Will Fat Come Back after CoolSculpting?

Coolsculpting is a huge buzzword in cosmetic surgery circles, with so many people giving this procedure a go, and having fantastic results.

Everyone from well known celebrities to your boss at work are having coolsculpting treatments, and you would never know as it is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that requires little to no recovery time, with great results.

Sounds amazing right? Well read on to find out more about this innovative cosmetic treatment.

What Exactly Is CoolSculpting?

Coolsculpting was first approved by the FDA in 2010, and has quickly grown in popularity since then, with many celebrities such as Molly Sims and Debra Messing becoming ambassadors for the brand. 

A-Listers such as Khloe Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan expressing their joy at the amazing results they have achieved with coolsculpting sessions.

Coolsculpting uses a process called cryolipolysis, which uses cold temperatures to kill fat cells, whilst not damaging other tissues in the body.

How Does It Work?

A treatment of coolsculpting generally takes about an hour for each area that is being treated, although treatment times can be variable depending on many factors, such as the size of the area being treated.

The fat in the area being worked on is placed between two metal plates which then have the temperature lowered to freezing. The fat cells in this area then die from the exposure to this temperature, and are removed from the body naturally via the body’s own drainage systems.

The results of coolsculpting are not immediate, as it takes time for the fat to die and be removed from the body, and results are generally seen within three weeks, up to six months.  

A good fat freezing treatment center will have an initial consultation with you first and let you know what results you can expect, and how quickly you will see them.

Are The Results Permanent?

Coolsculpting works by quite literally killing the fat cells in the area being worked on, so once those fat cells have been removed from the area, they can not return, as they are dead. 

So, in that sense, the results are permanent. However, to avoid fat returning to that area, it is important to maintain your body weight.

If you have fat removed from an area that is a problem area for you, and that is where body fat is deposited, then if you were to gain weight, there is a high likelihood of regaining fat in that area.

Who Can Have A CoolSculpting Treatment?

Coolsculpting is considered a very safe treatment, and almost everyone can have the procedure performed.

However, there are some people who are not suitable.

There are certain medical conditions, such as cold agglutinin disease, which means you would not be suitable for a coolsculpting treatment.

A person is trying to conceive, pregnant or breastfeeding should also seek professional medical advice before booking in for a treatment, and pregnancy certainly excludes you from having this treatment.

Coolsculpting is only useful for targeting specific areas of the body, and is not a treatment for reducing overall body fat, and it is not a treatment for obesity.

Coolsculpting is ideally suited to someone who has already reduced their body fat through a healthy diet and exercise, and are having trouble getting rid of body fat in specific areas.

The areas that are most commonly targeted are the abdominal area, thighs, upper arms and under the chin.

What Are The Risks?

Coolsculpting is a non-invasive, and non-surgical treatment, and as such has fewer risks than treatments that do require anaesthesia or a breaking of the skin barrier.

However, as with anything, coolsculpting does have a few side effects that it is worth being aware of.

The most common side effects reported are a slightly uncomfortable tugging sensation as the area is being treated.

After treatment, it is fairly common to experience some redness, swelling and bruising at the treatment site, however these side effects are normally resolved within a week.

Less common side effects are a tingling sensation at the treatment site, and sometimes complete loss of sensation in that area. Again, these symptoms are normal transitory and will resolve within two to three weeks.

The rarest side effect, seen in less than 1% of patients, is a gaining of fat cells in the area treated. This seems to affect men more than women. It is unknown exactly why this happens, but if it does, repeated coolsculpting treatments will only continue to increase to fat cells in that area, and a treatment such as liposuction is the only way to rid that area of fat cells.