CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting
By:Hanna Sutton

No matter how slim or healthy a person may be, the majority of us all have a stubborn bulge or two on our bodies that we are self-conscious of. Whether it be a “muffin-top” on the flanks, an extra bulge under your chin, or a “pooch” on the abdomen, there are always those spots that never seem to shrink regardless of specialized diets and exercise regimes. While diet and exercise are certainly the most imperative measures necessary in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, sometimes they simply do not suffice in achieving the slim body shape you desire. If you’re someone who is within thirty pounds of their goal weight, yet just has a stubborn problem-area that refuses to give in to hours at the gym or eating your vegetables, then CoolSculpting may be for you.

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive, FDA approved fat-freezing procedure. The human body fixes its number of fat cells normally during an individual’s teenage years. That number of fat cells does not tend to fluctuate throughout that individual’s life. However as an individual gains and loses weight, those fat cells will increase or decrease in size. Fat cells freeze at a different temperature than the rest of the human body. Therefore, the CoolSculpting procedure is able to freeze these cells, then massage them to induce apoptosis — or programmed cell death. Those dead cells are then able to be naturally metabolized by your other cells and excreted from the body. Through one treatment of CoolSculpting, the fat cells in the treated area are lessened by roughly 20-25%. Since your remaining fat cells are the same size as before CoolSculpting, the procedure does not serve as a weight-management treatment — simply a fat-reducing treatment.

The first question I usually get from patients when I explain the mechanism of CoolSculpting to them is, “How long do the results last?” While it sounds too good to be true, the results are permanent. Once those fat cells have left your body, they are gone for good. This doesn’t mean after one treatment with CoolSculpting a patient will be able to sustain their results while eating pizza and hamburgers every night. However, if a patient continues to live a healthy lifestyle, they should be able to sustain permanent results for the rest of their lives. Another advantage to CoolSculpting is minimal downtime. When most people consider fat-reducing procedures, they think of liposuction. While liposuction is a perfectly viable way to decrease fat in the body, it is a surgical procedure that requires recovery time. CoolSculpting’s non-invasive nature allows the patient to walk out of their appointment the same way they walked into it.

The second question I hear from patients is, “What’s the catch?” As with any medical procedure, CoolSculpting has its downfalls to go along with its clear advantages. Any patient who is considering undergoing a CoolSculpting procedure cannot expect to see results immediately after their treatment. Since the fat cells need to be naturally metabolized through your regular bodily systems, they need time to leave the body. Patients tend to see peak results an average of three months after their procedure. Though the results are gradual, they are stunning, noticeable, and once again — permanent.

If you’ve been battling your bulges with relentless hours at the gym and strict diets, take solace in the fact that you are not alone. According to the Boston Medical Center, approximately 45 billion Americans go on a diet at some point each year. Everyone has bulges in places they wish were a little more sculpted and slightly more lean. If you are looking for a non-invasive treatment to permanently rid yourself of some lingering fat cells in order to fit into that little black dress or lose a notch on your belt, CoolSculpting may be your answer. Book a cosmetic consultation with one of our cosmetic medical assistants completely free of charge to talk more about CoolSculpting by calling 847-381-8899, or visit our website at www.derickdermatology.com for more incredible before-and-after photos.