By Dr. TRACY MOUNTFORD, MBBS MBCAM
CoolSculpting or cryolipolysis, as it is officially called, entails freezing your fat in a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure.
If you are serious about losing your last bit of weight, come and have a chat with one of our cosmetic practitioners at The Cosmetic Skin Clinic.
How does the process work exactly?
Fat freezing is less of an ordeal than it sounds, and aside from experiencing temporary numbness and a tugging sensation at the treated site, Coolsculpting has few side effects.
The procedure lasts between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area that is being treated. During this time, an applicator is applied to the skin, and cooling plates are attached to the device which is directed toward specific fat cells.
Not being able to survive the drop in the temperature, these cells will eventually break down, the remains of which are gradually expelled from the body.
If fat cells are destroyed, are other parts of my body harmed?
Fat cells are particularly sensitive to cold, so what you might perceive as cool is enough to provoke apoptosis or cell death.
That said, the rest of your body, skin, tissue, and organs will not be harmed during the procedure.
When can I start seeing results?
Results may vary between patients, but you are bound to notice some changes soon after your session with us, and more visible results in the weeks that follow. For larger areas and to optimise your results, it is sometimes recommended that you undergo multiple sessions to avoid disappointment.
Is the weight gone for good?
Technically, the cells we remove cannot regenerate, but the surrounding cells can expand if you do not watch what you eat and do not exercise.
Who is a suitable candidate for CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting should not be your first choice if you have a lot of weight to lose because it is not a form of weight loss and should not be treated as such.
The rule of thumb is that it can be viable if you are within 30 kgs of your ideal body weight and shape. So if you are struggling with a mummy stomach, muffin top, a double chin, or other stubborn pockets of fat but are relatively healthy overall, you are a viable person for this treatment.
Should I factor in recovery time?
One of the several advantages of CoolSculpting is that it does not require anaesthesia to perform, which means that you will not have to spend a long time in bed recovering. After the procedure, you can resume your daily activities as usual.
