Freeze Your Fat Away
CoolSculpting: the World’s #1 non-invasive fat-reduction procedure
By: Ashley Wilson, MSN, CRNA
Many people struggle with unwanted fat despite eating healthy and staying active. In the past, the only option was surgery, but now there is a revolutionary alternative with no incisions, no anesthesia and no downtime: CoolSculpting!
CoolSculpting is the world’s No. 1 non-invasive fat-reduction procedure. CoolSculpting is FDA-approved, and was founded upon early scientific experiments at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
The science behind CoolSculpting is referred to as cryolipolysis, or the destruction of fat using cold temperatures. Interest in cryolipolysis began with an article in the New England Journal of Medicine that showed following oral surgery, children who sucked on popsicles lost pockets of fat in their cheeks. Scientists used this concept to treat fat problems in patients.
With more than four million CoolSculpting treatments worldwide, it is a proven safe and effective procedure. Recent medical studies examined patients nine years after treatment, and have shown CoolSculpting results to still be successful.
CoolSculpting has gained a national platform after receiving NewBeauty Product awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015. It has been featured on many television shows, including “Dr. Oz,” “The Doctors,” “E! News,” “The Today Show,” “The View” and “People’s List,” and it has been published in TIME magazine, ELLE, Beauty Choice and GQ. In the medical arena, CoolSculpting has been published in more than 70 scientific and clinical journal papers, medical meeting posters and technical reports.
The CoolSculpting procedure safely delivers a controlled cooling to a precise temperature at which fat cells crystalize and die. Over time, your body’s immune system naturally eliminates the dead cells, leaving a more sculpted you. The results of CoolSculpting are permanent because the treated fat cells are eliminated for good.
Science has proven that fat cells are most susceptible to cold temperatures, which leaves all other cells in the treated area unharmed. While some patients experience numbness in the area, this typically resolves after a short period of time. In the millions of treatments performed, there has been no evidence of long-term nerve injury.
Who is a candidate? Although men and women show fat in different areas, CoolSculpting is effective for both. CoolSculpting can treat visible fat bulges in many areas:
• Submental area (double chin)
• Upper arm
• Bra fat
• Gynecomastia (enlarged male breast)
• Back fat
• Abdomen
• Flank (love handles)
• Inner and outer thigh
• Underneath the buttocks (banana roll)
Every person’s body is unique. A CoolSculpting consultation is required prior to treatment. For your safety, it is important to have your CoolSculpting consultation performed by a board-certified physician or a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse. There are medical contraindications to the CoolSculpting procedure, such as the presence of a hernia or a history of certain medical conditions.
During the consultation, a physical exam will be performed to ensure medical clearance, you will look at your whole body from different angles and a treatment plan will be tailored to the areas where you want to eliminate fat.
What happens during the treatment? During the CoolSculpting procedure, your CoolSculpting specialist will prepare and apply the applicator to the targeted area. The newest technology can treat one area in as little as 35 minutes. Patients have the choice of treating one area or multiple areas all in the same day.
Though you may feel intense cold initially, this subsides within the first few minutes. You may also feel an initial pulling or tugging. During the procedure, patients read, watch movies, catch up on emails and even take naps! After the treatment is completed, patients are able to return to their normal activities with zero downtime.
In the days following the CoolSculpting procedure, patients may experience temporary side effects such as redness, swelling, bruising, tingling, stinging, tenderness or skin sensitivity. These usually resolve within days or weeks. Though rare, some patients may experience late onset pain about five to seven days following their treatment. Your board-certified medical professional will follow your progress and be available to provide treatment modalities for any side effects.
Results after CoolSculpting can be seen as quickly as three weeks, but the peak results are after two months. Your body will continue to eliminate fat cells for four to six months after treatment. A follow-up assessment will be scheduled with your provider one month after treatment to review your results.
No special diet, supplements or exercise programs are required following the CoolSculpting procedure. However, after treatment, many patients are more motivated to lead a healthier lifestyle, which is the ultimate CoolSculpting success!
Ashley Wilson, MSN, CRNA, is an advanced practice registered nurse, certified CoolSculpting specialist and co-owner of Coastal Spa MD. For more information or to book a free CoolSculpting consult, please call Coastal Spa MD at 361-336-6464, or visit www.coastalspamd.com. Current pictures and videos about CoolSculpting can be found on the website and on Coastal Spa MD’s Facebook page.
Photos courtesy of Coastal Med Spa