It’s common to find that, however dedicated you are in sticking to your diet and exercise regime, there are still some areas of fat that you just can’t shift. For those stubborn areas of fat, we at The Refinery Medspa & Wellness in West Melbourne, FL and Indian Harbour Beach, FL, recommend CoolSculpting. This FDA-approved treatment can get rid of fat for good with its novel freezing technology.
How Long Do CoolSculpting Results Typically Last?
This treatment works by using freezing temperatures to destroy fat cells in the targeted areas of your body. It is a non-invasive process that can be applied to the abdomen, flanks, thighs, back, and anywhere else that you have at least one inch of pinchable fat. The amazing thing about this treatment is that, because your body does not regrow fat cells, the results can be permanent.
What Exactly Happens to Your Fat Cells During Treatment?
This treatment process is sometimes called “cryolipolysis,” which is a technical medical term made up of three parts. The “cryo” means ice or freezing. The “lipo” you might recognize from other terms such as liposuction, and refers to fat. The “lysis” means to cause the breakdown of a cell by damaging its outer membrane. You may have seen it in other treatment names, such as “electrolysis,” a hair removal process in which an electric current is used to destroy hair follicle cells. So then, cryolipolysis is where ice is used to destroy fat cells.
As the fat cells are cooled and then crystallized, their cell membrane is damaged. The cell cannot repair itself and dies. The dead cell is then disposed of by the body. This process does not happen immediately but usually over a couple of months. It is usual to see the beginnings of the change starting about three weeks after treatment, with the full results being revealed between two and three months down the line.
Sometimes it takes more than one treatment to achieve the desired result, depending on the areas you want to have treated, the amount of fat, and your own unique metabolic rate. What you can be sure of is that the body does not grow new fat cells, meaning that if you stay at your goal weight, you will not regain fat in the treated areas.
What Can Cause Fat Gain After Treatment?
Though the body will not regenerate the dead fat cells, that does not mean that there is no chance that you will ever gain fat in the areas you have had treated. When you gain weight, your fat cells do not increase in number: they actually increase in size so that they can store more fat.
It is not possible (or healthy) to remove every single fat cell from an area of your body, so some fat cells will remain in the areas that have undergone cryolipolysis. Though the amount of weight that can be gained in these areas will be reduced, it is still possible that you may see a change in your appearance if you gain a lot of weight in the future.
Weight maintenance is a key part of maintaining treatment satisfaction, as keeping at a steady weight is the best way to make sure that you do not gain any extra fat. However, many clients choose to undergo occasional maintenance treatments to keep their results looking fresh, if they have concerns about weight fluctuations, or if they initially opted for a more conservative approach to cryolipolysis and now wish to go a little further in slimming down their areas of stubborn fat.
CoolSculpting vs Other Fat Reduction Methods
There are a number of different ways to reduce body fat, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Diet and Exercise
This is, of course, the traditional method of reducing body fat. We strongly recommend that all our clients maintain a balanced diet and an active lifestyle, whatever their weight. However, this approach has its disadvantages. The main issue with diet and exercise is that they almost never cause you to lose fat from all the areas you actually want it gone from. Each body prioritizes fat and weight loss differently, meaning that you may lose fat from your buttocks and breasts and retain it on your stomach, even if that is the opposite of what you wanted.
CoolSculpting can be used to target only the areas where you don’t want fat, leaving you happier with your overall shape. It will also destroy fat cells rather than shrinking them, making sure that those areas will not be the first to expand again if you happen to gain a little weight.
Liposuction
Liposuction is an excellent way of removing a large amount of body fat. However, it is a surgical procedure and almost always requires a general anesthetic, making it unsuitable for those with certain health conditions. Unlike liposuction, CoolSculpting is not designed as a weight-loss treatment but is supposed to be used to target specific areas where diet and exercise have not gotten rid of fat.
If you have a significant amount of body fat, liposuction may be the better option. However, if you are unable to undergo a general anesthetic, you may find that CoolSculpting is a good option for getting moderate fat reduction safely and effectively.
Kybella
Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable treatment designed to reduce submental fat, or, as it’s more commonly known, a double chin. It offers distinct advantages over cryolipolysis in treating this one particular area, as the under-chin region is comparatively small and so any treatments must be targeted very precisely. However, Kybella is only approved for use under the chin, so is not suitable if you have any other areas you want to be treated.
FAQs
We want you to feel fully informed about your treatment. When you book with us or when you come for your initial consultation, we will be happy to answer any questions you have about the treatment process, recovery, and results. In the meantime, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What Does Cryolipolysis Feel Like?
You won’t be surprised to hear that the main sensation that you’ll feel during this treatment is cold. The first 5-10 minutes of the treatment you will feel cold in the area being treated as the cooling process begins. After this time, the area will become numb, and you will no longer feel the cold. The treatment apparatus applies suction to your skin to pull it close to the freezing plates, so you may also feel a slight pulling sensation. After your session the treated areas of your body may feel as if you have been working out.
Does It Affect Other Cells?
The treatment is specifically targeted at the fat cells of the body. Though our cells are so tiny that they may all seem more or less the same to us, this is not the case for the CoolSculpting machine. Your trained technician will use its controlled cooling technology to crystallize your fat cells without damaging any of the surrounding tissues such as your muscles and skin.
What Results Can I Realistically Expect?
This treatment is not designed for major weight loss or the reduction of large fat volume, however you can expect to see around 20-25% reduction in fat thickness in treated areas, which can make a significant visible difference, especially in areas with localized fat deposits like the abdomen, flanks, and thighs.
Sculpt Yourself Today
CoolSculpting provides a long-lasting solution for fat reduction by permanently eliminating treated fat cells in targeted areas, and results can last indefinitely if you maintain a stable weight. If you’re in the Indian Harbour Beach or West Melbourne area contact The Refinery Medspa & Wellness and Skin & Body by The Refinery by using our simple online form. Alternatively, you can also call us at 321-341-3321 to reach us in West Melbourne, FL, or call us at 321-428-3004 to reach us in Indian Harbour Beach, FL. Together, we can map out a path that leads to your best self, both now and in the years to come. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for our latest deals, specials and events!
