CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting is a completely non-invasive procedure that can remove undesirable fat pockets permanently. The treatment involves placement of handpieces on the skin overlying the areas of fat that uses a suction/vacuum to remain attached. The fat needs to be “pinchable” and treatment is not suitable for visceral fat. The handpiece cools the fat to a proprietary temperature, which is safe for the overlying skin, muscle, and nerves but irreversibly harms the treated fat. In a process called apoptosis, the injured fat gradually dies and is degraded naturally by the body and eventually excreted. Research has shown that the treated area will lose approximately 25% of the fat permanently.

On the day of a CoolSculpting treatment, there are initially several photos taken of the areas desiring improvement. The technician will fully assess the areas and give an estimate of how many cycles are needed and how many repeated treatments are needed. A cycle is an attachment of the handpiece and typically will last for 25 minutes. The double chin area and the large body handpiece is 45 minutes. The smooth handpieces for thighs requires 1.5 hours. A single treatment might require multiple cycles during the day of treatment. At the Aesthetic Clinique, we have 2 CoolSculpting devices, and, in most instances (where the handpieces don’t “compete”), the treatment can be done twice as fast by attaching 2 handpieces at the same time. This process is called “DualSculpting”.

After the handpiece is removed, the skin is hard and looks like “a stick of butter.” Most clinics do manual massage at this point, but The Aesthetic Clinique treats the area with the Zimmer Z Wave, an acoustic shockwave device, that further enhances the results by up to 50%. This service is included complimentary with all treatments.

There is absolutely no downtime with CoolSculpting. There are no restrictions on activity or sun exposure. It is not uncommon to go immediately to the gym or the beach after the procedure.

CoolSculpting was initially evaluated for treating the abdomen and flanks (love handles). As demand grew, so did the variations in handpieces. The treatment areas now amenable to CoolSculpting are: thighs – inner and outer, arms, banana roll, double chin (submenta fullness), bra fat, back fat, knee fat, and gynecomastia (man boobs).

There is a strong suction from the handpiece that leads to a pulling sensation and mild discomfort for the first 5 minutes. After that period, the skin has been chilled to a point to where it is now numb. When the handpiece is released and the skin warms up, there is a “pins and needles” sensation. Over the next week or two, the treated area can remain numb. Occasionally there is minor bruising.