CoolSculpting®: Real Results or Hopeless Hype?

This article has been written by Virginia Aesthetic Center and is compensated by their advertiser, and is for informational purposes only.

There’s a ton of buzz around CoolSculpting, the FDA-cleared treatment that makes some impressive claims about its ability to reduce fat without an incision, needles, or other scary elements. But despite this, you might still be uncertain about how the procedure actually works—not to mention whether it works. Let’s break down the science behind CoolSculpting as well as the type of results you can expect.  

Weird Science?

Although freezing fat away may sound far-fetched, the science behind CoolSculpting is sound. Called cryolipolysis, a patented technique, was first developed by researchers at Harvard. It’s founded on the established principle that fat cells freeze at higher temperatures than other types of tissues. Freezing an area of the body at a certain temperature (the temperature at which CoolSculpting operates) only freezes fat cells, leaving skin and muscle tissue unharmed.

Once the fat cells are frozen, they die in a natural cell death process called apoptosis. Later, the “leftovers” from the dead cells are filtered out of the body through natural metabolic processes like urination. Once the fat cells have been removed, they’re typically gone for good.

One caveat: Weight gain is still possible after a successful CoolSculpting procedure—fat loss in one area doesn’t make you immune to putting on pounds in another part of your body. It’s important to maintain your normal healthy habits after your treatment. And most surgeons, like the ones at UVA Plastic Surgery, tell their CoolSculpting patients in Charlottesville that the technology isn’t a solution for wishing away excess weight. Instead, it’s simply intended to be a part of a healthy, active lifestyle, reducing the localized bulges that simply don’t respond to diet and exercise.

The CoolSculpting Experience

CoolSculpting is administered in a clinical setting, most often a plastic surgeon’s office. Although the surgeon may not personally perform the treatment, it’s important to choose a facility that’s led by a physician. Many day spas and even salons offer CoolSculpting, but their providers may not be well-trained. Although the procedure is relatively easy to administer, it still takes a certain amount of finesse and skill to ensure satisfactory results. 

The CoolSculpting device has several applicator options, each with their own indications. Applicators are sized and shaped to fit different parts of the body, including both pinchable and non-pinchable fat, like the kind that accumulates on the outer thighs. Your provider places the applicator directly over the area of your body you want to treat, and the device goes to work freezing the area for about 45 minutes. During this time, you can lie back and relax. Most people who have had CoolSculpting find the treatment comfortable, with the initial intense sensation of coldness giving way to numbness within a few minutes. 

Perhaps the best part of CoolSculpting is that it doesn’t require you to spend any time recovering at home. Patients who have the procedure can get right back to their normal everyday activities, even exercise.

Over time, the fat cells treated by CoolSculpting get flushed out of your body. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice your clothes fitting better!