What’s the “best” contouring treatment out there? According to a recent article in Town & Country, CoolSculpting tops the lists—and it’s available at VIDA. “This is how you win the battle of the bulge,” says the popular magazine. CoolSculpting has been readily available for years and works by freezing away small areas of unwanted fat, but it is not a weight loss tool. Instead, it is designed for those close to or at their goal weight who struggle with problem areas. If you find that you have pockets of fat that won’t dissapear with diet and exercise alone, CoolSculpting might be for you.

Unlike more aggressive options like liposuction, CoolSculpting is completely non-invasive with no needles or downtime necessary. It’s considered the gold standard in contouring for those who want to avoid surgery. Plus, even though it’s been around for quite some time, the technology behind CoolSculpting is always changing. Right now, we are in the circa third generation of the tech. CoolSculpting can be used to target fat cells virtually anywhere on the body, from large popular areas like the stomach or back to small areas like beneath the chin.

How CoolSculpting Works

The method behind CoolSculpting was discovered by accident in the 1970s. Researchers noticed that children who ate more frozen treats had less fat on their face than their peers. It’s through a process known as cryolipolysis that this occurs—or when fat is externally exposed to certain freezing temperatures. For CoolSculpting, the target site is isolated and exposed to a temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit for around 30 minutes. This effectively kills fat cells, which are then absorbed and expelled by the body in the days and weeks following the treatment.

Some minor side effects like redness and slight swelling may occur, but these go away quickly. However, bear in mind that CoolSculpting is not immediate. It’s not liposuction (and it has none of the risks and downtime associated with surgery). Your body will take time to absorb and metabolize the dead fat cells. Most patients start to see some results one month after the first treatment, but numerous cycles are required for most people to get optimal results. On average, 4 – 6 cycles are necessary and you must wait a few weeks between treatments. This means full results will be seen around 6 months after you begin your CoolSculpting journey.

How CoolSculpting is Different

CoolSculpting is pain-free and is designed for those who want to customize their body by targeting stubborn fat cells. It is a slow and steady process, and you may not see any difference on the scale. A better way to gauge progress is through photos and how your clothes fit. It’s a good idea to take before photos, weekly photos, and monthly photos after your final session. One of the many benefits of CoolSculpting is that because it is slow and steady, this drastically decreases any risk of skin becoming loose from fast fat-loss. Anyone who has lost a lot of weight quickly, either from weight loss surgery, a crash diet, giving birth, or liposuction, knows how a crepe-like appearance of the skin can develop. Your skin needs time to “snap back” and CoolSculpting provides that timeframe.

When fat cells are actually removed in any manner, whether frozen away or removed via liposuction, those particular cells are gone for good. They will not come back. However, this doesn’t make CoolSculpting an alternative to a healthy diet and exercise. It complements such a lifestyle. Although those frozen cells will not return, nearby fat cells can grow and move into the space should weight gain occur. This is what makes CoolSculpting a contouring procedure rather than a weight loss treatment.

Getting Ready for CoolSculpting

Winter is a great time to start CoolSculpting because a you can work towards a better you just in time for summer vacations. It’s easy to fit into even the busiest schedules and is a popular lunchtime procedure. We offer complimentary consultations on all treatments so you can discover if CoolSculpting is for you. Schedule yours today by calling VIDA or completing the online contact form now.