Getting rid of stubborn fat can be frustrating, especially when proper diet and exercise prove futile. Unwanted pockets of fat cells can be annoying and affect your self-esteem. Fortunately, if you are having a hard time losing unwanted fat, the remedy might be as easy as freezing it away. At Beautique Medical in Knoxville, TN, we use coolsculpting to get rid of stubborn fat and transform your body.
What Is Coolsculpting?
Coolsculpting is a non-invasive treatment that uses cold temperatures to freeze and destroy fat cells in targeted areas with no downtime. Freezing of fat cells triggers their natural death process, and they are later naturally eliminated from the body.
The treatment is FDA approved and has many benefits compared to traditional fat removal techniques. Most patients experience between 20-80% fat loss in the treated area after a single session and enjoy permanent results.
What Areas Does It Treat?
The treatment can be used to remove fat in the following areas:
- Abdomen
- Thighs
- Chin
- Arms
- Underneath the buttocks (banana roll)
- Bra fat
- Back fat
Who Is a Suitable Candidate?
This treatment is effective and safe for most people who want to get rid of unwanted bulges of fat pockets. However, it is not a solution to weight loss and obesity. It is a treatment option for patients who are near their ideal weight and want to get rid of small amounts of stubborn fat resistant to proper diet and exercise.
About Coolsculpting
Coolsculpting uses a process called cryolipolysis to trigger the breakdown of fatty tissue using the cellular response to cold. By freezing the fat cells, cryolipolysis causes the gradual death of fat cells without affecting the surrounding muscles, nerves, and other tissues.
Once that happens, your body sends the dead fat cells to the lymphatic system, where they are excreted as waste a few weeks after the treatment. For patients with an active lifestyle who practice healthy living habits, it can help them achieve a tight and sculpted body.
Preparation
The treatment doesn’t require a lot of preparation. However, there are several things you can do that will not only help you get the best results but also experience a more comfortable and relaxed session.
1. Avoid Certain Medications
Certain medicines, such as aspirin, can increase the possibility of bruising and may affect your blood flow. We will advise you about any medications you may need to skip or take before and after the treatment.
2. Care for Your Skin
Excess sun exposure usually interferes with the results of several cosmetic treatments. Having a sunburn or a skin injury can cause discomfort during a session.
We will guide you on how to take care of your skin before the treatment and outline which skincare products you should avoid and use.
3. Find Something to Keep You Busy During the Treatment
Each treatment session lasts about an hour. To avoid boredom, we advise patients to carry something to keep them occupied and entertained during the treatment. You can bring a magazine or a book to read through or a smartphone or similar device.
4. Lose Extra Weight
The treatment doesn’t help you lose weight, and patients who are obese or very overweight may not benefit much from the treatment. It is ideal for healthy people who desire to remove bulges and unwanted fat pockets from their bodies.
5. Make a Diet and Exercise Plan for After Treatment
It usually takes several weeks to see the final results after all the fat has gone away. We advise our patients to make a lifestyle plan to supplement their results.
How It Works
Before the treatment, you will be scheduled for an appointment to establish your expectations. We will then create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.
Getting Prepped
First, we will mark the target area to make sure the applicator is appropriately placed. A clear gel pad will then be applied to the area of concern. The gel creates a barrier between the skin and the cooling panel to protect your skin.
What Treatment Is Like
The treatment will be carried out using a handheld device. The device used has applicators that resemble a vacuum cleaner or nozzles. While you rest in a reclined chair, this specially designed applicator will be placed on your area of concern and powered on. The applicator conveys controlled cooling to your fat cells in the problem area, which breaks down the walls of the fat cells.
Our doctor will repeatedly move the device on your skin to deliver cooling and suction technology to freeze all the fat cells in the treatment area. The treatment is so comfortable, and the setting is so relaxed, that most patients describe it as a great time to nap, relax, or enjoy some good reading.
After the session, a member of our staff will massage the treated area, which helps break any frozen deep tissue. Massaging also enhances the results of the treatment and helps your body to break down the fat more quickly.
What to Expect After the Treatment
Since the fat freezing treatment is non-invasive, you can resume your routine activities immediately after the treatment. Results are usually visible within three weeks after the treatment. You will enjoy viewing every bit of you; an improved waistline, and less bulging of the treated areas.
It typically takes two or three months to attain your optimum results. During this time, the fat-freezing process continues, and the body eliminates the dead fat cells. Some patients and certain areas of your body may need more than a single treatment. However, the treatment targets precise areas of your body, and additional treatments are only required by patients who want to treat a different area.
FAQ About Coolsculpting
1. Will It Help Me Lose Weight?
Coolsculpting is a sculpting or contouring treatment that alters the structure of fat cells to modify your body’s shape. It is not an ideal weight loss solution, so the results will not be reflected in your weight. It is a treatment option to get rid of exercise and diet-resistant fat pockets.
If you are near your ideal weight, you will enjoy significant benefits from the treatment. We advise our patients to practice a healthy lifestyle that incorporates exercise and a proper diet to support their results. We will monitor your weight during the treatment cycle to make sure you don’t gain weight, because doing so may impair the treatment.
2. Are the Results Permanent?
The number of fat cells in the body remains constant after you reach adulthood. Although they will get smaller or bigger when you lose or gain weight, their number remains the same.
Cryolipolysis destroys the fat cells in the target area and eliminates them permanently. Therefore, it literally decreases the total sum of fat cells in your body. A reduced fat cell count means the body will store less fat in the treated area than it could have before, which makes the area more sculpted.
3. Is It Safe?
The treatment was approved by the FDA in 2012 as a safe and effective way to get rid of unwanted fat. Since the treatment is non-invasive, anesthesia is not required.
The death of fat cells occurs in a small volume, and the free fatty acids are broken down into nontoxic energy substrates. You will not develop any wounds, and the risk of developing complications is very minimal.
4. How Does It Compare to Invasive Procedures?
Results of the treatment are not as fast or as dramatic as is the case with liposuction and other invasive procedures. It is ideal for patients who are looking for a risk-free and painless solution for fat packets that cause unwanted bulges.
The recovery time for this treatment is very little compared to invasive procedures. Patients usually resume their day-to-day activities immediately after the treatment.
5. How Long Does the Treatment Take?
The length and number of treatments vary among patients. Typically, the number of sessions is determined by the areas of concern and how many areas you plan to treat. Depending on the treatment area, our sessions last anywhere between 35 minutes to an hour.
We have more than one coolsculpting machine, so you can have multiple areas treated in one session.
6. What Should I Do After the Treatment?
The treatment is not an exercise or a diet program, so you won’t be required to make any adjustments to your normal lifestyle. You won’t need to take any special supplements after the treatment.
Nevertheless, we advise patients to maintain their post-treatment weight since gaining weight may compromise the results.
7. What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
Boosts Self-confidence
When you love every view of you, you become more confident, and that is what treatment offers. Adhering to a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a great diet does not always guarantee the desired results. Our bodies choose where to lose or store fat, and we have minimal control over it.
Fortunately, this treatment is designed to target fat pockets on specific areas of your choice, leaving you with a more toned and contoured body.
Skip the Pain
When you undergo surgery, certain amounts of pain are inevitable. Pain is one of the main reasons why some patients avoid invasive procedures.
On the contrary, no pain is associated with this treatment since it does not involve the use of needles and incisions.
Quick and Simple
The size of a treatment area usually determines the length of a session. However, most sessions last an hour or less, so it’s easy to fix a session on your busy schedule.
Because there’s no downtime, treatment can be done during your lunch break, and you resume regular activity immediately.
Effective in Many Areas
Problem areas vary between different people. Fortunately, the treatment covers the areas that most patients need to be treated. Some of the areas that can be treated include the thighs, stomach, love handles, chin, upper arms, and bra bulge.
8. Will My Health Insurance Cover the Treatment?
Since this is a voluntary treatment, most insurance providers and FSA companies do not cover it. You can consult with your insurer to find out more about your insurance health benefits.
Farewell to Stubborn Fat
If you are ready to get rid of diet and exercise-resistant fat, contact the experts at Beautique Medical in Knoxville, TN today. We use coolsculpting to eliminate fat pockets and help you achieve a more toned and contoured look as fast and as easily as possible. Reach out to us today to book your consultation appointment!