There are places on your body that, no matter how much you diet and exercise, never lose their pockets of fat. It can really put a damper on one’s own body image and goals. However, there’s a revolutionary body sculpting treatment that can help — CoolSculpting®. This non-invasive system freezes and destroys stubborn pockets of fat with controlled cooling temperatures without harming the skin or surrounding areas.
The expert team of Master Aestheticians at Eterna Vein & Medical Aesthetics in Puyallup, Washington, relies on the CoolSculpting process to help our patients meet their body sculpting goals.
CoolSculpting Basics
Procedures like liposuction or tummy tucks can remove your stubborn fat, but they’re invasive and have extended recovery times. CoolSculpting eliminates the fat and sculpts your silhouette with no scalpels or injections at any point during the treatment.
This type of fat removal is called cryolipolysis. We use a handheld device that freezes the fat cells below the skin’s surface. Normally fat cells shrink when you lose weight, but CoolSculpting destroys up to 20-25% of treated cells completely and permanently, so those fat cells that have been treated have no chance of growing larger over time. Your lymphatic system will flush the dead cells out of your system in the coming weeks to months, leaving behind a more shapely body.
CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared treatment for visible fat bulges in the following areas:
Submental (under the chin) area, including the appearance of lax tissue
Submandibular (under the jawline) area
Thigh
Abdomen and flank
Bra fat
Back fat
Under the buttocks (the banana roll)
Upper arm
Good candidates are those within 30 pounds of their target weight, who have a healthy diet and exercise routine, and who have stubborn fat pockets they can’t get rid of themselves.
What is the CoolSculpting process like?
Depending on how big an area (or how many areas) you’re having treated, each CoolSculpting session can last in as little as one to several hours.
We place a gel pad on the treatment area, then apply the handheld applicator. You may feel some pressure and a “sucking” effect as the machine pulls up your tissue. The cold, when you first feel it, might sting, tingle, or cramp a bit, but these feelings go away as the skin becomes numb. The applicator remains in place for 35-45 minutes.
Immediately after your treatment, your skin will be red and firm, since the fat cells underneath are frozen and crystallized. We then massage the treatment area, breaking down the fat cells. This can feel a bit uncomfortable, but it’s a necessary component of the fat-reduction process.
Your skin can stay red for several hours, and you might see some blanching or bruising. If you need to, your treatment provider may advise to take an anti-inflammatory as needed for pain, but these responses are completely normal. We strongly recommend as part of your aftercare that you continue to eat a healthy diet and exercise while you wait to see your results.
When will I see my CoolSculpting results?
It’s possible you could start seeing results from your CoolSculpting treatment in as little as three weeks, but the most striking changes come between one and three months, with the final results appearing four months after treatment, as this is how long it takes your lymphatic system to completely flush out the treated dead fat cells. Typically, two complete treatments are recommended for optimal outcomes. You can improve on your results by having additional treatments done in a given area, but you’ll need to wait a month in between sessions to give your skin time to recover.
Remember that your final results are permanent, because CoolSculpting destroys your fat cells instead of just shrinking them. The only way you’ll gain fat in the treated area(s) is if you stop exercising and fail to maintain a healthy diet.
If you’ve got resistant areas of fat pockets and are looking to improve your silhouette, CoolSculpting may be just the treatment you need. To learn more and to find out if you’re a good candidate, give Eterna Vein & Medical Aesthetics a call at 253-268-3400 to schedule a consultation.