CoolSculpting is an effective fat reduction treatment, it is the only FDA-approved fat freezing device, with over 8 million treatments performed worldwide. This treatment is most effective for those who are close to their ideal weight and just need a helping hand with reducing fat in more stubborn areas. The most important part of a CoolSculpting treatment is the consultation! CoolSculpting will be effective for the majority of people who are deemed suitable for treatment following a thorough consultation. If you aren’t suitable for CoolSculpting, don’t worry, there are lots of other treatment options available. 

What Factors Can Affect the Success of CoolSculpting?

The Type of Fat You’re Targeting

CoolSculpting is most effective on subcutaneous fat, the soft, pinchable fat close to your skin. It will not target the deeper layers of visceral fat surrounding the organs in your abdomen. Visceral fat is inaccessible, potentially dangerous to target (due to its proximity to your organs) and firm in texture compared to subcutaneous fat.

The Condition of Your Skin

Those with good skin elasticity may experience better aesthetic results, as their skin will retract more easily  and adapt better to the loss of volume than those with looser skin. Loose skin may impact the  visual improvements of fat loss alone, and additional treatments may be necessary to see the results you want.

Fat Distribution

The amount of fat in the specific area you’d like to target may affect the amount of sessions required to achieve an effective result.  

The CoolSculpting device works by holding suction on specific areas of fat tissue and freezing them. 

Thin subcutaneous fat layers don’t offer enough tissue for the CoolSculpting machine to grip, reducing efficiency. A particular volume of fat is necessary for the treatment to be effective. 

Thicker layers of fat prevent the CoolSculpting machine from accessing deeper fat cells. This limited depth can result in incomplete fat reduction and may prevent you from achieving the desired results. Each session typically reduces fat layers by 20%-25%, so thicker fat layers will require multiple treatments. 

Your Overall Health and Medical History

The CoolSculpting treatment may not be suitable for those with cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. These conditions all cause blood cells to clump together when exposed to freezing temperatures, so it may be recommended that you do not go ahead with treatment.

How Does CoolSculpting Work?

The CoolSculpting device uses regulated cooling panels to suction-freeze areas of fat below the skin without damaging the surrounding tissue. A gel pad is applied to the treatment area to protect your skin, and a vacuum draws the fat toward the cooling panels. 

CoolSculpting can feel mildly uncomfortable due to the pulling of the vacuum and the freezing temperature of the panels, but this subsides quickly and the area will become numb. 

Each treatment area is targeted for 35-60 minutes. The cooling cups safely remove heat from the fat cells under the skin, effectively freezing the fat and causing the cells to die. 

Over time, your body will process the dead fat cells  and they will then be flushed out naturally by your body’s lymphatic system within a few months. Some patients  may see results as soon as three weeks after the procedure, but they’re most noticeable for the majority of patients after several months. 

The CoolSculpting treatment eliminates your fat cells, which do not regenerate. However, continuing your diet and exercise regime is essential to maintain the treatment results. Any weight gain following treatment, may impact the results of your treated area. 

What are the risks of CoolSculpting?

There are a range of common side effects which can happen  following a CoolSculpting treatment but these should not cause any concern, and usually subside within a few hours or a couple of days. These can include:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Numbness
  • Discomfort
  • Nausea
  • Soreness

Rare side effects  of CoolSculpting can include:

Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH) – This causes fat cells to expand rather than shrink. It is more often experienced in men and addressed with corrective procedures. Your practitioner will explain the risk of PAH before your procedure, and there are currently no tests available to indicate your susceptibility to it. 

Skin Sensitivity – Heightened skin sensitivity after CoolSculpting occurs due to the freezing temperature of the vacuum. It can disrupt your sensory nerves and cause inflammation, which fades during the healing process. 

Changes to Skin Colour or Texture – This is usually temporary and occurs rarely. 

Complications of CoolSculpting mostly occur when your practitioner doesn’t follow the application guidelines correctly or thoroughly. Our practitioners are fully trained and highly experienced in the CoolSculpting procedure and will do everything to ensure you don’t experience  serious complications from this treatment.  They will complete a thorough consultation prior to treatment to go through your medical history and to assess suitability for effective treatment, and will follow all protocols and treatment guidelines to the closest detail. 

Book a CoolSculpting Consultation To Find Out More 

At Medizen, we employ only the best, most highly trained and experienced practitioners and use revolutionary technologies to provide effective results to our patients. Our professionals are experts in the field and prioritise providing your treatments in a safe and comfortable environment.

We are one of only a few cosmetic clinics registered with the Government’s Care Quality Commission. So you can book your treatments with confidence, knowing that our focus is your needs and that quality, training, safety and pain management are paramount to us. 

Rest assured we have the skills and knowledge required to provide subtle, natural-looking results, bespoke to each individual patient’s needs and goals. 

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to book a CoolSculpting consultation. We’re ready to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to helping you get one step closer to feeling confident in your body.Â