Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting®)

For a non-invasive procedure with little or no downtime, cryolipolysis is quite effective boasting an impressive 20-25% reduction of fat stores in treated areas. The effectiveness of cryolipolysis is also impacted by fat quantity and distribution.³ It’s important to consult with an experienced cryolipolysis practitioner to determine if you will benefit from a fat freezing treatment.

Cryolipolysis does result in the permanent destruction of fat cells. Cryolipolysis results in fat cells that are not reabsorbed nor redistributed by the body; they are eliminated by the lymphatic system. However, cryolipolysis cannot prevent future weight gain. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that curbs weight fluctuation is optimal for maintaining cryolipolysis results.

Cryolipolysis is a word derived from Greek roots to describe the action of the procedure; cryo (cold), lipo (fat) and lysis (dissolution or loosening). CoolSculpting^® is the brand name of a procedure using cryolipolysis technology to create the fat freezing effect.

The cost of cryolipolysis depends on the area you are treating and the amount of treatments needed. Typically, a personalized fat freezing treatment will range between $2,000 to $4,000.

Currently, scientific studies demonstrating a skin tightening benefit to cryolipolysis are lacking, however practitioners and patients have consistently reported improvements in skin laxity after cryolipolysis. There are even a few plastic surgery practices that have conducted their own small-scale studies showing an average 25% improvement in skin laxity after a fat freezing treatment. Exactly how cryolipolysis causes this effect is unknown, although one theory is that the skin appears tighter due to dermal thickening.⁴ Because fat loss often presents an increase in skin laxity, some clinicians may recommend a secondary treatment using radiofrequency or ultrasound to maximize the cryolipolysis results.

Directly after a cryolipolysis session there may be some redness, soreness, itching, bruising, and/or numbness at the site of the fat freezing treatment. These recovery symptoms generally resolve on their own after a few days. The body begins eliminating the destroyed fat cells immediately and changes will be noticeable in as little as three weeks. The most dramatic cryolipolysis results are seen after 2-3 months, but changes may continue for up to six months after a fat freezing treatment as the body continues to eliminate dead fat cells. ⁵

The handpiece used in a cryolipolysis treatment delivers a consistent and controlled temperature down to –15 ° degrees Celsius (5° F) to achieve crystallization of the fat cells and ensure the cryolipolysis effect.6 Different areas of the body may “feel” this fat freezing temperature differently. For example, cryolipolysis on neck tissue may feel much more intense than cryolipolysis for stomach fat.

Cryolipolysis results in an average reduction of 25% of fat cells in the targeted areas. ⁷The amount of fat freezing and inches lost depends on the size of the area being treated. For example, cryolipolysis on neck fat will destroy a high percentage of localized fat cells, but may not translate to an impressive amount of inches lost, while cryolipolysis on the thighs may destroy a lower percentage of fat cells but result in a greater circumferential reduction. In general, a small area may only be reduced by half an inch, but larger areas may decrease by 2-3 inches.

The number of cryolipolysis sessions needed to achieve the desired results will be determined by the clinician based on individual conditions and the area of the body undergoing fat freezing. A common recommendation includes 3 treatments spaced 1-6 months apart, but smaller areas, such as under the chin, may require only 1 treatment.⁸ The number of subsequent cryolipolysis sessions may be limited by the amount of fat available since the system’s paddles must be able to grip a bulge of fat in order to deliver the cryolipolysis. Quite simply, when there are no longer significant bulges of fat present, the fat freezing treatment is finished.

Fat cells destroyed by cryolipolysis become a waste product and then are processed by the lymphatic system and eliminated from the body in the urine. This process is gradual and will occur naturally over several weeks following a cryolipolysis or fat freezing treatment. It may be helpful during this process to do activities that may help stimulate lymphatic drainage such as exercise, massage and daily dry brushing.

The most common side effects of cryolipolysis treatment include redness, bruising, swelling, tingling, numbness, or darkening of the treated area. Most of these side effects will resolve within months of the fat freezing treatment. The most negative possible side effect of cryolipolysis is a condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH).⁹ In this rare occurrence, and for reasons that are not yet understood, the fat in the treated area responds to the extreme cold by expanding and hardening into an unnaturally shaped mass under the skin. PAH does not resolve on its own and patients must wait 6 to 9 months for the mass to soften sufficiently to allow for surgical removal via liposuction. Although PAH is a worrisome side effect, it is a rare occurrence with reports indicating it happens in less than 1% of cryolipolysis patients. ¹⁰

Although cryolipolysis is not associated with any specific downtime11 and most patients only experience mild discomfort after the fat freezing treatment, the body still needs to recover from the procedure. Create a good environment for healing and healthy lymph movement by avoiding tight clothing, strenuous exercise (calm movement such as yoga or walking is ideal), and dehydration. Light, gentle massage and a warm compress may also aid a speedy recovery to optimal cryolipolysis results.

*Always consult your physician before undergoing this procedure