgeons note that non-surgical fat removal doesn’t offer the same results as liposuction; it removes about 10% as much fat as surgery.
But CoolSculpting can be the perfect option for a healthy, fit patient who wants to remove a small amount of fat in one or two areas.
Clinical studies show that CoolSculpting is safe and effective in removing extra fat from nine body areas. Also, the dual applicators allow your surgeon to treat two regions simultaneously.
Also, remember that neither CoolSculpting nor liposuction are weight loss procedures. So if you still need to lose weight, these treatments won’t work for you.
Before you seek CoolSculpting treatment, eat a healthy diet and exercise so you can get as close as possible to your ideal weight.
Side Effects And Complications
Another significant benefit of this procedure is there are few side effects for most patients. After CoolSculpting, you usually cannot even tell you had anything done!
On the other hand, liposuction involves significant bruising, swelling, and bleeding. These issues usually resolve after a week or two, but some patients are anxious about the procedure for these reasons.
Liposuction also occasionally leads to severe complications, including anesthesia reactions and even organ damage if the cannula is inserted too deeply.
CoolSculpting is an excellent body sculpting choice for patients who want to remove a small amount of fat to achieve their aesthetic goals with few complications.
