The Science Behind Coolsculpting: How Does It Work?
Nov 04, 2019
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Adrienne Stewart MD
Adrienne Stewart MD
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CoolSculpting is one of the most popular modern techniques for removing or reshaping body fat into a more ideal and beautiful aesthetic. This painless, non-invasive procedure can be integrated into your health and wellness regimen with no disruption to your daily schedule. The specialists at Aesthetic Surgery and Dermatology of Cherry Creek in Denver, CO are experts in body sculpting treatments like CoolSculpting and can answer all your questions. In fact, our staff members have been to CoolSculpting University and are considered “mastersculpters”. Allergan, the company for CoolSculpting, even utilizes our office for problem cases. Read on to learn about the science behind Coolsculpting.
The human body is a miraculous organism, but sometimes it can do things that are perplexing or frustrating. Many people have problems with stores of fat that their bodies deposit in unsightly areas.
A uniform layer of fat is healthy and can contribute to a voluptuous hourglass figure. However, when the body gets confused and begins to create lumps of fat in strange places, it can disrupt your silhouette and draw the wrong kind of attention. Diet and exercise are an effective means of reducing your overall level of body fat. However, diet and exercise are not effective for targeting fat in specific areas.
You have the ability to turn on the furnace and get your body to burn extra calories. Unfortunately, you have no control over which deposits of fat your body will use to harvest them. Body sculpting allows you to smooth out fat deposits and create an uninterrupted line of your body that is more symmetrical and pleasing to look at.
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive, painless treatment that can be used to target and eliminate fat in certain problem areas on your body. The process works by freezing the fat layers in a way that causes no damage to the surrounding tissue. Clients may come in for a treatment during their lunch break, and afterward they can resume their regular daily schedule with little to no restrictions. CoolSculpting is a wonderful alternative to liposuction, which normally requires several weeks of recuperation time.
CoolSculpting was born when Harvard scientists Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD and R. Rox Anderson, MD noticed that when children ate popsicles, they developed dimples. The scientists concluded that there must be some relationship to cold temperatures and the elimination of fat.
Further research revealed that fat tissue is more susceptible to damage from cold than the surrounding tissue. Therefore, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can promote cell death in subcutaneous fat tissue. The fat tissue is then removed from the body in the form of waste through natural processes. The scientific name of the process by which CoolSculpting functions is called Cryolipolysis.
Since the discovery, further advancements have been made to make the process safe and more efficient. A gel or gel pad is used to protect the skin, and the fat is cooled with a vacuum applicator which helps increase the amount of fat affected in each session. Finally, additional treatments can also be implemented to improve the final results. In one clinical trial with over 170 patients, it was found that utilizing either Z wave or Cellutone showed a 10-15% increase in efficacy. The modern CoolSculpting treatment is highly efficient, effective, inexpensive, and painless.
Fat is made of biomolecules with a different chemical structure than the surrounding skin tissue. The chemical structure of your skin and other tissue contain water, which freezes at a lower temperature than the lipids in fat.
By cooling the tissue to below body temperature but above freezing, the process causes crystallization in the fat cells, which causes cell death. Water-based cells do not crystalize at these temperatures so no damage is done to the other tissues.
On the day of your appointment, your specialist will cover the target area in a protective gel or gel pad. This is to form a barrier between the CoolSculpting applicator and your skin to make the treatment more comfortable. The specialist will then attach the applicator to the target area of your body.
The applicator looks like a box with a rubber sleeve on the side that comes into contact with your skin. The applicator has a cooling and a vacuum element. These two elements combine to bring the subcutaneous fat to the surface and cool it efficiently.
The length of your session will depend on the position and size of the target area. Most treatments last anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour. It is possible that your specialist will recommend performing treatments on multiple areas of your body at the same time. Alternatively, your specialist might wish to replace the applicator after a treatment and have you sit through a subsequent treatment. You will be able to design your treatment schedule with your specialist to fit in with your daily itinerary.
The treatment triggers cell death in your fat cells, which are then removed by the natural processes of your body. It takes time for your body to begin absorbing and expelling the fat cells, and you should see your first results in as little as two or three weeks. This is similar to the two or three week delay from liposuction while you wait for the swelling to go down.
Once you begin to see results, the fat loss will continue for approximately two months. Clients often enjoy waking up every morning and tracking their progress to a sleeker, slimmer version of themselves.
The fat cells that are killed by the treatment do not return, so it is possible for clients to see long-term results from the treatment provided they stick to a health and fitness regimen. CoolSculpting does not prevent your body from creating new stores of fat in the target areas.
Changes in hormones and body chemistry often mean that your body finds new places to store fat. As we age, it’s possible to develop new problem areas. Body sculpting offers a convenient solution to target and remove unsightly fat deposits whenever and wherever they appear.
CoolSculpting is effective at removing 20% to 25% of the fat in a targeted area, which is what makes it an ideal treatment for sculpting the body. It is almost like the treatment lightly sands away the top layer of fat leaving a smoother, more beautiful body line. Clients often achieve their desired results in as little as one treatment, but it is possible to schedule follow-up treatments around two months after the initial session.
Before you schedule a CoolSculpting session, it’s important to have realistic expectations as to what kind of results you can achieve. CoolSculpting is not recommended as a tool for massive weight loss or to fight obesity. The treatment works best for fit individuals who are very close to their ideal body shape and have a few problem areas that are resistant to the efforts of diet and exercise.
Scheduling a CoolSculpting treatment is very similar to scheduling a hair or nail appointment. The treatment helps you take control of how fat is distributed on your body and allows you to smooth out deposits that interrupt your body line. Some popular treatment areas include:
No matter how many crunches you do, it’s very difficult to achieve a Hollywood six-pack. It can be very frustrating to spend weeks or months working out in the gym and never see any improvement in your muscle definition. The good news is that you are getting stronger: it’s just that your gains are hidden behind a layer of fat.
CoolSculpting allows you to draw back the curtain and see what you have achieved through all your dedication, sweat and determination. Many clients find that the treatment helps increase their motivation in the gym because it allows them to see the results of their hard work.
Applicators come in all shapes and sizes, and one of the most popular treatment areas is the chin and neck. It is very common for people to develop double chins. Because the face is a focal point in any social interaction, a double chin can create an impression of overall poor body health.
Small applicators can work wonders on the chin and can achieve results that provide a tremendous boost in appearance and self-esteem. It is very difficult to eliminate a double chin through diet and exercise, so this treatment is life changing and empowering for many people.
Men sometimes develop a condition that causes their bodies to store fat on their chest. This is awkward because it gives the appearance of breasts and can be detrimental to a man’s body image. CoolSculpting is one of the most popular treatments to reduce this kind of fat deposit and restore the pride men feel in their bodies.
Everyone is unique, and some people’s bodies store an excessive amount of fat on the hips, thighs, and knees. These uneven fat deposits can create an unbalanced perspective and often result in embarrassment and dissatisfaction.
Remember that genetics and heredity determine where your body stores fat, and there is nothing you can do to prevent these fat deposits. Smoothing out and removing fat deposits on the knees, thighs, and hips can restore a person’s body image and make them feel happy and self-confident.
The scientific basis for CoolSculpting works on all the subcutaneous fat in your body no matter where it is stored, and applicators come in various sizes and shapes. It is very common for people to have fat deposits that they are uncomfortable with and would like to target and treat.
If you have an area of your body that doesn’t please you, you are not alone. Schedule an appointment with a CoolSculpting specialist to find out how easy and convenient it is to remove that troubling body feature and enhance your natural beauty once and for all.
Everyone has imperfections in their body that displease them. Over time, our body chemistry and hormones change so we begin to develop imperfections where they never existed before. It can be frustrating to spend hours at the gym or diligently hold yourself to a diet, only to watch as a stubborn pocket of fat persists for weeks, months, and years.
Many people surrender and elect to develop coping mechanisms that include wearing clothing that obstructs or hides their embarrassing feature. CoolSculpting offers you the chance to take control of problem areas and achieve the look you’ve always dreamed about.
The process is painless, efficient, and highly effective. Contact the Aesthetic Surgery and Dermatology of Cherry Creek in Denver, CO to schedule an appointment and learn how you can integrate body sculpting into your wellness routine. You deserve to look and feel your best. Find out how CoolSculpting can help you achieve the look of your dreams.