CoolSculpting is a method that aims to permanently remove stubborn fat cells that may be in certain parts of your body. We call this procedure cryolipolysis. FDA approved this procedure in 2010.
Scientists came up with the idea of freezing fat when someone became severely ill and died. Fat freezes at temperatures that are higher than those of skin. Cryolipolysis cools your fat to a temperature that freezes it, but leaves your skin and other body tissues unharmed.
Cryolipolysis is not a type of surgery and doesn't use needles. Cryolipolysis holds the fat cells that your doctor wants to target between two small paddles. Ice paddles are placed on your body to cool it quickly, and your doctor may leave the devices in place for as long as 1 hour and 15 minutes. During that time, about 20%-25% of the fat cells in the area that you're targeting are destroyed.
It may take a few months to see results, but you may start to see some changes as early as a few weeks after having your procedure. It takes several weeks for fat cells to be destroyed; your body will slowly remove them.
Cryolipolysis isn't a way to lose weight by itself. Your doctor may suggest it if you've tried diet and exercise but still have a stubborn fat bulge. You can get cryolipolysis done right away at your doctor's office. You don't need to schedule any time to recover from the procedure. If you have stubborn fat, you can get rid of it by driving yourself home from your appointment.
There are a few side effects of doing this procedure. Some patients may feel something pulling or tugging at their skin and experience a cold. You may feel tired for a few days, like you have been working out hard. You may be a little sore because the procedure destroys the fat cells in your body. You may experience some swelling while you wait for the procedure to be completed. Sometimes cryolipolysis causes mild to moderate pain. You may experience slight nerve pain. Sometimes the skin on your arms may appear rougher or less smooth than before you had it done. Approximately 1% of people who get it done develop a problem called paradoxical fat hyperplasia. When this happens, the number of fat cells in the areas treated increases rather than decreases.
When this happens, the number of fat cells in the treatment area actually increases instead of shrinking. Researchers think it's rare and happens in less than 1 percent of cases. It may cause a big, solid, and usually painful, lump to appear under your skin in the area that you're being treated for. You may notice a difference in your body weight. PAH can happen in as few as 2 to 3 months after you get treatment. It can happen to people who are having other treatments or even those who are being treated for another disease.
