Understanding Cryolipolysis and What to Expect During Fat Freezing
Fat removal procedures are some of the most popular aesthetic treatments available. They help to slim down the body and augment the results of a healthy diet and exercise regimen. But many people don’t want to go under the knife to improve their physique. Fortunately, they don’t have to when they rely on CoolSculpting. This cutting-edge treatment is a form of cryolipolysis fat freezing.
CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical body sculpting procedure. It uses precisely controlled cooling methods to freeze subcutaneous fat deposits in certain body parts. The fantastic thing about this treatment is that it can fatally damage unwanted fat cells without harming other tissues. Freezing fat is one of the hottest cosmetic trends. It offers a practical, non-surgical alternative to traditional fat removal methods like liposuction.
Cryolipolysis body sculpting is ideal for people close to their goal weight. Those who choose to undergo this procedure often can’t seem to get rid of stubborn fat deposits with exercise and diet alone. Though it may sound extreme to kill fat cells by freezing them, it’s a safe practice well-tolerated by most people. But how cold is CoolSculpting, and is it an effective fat-reduction method for everyone? This article answers those questions and more.
The History of Cryolipolysis
It’s hard to say who first discovered the fat-killing power of cold temperatures on the human body. Researchers have long observed the sensitivity of fat cells to frigid temperatures. Cold panniculitis is an acute inflammatory condition that occurs after extreme cold exposure. But the interesting thing about this condition is that the inflammation only occurs in fatty tissues.
When adipose (fatty) tissue is subject to severe cold, it becomes damaged. In the case of cold panniculitis, subcutaneous nodules often develop. These are usually painless but often cause the skin in the area to flush red. Cold panniculitis doesn’t cause adverse complications or severe symptoms. The condition usually resolves on its own and doesn’t require treatment.
The effects of cold panniculitis on adipose tissue were well observed. Soon, researchers began to speculate that they could use this reaction to their advantage. They wondered whether they could use the fat-damaging effects of cold to create desired results. Carl Hochsinger, an Austrian physician, laid the foundation for cryolipolysis back in 1902. He took note of plaques that developed between the neck and face of children after cold exposure. In 1941, H. Haxthausen, a Danish dermatologist, studied the effects of cold exposure on children’s cheeks. He called the resulting fat damage “adiponecrosis e frigore.”
Finally, after decades of observing the powerful impact of cold on adipose tissues, a useful treatment emerged. Two Harvard scientists, Rox Anderson and Dieter Manstein, developed cryolipolysis treatments. The forward-thinking duo noted that fat freezes at a higher temperature than water. Therefore, it was possible to freeze fat cells without harming the surrounding tissues.
In light of these observations, the duo introduced a novel fat-reduction freezing method in 2007. It was called cryolipolysis, and it changed the future of fat-reduction treatments. Since then, cryolipolysis has become a leading-edge body sculpting treatment worldwide. CoolSculpting is one of the most well-known brand names for this noninvasive procedure.
How Cryolipolysis Works
Cryolipolysis freezes fat cells to a point that induces adipose cell death. The principle behind this treatment is that fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperatures than other skin cells. Therefore, controlled cold temperatures can kill adipocytes without hurting surrounding tissues.
Fat cells trigger an inflammatory response in the body when they die. This response stimulates white blood cells in the body to digest the dead and damaged cells. It can take weeks for the body to complete the process of metabolizing the adipocytes. That’s why patients don’t immediately see the final results of their CoolSculpting treatments. In the end, cryolipolysis produces results similar to liposuction, though less dramatic.
Want to learn more about Cryolipolysis CoolSculpting vs CryoSkin Cryoslimming
Benefits of CoolSculpting Treatments
Cryolipolysis body contouring is well-supported by science. It doesn’t require long recovery times or leave any scars behind. Here are some additional benefits associated with this immensely popular procedure:
- Noticeable results within a few weeks
- Zero recovery or downtime
- Low risk of complications
- Treats multiple problem areas, including the upper arms, chin, stomach, flanks, and thighs
- More affordable than surgical body contouring procedures
- Destroys fat cells without harming other tissues
How Cold Is CoolSculpting?
You probably have many questions if you’re considering trying cryolipolysis body contouring. Specifically, you may wonder, “How cold is CoolSculpting, and does it hurt?” Though it would seem like freezing fat cells to the point of destroying them would be a painful process, it isn’t. The cold from the device on your skin can be intense, but it shouldn’t ever cause pain.
Many patients feel a mild pinching or tugging feeling on their skin during treatment. They also describe intense cold that soon causes the treatment area to become numb. Once the numbness sets in, the experience becomes much more comfortable. After treatment, it’s natural to feel a bit sore in the treatment area. You may also experience temporary swelling and skin redness. These should completely fade away in a few hours or days without intervention.
Who Makes a Good Candidate for CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting isn’t ideal for everyone. The best candidates are people who are generally healthy and near their target weight. They should have a good understanding of how the treatment works and reasonable expectations. We recommend this treatment for those who have been unable to get rid of fat pockets on their body despite working out and eating right. This treatment will deliver the best results if you can “pinch an inch” of fat (or more) on certain areas of your body.
You may not be a good candidate for CoolSculpting if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant or have a history of Herpes simplex. Those who are morbidly obese or have a lot of fat are not good candidates. They may get better results from more drastic fat-reduction treatments.
How People Try to Mimic CoolSculpting
It sounds so simple to freeze your fat away. That could be one reason cold plunging is rising in popularity. This is a type of cold-water therapy that may provide a variety of benefits. Some include inflammation reduction, faster workout recovery, and reduced body fat. The practice involves immersing all or most of the body in frigid water for a short period of time.
While research shows cold plunging may help cut body fat, it isn’t very effective. Precise applications of cold temperatures yield much more predictable results. Targeted cryolipolysis treatments are necessary to remove specific subcutaneous body fat areas.
What’s the Future of CoolSculpting?
The fat-reduction benefits of cryolipolysis are well known. This means that CoolSculpting is likely to continue rising in popularity. Many people appreciate this minimally invasive treatment. It’s a much safer alternative to surgical fat removal procedures. It also comes with little to no risk of lasting complications.
One of the primary benefits attributed to cryolipolysis is its demonstrated long-lasting effectiveness. Clinical evidence illustrates how effective cryolipolysis can be for long-term fat-reduction goals. Patients who received cryolipolysis treatments for subcutaneous fat on their flanks maintained their results for up to nine years! With such a promising outcome, it’s easy to see why patients with small pockets of fat prefer this treatment over others.
Schedule Your CoolSculpting Procedure
Who says you have to live with stubborn fat just because exercise and diet alone don’t make it go away? CoolSculpting fat-freezing treatments can help you achieve the sculpted body of your dreams. To schedule a consultation, contact Hollywood Body Laser at 303-800-1878 (Denver Metro), 303-872-7107 (Westminster), or 719-387-7150 (Colorado Springs).