How CoolSculpting® Works: A Procedural Overview
The CoolSculpting® procedure generally takes about an hour per treatment area to complete. In fact, many patients receive treatment during their lunch hour, and then return to work immediately afterwards.
Fortunately, CoolSculpting® doesn’t burn, shatter, or extract any cells. Instead, the procedure uses a targeted cooling process, known as cryolipolysis, that kills the fat cells underneath the skin, literally freezing them to the point of elimination. With this controlled cooling technique, only fat cells are frozen, while healthy skin cells remain unharmed. Once crystallized, the targeted fat cells die and are naturally eliminated from the body.
To prepare for a CoolSculpting® session, patients should wear comfortable clothing and bring an iPad or reading material to keep themselves occupied for the amount of time they will be spending with us. CoolSculpting® generally gets rid of 20-25% of targeted fat cells after just one treatment, so the need for additional treatments will be decided depending on the patient’s satisfaction at their two-month follow up visit.
The most common side-effects include bruising, swelling, and tenderness in the treated area, but these will typically resolve within a week or two. Patients may also feel a temporary dulling of sensation in the treatment area, but this too is common and should dissipate over time.
In the end, the procedure is completely non-surgical, so patients can typically return to normal activities immediately. Some patients experience redness, minor bruising, tingling, numbness, or discomfort in the treated area, but as I previously expressed, these effects are temporary.
Contact the LoVerme Center for Plastic Surgery
To learn more about the CoolSculpting® procedure, or to schedule a consultation, please feel free to contact our office today.
