CoolSculpting®: an easy and safe way of freezing your stubborn body fat in Westlake, OH

At Associates in Dermatology, medicine and aesthetics meet. So, you have peace of mind that the health and appearance of your skin are in exceptional hands. In fact, we even provide a method for freezing your body fat in Westlake, OH from our state-of-the-art, yet welcoming, practice. The application of cold temperatures is controlled for utmost safety. Plus, the FDA-cleared CoolSculpting® procedure is based on the well-established science of cryolipolysis and Harvard University-affiliated researchers’ findings in the mid-2000s. Since it was first cleared to freeze and eliminate fat on the flanks (“love handles”) in 2010, more than 8 million treatment cycles have been successfully performed on patients worldwide. Additionally, CoolSculpting® is now indicated for the treatment of several other stubborn fat pockets, including:

• Abdomen
• Thighs (inner and outer)
• Hips
• Back
• Under the butt
• Chin (submental fat or “double chin”)
• Jawline (submandibular fat)
• Triceps (“bat wings”)

These areas hold on to fat and may have a genetic or hormonal component. So, it can be difficult to trim fat from these pockets even with spot fat reduction exercises and a healthy diet. Additionally, weight loss methods shrink the fat cells. Cryolipolysis-based CoolSculpting® actually removes the fat cells from the targeted area harmlessly, as part of a natural metabolic process. Fat in the treated area can’t be regenerated, because the adult body doesn’t make new fat cells. In turn, CoolSculpting® provides sustained improvement among those patients who are at or near their ideal weight and desire treatment of localized fat deposits.

The “magic” of CoolSculpting®

The basis for CoolSculpting®, cryolipolysis, refers to how fat cells respond to cool temperatures. Applicators are designed to cool specific areas of the body. One applicator, for instance, delivers cooling to small areas such as the jawline, whereas another applicator delivers cooling to larger areas such as the abdomen and sides. Once the right device is applied to the treatment site, the fat cells in that area are “crystallized.” As a patient, you may feel intense cold that quickly subsides. The damage that is done to these fat cells is selective; the water component of the skin and other organs is not affected by cooling. So, treatment is precise and safe. Once the cooled (“cryo”) fat cells (“lipo”) are released (“lysis”) from the targeted areas, your liver processes them. They are broken down and digested by your immune cells, naturally and safely.

Depending on the size of the area to be treated, each treatment session can take 35 minutes to an hour. You’re able to get back to the rest of your day with no downtime. More invasive or surgical procedures, such as liposuction, require healing and downtime. Generally, the treatment site may feel “stiff,” an indicator that cryolipolysis is working. Additionally, you may notice mild redness, tenderness, and bruising that is also temporary. Surgical treatments and even other non-surgical techniques are associated with greater health risks. Many patients may even be precluded from these treatments.

Since CoolSculpting® triggers a process, results occur gradually. The treated pockets will be noticeably more sculpted and better-defined around one to three months post-treatment. Optimal results are typically seen within around six months after treatment.

Many patients are happy with the results after a single session. However, a second session may be necessary to get your desired level of improvement. The makers of CoolScultping®, Zeltiq Aesthetics, report that 20 to 25% of fat cells within the treatment area were flushed from the body after a single session.

Call (440) 482-8323 to schedule your CoolSculpting® consultation at Associates in Dermatology’s Westlake office.