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Are CoolSculpting Results Permanent?

CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that permanently eliminates unwanted body fat. The non-surgical procedure has gained significant popularity in recent years because it is a safe and effective way to reduce the appearance of stubborn bulges throughout the body. Without a single incision, CoolSculpting eliminates excess fat cells from your problem areas to create a slimmer contour.

Dr. Elizabeth Lee and her Bay Area practice, ArtfulSurgery, are internationally recognized as leaders in the practice and application of CoolSculpting. There are many med spas that claim to provide quality CoolSculpting care. But Dr. Lee designs the treatment protocols for the procedure.

Read Dr. Lee’s blog to learn from a leader in CoolSculpting from the doctor who helped develop it.  

Non-Surgical Body Contouring with Cryolipolysis

CoolSculpting’s remarkable results are made possible by a scientifically proven process known as cryolipolysis. Cryolipolysis describes the cell death that occurs when fat cells are exposed to freezing temperatures. Fat cells are especially vulnerable to cold conditions. In fact, they are far more sensitive to the cold than the surrounding skin tissue. CoolSculpting leverages this fact to freeze away fat while leaving the skin unharmed. The result is an entirely non-invasive body contouring procedure that produces similar outcomes to liposuction but without any incisions or downtime.

CoolSculpting is safe and it requires no anesthesia. Over 3 million people have experienced CoolSculpting’s slimming effects without the pain and extended recovery attendant to more invasive procedures.[1] CoolSculpting has become so popular because it produces real, observable results without the cost and commitment of more involved surgeries.

Dr. Elizabeth Lee and ArtfulSurgery have become trusted advisors to Allergan, the makers of CoolSculpting. Dr. Lee consults for Allergan because the company trusts her first-hand observations and esteemed medical opinion when it comes to administering CoolSculpting in the most effective way. Few can boast Dr. Lee’s expertise in this transformative body contouring procedure. Can I Gain Weight After CoolSculpting?

Yes, it is entirely possible to gain weight after you have completed your CoolSculpting treatments. Even though cryolipolysis essentially kills off targeted fat cells so that they never return, patients are still obliged to face the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle.

It is important to note that CoolSculpting is not a weight-loss procedure. It is a body contouring procedure meant to shape and sculpt the body’s curves to a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. CoolSculpting patients see the best results when they combine their treatments with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. CoolSculpting can enhance the effects of your fitness routine by shaping target areas to a more flattering form.

FEWER FAT CELLS VS. SMALLER FAT CELLS

CoolSculpting can permanently reduce the total number of fat cells in the body. But it is essential to distinguish the difference between fewer fat cells and smaller fat cells when it comes to weight gain. We are born with roughly the same number of fat cells as we have throughout our lifetime, unless this number is reduced in some way, as it is with CoolSculpting. When we gain and lose weight, this number remains constant. The fat cells themselves, however, swell and contract to accommodate the increase or decline of triglycerides that occurs when we gain or lose weight. CoolSculpting contours the body by removing excess fat cells from unwanted areas, but it does nothing to stop fat cells from growing when we’ve consumed too many calories.    

Long-Lasting Body Contouring

CoolSculpting can’t prevent you from gaining weight if you fail to adhere to your health and fitness program. However, the procedure can permanently remove fat cells from the treatment area(s), resulting in a slimmer, more sculpted contour.[2]

The good news is that your chiseled contours will endure even if you accidentally gain a little weight. Your CoolSculpting treatment areas will continue to appear more sculpted and slender relative to the rest of your body thanks to CoolSculpting’s long-lasting results. This makes reclaiming your desired shape easier because you will spend less time working off unwanted bulges from your abdomen, thighs, flanks and elsewhere.  

Your Private Consultation with Dr. Elizabeth Lee

Dr. Elizabeth Lee is an internationally renowned expert in the practice and application of CoolSculpting. ArtfulSurgery is one of, if not the only, center in the region where a plastic surgeon performs CoolSculpting consultations. Dr. Lee herself will design your body contouring treatment plan.

Many med spas may attempt to capitalize on the current enthusiasm for CoolSculpting. But it is only at ArtfulSurgery where you will receive quality care from a cryolipolysis specialist. Allergan, the manufacturer behind CoolSculpting, trusts Dr. Lee to design and improve upon the procedure. Dr. Lee’s grateful patients trust her as well, as evidenced by their reams of positive reviews.

Enjoy a Complete CoolSculpting Experience with Quadsculpting

ArtfulSurgery is fully equipped with the latest and most advanced CoolSculpting equipment. Dr. Lee’s practice is one of the few to boast four new CoolSculpting machines on site. This means your CoolSculpting experience will conclude more quickly and your results will be more balanced.

In “Quadsculpting,” Dr. Lee engages four CoolSculpting machines at once. This cuts down on the total time spent on the procedure. Many patients can complete a full round of cryolipolysis in half an hour or less. This makes it a true “lunchtime procedure” because CoolSculpting patients are freed from the downtime and painful recovery that commonly comes with other more involved procedures.

Quadsculpting also produces more symmetrical results.[3] That’s because the multiple applicators mean that bilateral areas like the arms, flanks and thighs can be treated simultaneously.

FAQ

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR COOLSCULPTING?

It takes about two or three rounds of CoolSculpting treatments to achieve the desired results. However, the total time it takes to complete your CoolSculpting treatments can be significantly reduced if your local CoolSculpting practitioner has multiple devices, allowing them to treat several areas at once. In Quadsculpting, the patient is engaged with four CoolSculpting machines simultaneously. Quadsculpting comes with significant advantages beyond a shortened course of treatment. It also allows for more balanced results because both sides of the body can be treated at the same time. You can expect to begin seeing the results of your CoolSculpting sessions one month after your first treatment. After 60 days, your final look should appear. For optimum outcomes, your second treatment should be scheduled within 30 to 60 days of the first. Correctly timing your follow-up visits takes advantage of an inflammatory response in the fat cells that will enhance the procedure’s effectiveness. Results from CoolSculpting are not immediate. It takes a few weeks for the cryolipolysis process to run its course and for the body to fully eliminate fat cells from the treatment area.        

DOES COOLSCULPTING HURT?

When compared to the surgical alternatives, CoolSculpting is a painless, even pleasant, procedure. CoolSculpting offers effective body contouring that is incision-free. And, unlike liposuction, there is no painful recovery or post-operative downtime. There is only mild discomfort associated with the procedure itself. Your CoolSculpting session begins when the device’s vacuum-powered applicators gently grip the flesh and apply temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C). The cool shock of the freezing applicator pads is enough to make many patients jump. Any lingering discomfort, however, quickly fades as the treatment area is numbed from the cold. Many patients actually enjoy their CoolSculpting sessions. They use it as a chance to relax with a good book, or to stream their favorite shows on a smartphone or tablet.

References

  1. Ingargiola, M. J., Motakef, S., Chung, M. T., Vasconez, H. C., & Sasaki, G. H. (2015). Cryolipolysis for Fat Reduction and Body Contouring. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 135(6), 1581–1590. doi: 10.1097/prs.0000000000001236
  2. Derrick, C. D., Shridharani, S. M., & Broyles, J. M. (2015). The Safety and Efficacy of Cryolipolysis: A Systematic Review of Available Literature. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 35(7), 830–836. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjv039
  3. Coleman, S. R., Sachdeva, K., Egbert, B. M., Preciado, J., & Allison, J. (2009). Clinical Efficacy of Noninvasive Cryolipolysis and Its Effects on Peripheral Nerves. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 33(4), 482–488. doi: 10.1007/s00266-008-9286-8
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