This past spring, Vogue ran an article on the revolutionary procedure, CoolSculpting, questioning whether the process works and if so, should you consider it for yourself? Here are the highlights:
Coolsculpting was “formally called cryolipolysis” and “was first discovered after, rumor has it, doctors noticed that children who ate a lot of ice pops experienced fat degradation in their cheeks.”
This procedure “recently gained attention when it was rebranded from minor spot treatment to a noninvasive alternative to liposuction, promising to eviscerate love handles and bra bulge with the wave of a cooling paddle.”
Doubters, listen up: “According to Manhattan-based CoolSculpting guru Jeannel Astarita, the technology works. Here, they discuss the ins and outs of fat freezing, from weight loss to health risks.”
Here’s how it works, as explained by UCLA professor and plastic surgeon Jason Roostaeian: “While you sit in a reclined chair for up to two hours, cooling panels set to work crystallizing your fat cells. ‘It’s a mild discomfort that people seem to tolerate pretty well,’ he says. ‘[You experience] suction and cooling sensations that eventually go numb.’ In fact, the procedural setting is so relaxed that patients can bring laptops to do work, enjoy a movie, or simply nap while the machine goes to work.” Nice.
Roostaeian explains that “CoolSculpting is ‘for someone who is looking for mild improvements,’ and that it’s not designed for one-stop-shop major fat removal like liposuction. When clients come to Astarita for a consultation, she considers ‘their age, skin quality—will it rebound? Will it look good after volume is removed?—and how thick or pinchable their tissue is,’ before approving them for treatment, because the suction panels can only treat the tissue it can access. ‘If someone has thick, firm tissue,’ explains Astarita, ‘I won’t be able to give them a wow result.’”
Wondering how quickly you’ll see results? Roostaeian explains “that a single treatment will yield very minimal change, sometimes imperceptible to clients. ‘One of the downsides of [CoolSculpting] is there’s a range for any one person. I’ve seen people look at before and after pictures and not be able to see the results.’ All hope is not lost, however, because both experts agree that the more treatments you have, the more results you will see. What will happen eventually is an up to 25 percent fat reduction in a treatment area. ‘At best you get mild fat reduction—a slightly improved waistline, less bulging of any particular area that’s concerning. I would emphasize the word mild.’”
While CoolSculpting won’t help you lose a lot of weight, Astarita explains that “her clients come to her in search of better proportions at their current weight, and may leave having dropped ‘one or two sizes in clothing.’”
If you're curious about CoolSculpting and what it can do for you, give us a call. We can help you discover how cosmetic surgery can change your life. Call today to schedule an appointment. Your initial consultation is always free.