It may sound too good to be true, but it’s really that good! CoolSculpting is a non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring treatment offered at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center in Warrenton, VA. The CoolSculpting device targets and freezes fat cells so your body can naturally remove them in the weeks and months that follow.
Here are answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions about CoolSculpting:
The CoolSculpting applicator is applied to one area of unwanted focal fat at a time. This typically involves one or more of the following areas: abdomen, hips, bra-fat, inner/outer thighs, or chin. Using vacuum suction, the device gently draws tissue with unwanted fat into a chamber. Controlled cooling is then delivered to the treatment area, and the fat cells undergo “cryolypolysis” (cell death) due to freezing, while the surrounding tissue is unharmed. Approximately 25% of the exposed fat cells will be permanently destroyed, for significant body contouring improvement.
There is some mild, temporary discomfort due to the initiation of strong suction and extreme cold. You may experience sensations of pulling, mild pinching, tingling, stinging or cramping. However, as the temperature falls, there is a numbing effect and most patients sit comfortably during the treatment reading, watching television, or even napping. There may be some hypersensitivity of the skin in the treated area post-treatment, but this general disappears in several days. There may also be some tenderness or soreness for about a week – similar to muscle soreness after a strong workout session. Patients are usually able to return to normal activities immediately post-treatment.
The total number of fat cells in your body is constant once you reach adulthood. These cells will get bigger or smaller as you gain or lose weight, but the number of cells remains the same. CoolSculpting destroys fat cells in the treated area and they are eliminated for good. So, it actually reduces the total number of fat cells you have in your body, and makes it so your body cannot store as much fat in the treated area as you could have before, leaving that area “sculpted” even if you gain weight in the future.
Results may be seen as early as 1 to 3 months after treatment. You will initially experience some mild inflammation and swelling to the treated area. This should resolve within one to two weeks, then it will take another few weeks to see a noticeable difference. Full results from that session should be achieved within 12 weeks. Many patients require more than one treatment session to achieve their desired results. So, we schedule a follow-up appointment (including before and after photos and weight) 3 months after initial treatment to assess results and schedule future sessions, if needed.
Following treatment, you may experience mild redness, bruising, swelling or numbness in the treated area. This should resolve within 1 to 2 weeks. The fat cell death is a small enough volume that your body breaks down the free fatty acids and triglycerides into harmless energy substrates, so there is no risk of elevated harmful lipids, heart disease or atherosclerosis as a result of CoolSculpting treatment.
CoolSculpting is a contouring or sculpting procedure that modifies the distribution of fat cells to change the shape of your body. Results are not related to weight and CoolSculpting is not a weight loss solution. It is a tool to eliminate diet and exercise resistant fat pockets. The closer you are to your ideal body weight, the more you will see your CoolSculpting results. We recommend a healthy lifestyle that includes proper diet and exercise to augment and support your CoolSculpting results. Weight is monitored during your treatment cycle to ensure that patient weight gain is not impairing results.
Before treatment, avoid anti-inflammatory products (NSAIDs, ibuprophen, etc.) to help reduce the chance of bruising. After treatment, you may return to your normal daily activities immediately (including exercise). It is important to maintain your weight post treatment, as significant weight gain will compromise best results.
Every patient has a unique treatment plan based on their body’s distribution of fat and their desired results. A personalized plan, including cost, will be developed for you at a private consultation appointment where you will receive a full-body assessment and all of your questions will be answered. Most treatment plans for a particular area fall between $2,000 and $4,000. We offer no-interest financing options, that allow for easy monthly payments, if desired (must qualify for financing).
Schedule a consultation at Warrenton Dermatology & Skin Therapy Center today to learn more about CoolSculpting and get a personalized treatment plan. 540-341-1900 x214
