CoolSculpting® is the brand name of cryolipolysis, a non-invasive body contouring technology that uses extreme cold to disassemble fat cells and help reduce unwanted pockets of fat. A special device is placed on top of the skin in the area to be treated, which releases temperatures that are cold enough to freeze fat cells, effectively destroying them. Skin, muscle and nerve tissue freeze at lower temperatures than fat, so these tissues are not harmed.

During the procedure a CoolSculpting® gel pad and applicator are attached to the area to be treated for about an hour. The vacuum device draws in the fatty tissue and then the temperature gradually gets colder and starts to freeze the fat cells inside. Since it is a low-risk, non-invasive procedure patients can read, answer emails or watch an episode of their favorite show while the device is working and, after a quick massage to help with the numbness and slight swelling following the procedure, can return to their daily activities.

CoolSculpting® was first approved by the FDA in 2010 and is considered a safe and effective alternative to liposuction for reducing fat bulges on the abdomen, hips, inner and outer thighs, back, upper arms, beneath the buttocks (known as banana rolls) and under the chin. Treatments take between 35 minutes to an hour to complete, and studies have shown that a fat reduction of up to 25% is typical per treatment, with most patients satisfied after 1 to 2 treatments.

As CoolSculpting® is a cosmetic procedure it will not address the underlying cause of excess fat and is not a treatment for obesity or weight loss. Someone with a metabolic condition that causes weight gain or has an unhealthy lifestyle may see the fat return. CoolSculpting® destroys existing fat cells – which will be gone permanently – but new fat cells can appear which is why a healthy lifestyle is crucial in maintaining the results achieved from the treatment.

The suction involved in a CoolSculpting® treatment can sometimes cause bruising so you should avoid any blood-thinning medications or supplements such as aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, ginger or turmeric in the two to three days prior to your treatment. You should also avoid smoking in the week before your procedure as the use of tobacco products can delay the healing process.

The length of a CoolSculpting® session will vary depending on the number of areas being treated during the visit and the client’s personal treatment plan.  Each session will last for a minimum of an hour as that is how long the applicator is attached to the body before it can be removed.  It is possible to space sessions out over a few days or weeks if more than one area is to be treated and the client is unable to spend multiple hours all at the same time.  In some cases, it is possible to have two areas done simultaneously, which obviously speeds up the timeline, but this is reliant on the location having more than one machine. 

In most cases, you will see a reduction in fat within three weeks of a CoolSculpting® treatment with the most dramatic results appearing between four to six months later.  As long as a healthy diet and lifestyle are maintained the final results should be permanent as the fat cells destroyed in the treatment will not return and the fat contained in them will have been expelled permanently from the body.  People often need more than one treatment to achieve their desired results and further CoolSculpting® sessions can be scheduled to help them achieve and maintain their new-look body.

CoolSculpting® kills the fat cells in the parts of the body that are frozen and within a few weeks of treatment, these dead fat cells are broken down naturally by the body’s lymphatic system and processed as normal body waste through the liver.

If you would like to know more about CoolSculpting® and the way it can rid yourself of stubborn body fat and give you a more contoured look, then Rêvée can help. Please book your appointment with us through our website or call us. We serve patients from Richmond VA, Glen Allen VA, Mechanicsville VA, Midlothian VA, Goochland VA, Chesterfield VA, Powhatan VA, Fredericksburg VA, Williamsburg VA, and Charlottesville, VA.