For the past many years, our clients have been asking us for a non-surgical alternative for Liposuction, and as a plastic surgery practice, the gold standard for us always has been surgical Liposuction. Thankfully, now we have a non-surgical option – Coolsculpting® (scientifically known as Cryolipolysis) that gives comparable and lasting results. The best thing about Coolsculpting® is that, when the treated fat cells are gone, they're gone for good. IF YOU MAINTAIN THE SAME WEIGHT, THE RESULTS ARE PERMANENT.
FAQ'S
Q: Who is the ideal candidate for Coolsculpting®?
A: Like surgical Liposuction, Coolsculpting® is not for everyone. It shouldn’t be viewed as a weight-loss treatment. It is best suited for treating focal, stubborn fat deposits that can be pinched or grabbed by your hands. Also, if the fatty tissue has a more fibrous texture, this may not be an ideal treatment. Therefore, it is important for you to be assessed by an experienced aesthetic physician or surgeon who tailors the treatment plan best suited for you.
- Ideal candidates for Coolsculpting® are:
- Those who weigh not more than 15 kgs over and above their ideal body weight.
- Those who exercise regularly, follow a healthy diet and have a stable weight.
- Those who have noticeable bulges that are ‘pinchable or grabbable’ and are not responding to diet or exercise, they are likely to be a good candidate for this treatment. Our go to mantra is:
"IF YOU CAN SQUEEZE IT, WE CAN FREEZE IT!"
- Before undergoing Coolsculpting®, one should however be in good physical and psychological health and have reasonable expectations of the results. For those planning to go on a diet, we recommend they go for this treatment only after they have achieved a stable weight and reserve Coolsculpting®for the residual pockets of stubborn fat. This way one can get the most bang for their buck.
Q: How does Coolsculpting® work?
A: Coolsculpting® (CRYOLIPOLYSIS or ‘FAT FREEZING’) works on the principle of Differential fat freezing. It uses Cryolipolysis, or controlled-cooling technology, to crystallise the (freeze) fat cells. An applicator first applies suction to the area you want to target and then carefully regulated cooling is initiated to bring fat cells down to a temperature (-10 or -11 degree Celsius, depending on the area selected) at which they are irreversibly damaged. The cellular response of the fatty tissue to cold temperatures causes the fat cells to die. During the months after treatment, the dead fat cells are sent to be filtered out as waste by our lymphatic system. The treated area thus becomes slimmer than before.
Q: Why do we call it ‘Differential fat freezing’?
A: The machine cools the area to a temperature at which only the fat cells get frozen, leaving the rest of the tissues like nerves and muscles unaffected. The skin is protected during the procedure by a patented gel pad.
Q: What areas of the body can be targeted with Coolsculpting®?
A: ANY AREA THAT HAS ‘PINCHABLE' OR ‘grabbable' FAT. Although Coolsculpting® can be used to tackle just about any unwanted fatty bulge on the body, it is FDA-approved for treatment in specific areas: “Muffin top” (upper abdomen, lower abdomen), “love handles” (flank area), “saddle bags” (outer thighs), inner thighs, upper arms, “bra fat”/ “blouse bulges”, back fat, "banana roll" (fatty deposit underneath the butt), and “double chin" or “turkey neck”.
The newer cool-advantage series of applicators which include Cool-advantage, Cool advantage-plus, Cool Smooth pro and Cool-mini allow us to treat almost any area with their higher tissue draw, more cooling in nearly half the time, with much more ease and comfort for the patients.
One more popular area where Coolsculpting® is known to give good results is for the enlarged male breast. More specifically, it is suitable for patients with pseudo-gynecomastia in which the male breast tissue enlargement is only due to fatty deposits and not because of excess glandular tissue. However, this is a non-FDA-approved indication.
Q: How does Coolsculpting® work on the double chin?
A: A double chin or a "turkey neck" in extreme cases are usually the most apparent signs of obesity. Some people who are otherwise fit also have a double chin that makes them look much older than they are. It also gives the impression of laziness. Narrowing of this area can make you generally appear slimmer and can give you a much youthful demeanour.
In many cases, this treatment can be combined with ultherapy for skin tightening in lower-face and upper neck and with dermal fillers in the jaw to give more definition. This combination therapy can provide dramatic results.
Q: How much does Coolsculpting® cost?
A: The price for Coolsculpting® procedures can vary depending on your problem areas, the type of applicator required, number of sessions needed, and your long-term goals. At Anticlock Medispa, we will help you create a customised treatment plan that’s tailored to your body, keeping in mind your body goals, and your budget for this.
Q: What happens during a Coolsculpting® procedure?
A: All Coolsculpting® procedures at Anticlock are performed under the direct supervision of doctors who are trained and experienced in the procedure.
This sophisticated machine has applicators that can be compared to the nozzles of a vacuum cleaner. Different types of applicators are suitable for different areas - Cool advantage (for smaller areas on abdomen, love handles, bra folds, banana rolls, upper arms, inner thigh), Cool advantage plus, Cool Smooth Pro (for non-grabbable surfaces like outer thigh), Cool Mini (for double chin, axillary fat deposits and fatty pads above knee).
After applying a protective gel pad, the recommended applicator is used to the targeted fat pocket, grabbing it in its cup to deliver controlled cooling over a specified time.
You may experience sensations of pulling and pinching at the start of the process, but in a few minutes, these sensations subside, as the area becomes numb when full cooling is achieved. Overall the procedure involves minimal discomfort, and most of our clients watch their favourite shows on Netflix, surf the net, read a book, sip tea or take a nap.
Immediately after treatment, the area is massaged to thaw the tissues and further break up the crystallised fatty tissue. This helps your body begin to absorb the destroyed fat cells. During this massage, many patients experience some pain, which disappears as soon as the massage ends, and when tissues come back to normal temperature.
Q: How cold is Coolsculpting®? How does it feel like?
A: After the applicator is fixed to the target area, the cooling is initiated. You would feel intense cooling for a couple of minutes after which the area becomes numb. This usually doesn’t cause much discomfort and is well tolerated by most people.
Q: Is Coolsculpting® painful?
A: With the newer generation of machines using ‘Advantage’ series of applicators, Coolsculpting® is generally a comfortable treatment. There is no need for anaesthesia or and numbing creams for this procedure. However, with the older machines using ‘Legacy’ applicators, more pain and discomfort has been reported.
You may feel mild pinching and tugging in the initial few minutes when the applicator goes on, and after that, the area becomes numb due to cooling. After that most patients are so comfortable that they surf the net, watch TV, listen to music and many of them fall asleep. The discomfort during the ‘two-minute massage’ after the treatment is over, is also transient and the patients comfortably drive back to their home or office. Typically, there is no need for any pain killer medication either, but if necessary, we recommend only paracetamol.
Post-procedure, there might be some residual soreness in treated areas that typically lasts from 1 – 2 weeks. Mostly it doesn’t require any treatment and doesn’t interfere with any of your activities. One should, however, avoid pressure on the area for about a week to prevent any discomfort.
Q: How long does Coolsculpting® take?
A: The treatment time for different ‘Advantage series’ applicators is as follows:
Cool Advantage – 35 minutes
Cool Advantage plus – 45 minutes
Cool Mini – 45 minutes
Cool Smooth Pro – 75 minutes
These treatment times are almost half of those with old ‘Legacy’ applicators. On an average, our clients require four-six that are often performed in one session. While treating multiple areas, we can often apply two machines simultaneously (called DualSculpting), further saving the total time.
Q: How many treatment sessions of Coolsculpting® will I need?
A: We help our clients by creating an individualised treatment plan based on their personal goals. The number of treatment sessions required depends on the number of problem areas that need to be treated, the amount of fat in these areas as well as your personal goals.
For example, if a person needs to tackle ‘Love handles' and double chin, he/she would need between 2-4 cycles to treat love handles and 1-3 cycles for Chin area. So, total cycles required would be between 3-7 cycles in a single sitting. In some cases, if further improvement is needed in an area, treatments may be repeated after two months. If there is extra fat, additional Coolsculpting® cycles can safely be done.
We would recommend a one-to-one consultation with our doctors where we discuss all the things in detail & assess your whole body, while considering your specific areas of concern and your long-term goals.
Q: Where does the body fat go after Coolsculpting®?
A: The fat cells crystallised by the Coolsculpting® procedure initially shrink in size and are gradually are metabolised before being eliminated by the lymphatic system. People with proper metabolism, therefore, notice the fat reduction as early as six weeks and get full results in about two months. Those with a sluggish metabolism, however, get to see full results in three months. The best thing is that once treated; these fat cells are gone for good.
Q: What before and after results can I expect from my Coolsculpting® treatments?
A: Typically, after each Coolsculpting® treatment, you will find a noticeable reduction of fat in the treated area. Scientific studies have reported an average of 22.4% reduction in fat in the treatment area, per treatment. Many patients find their goals to be adequately addressed after one treatment session. For those who need more reduction in the same area, they can go in for additional treatments after a minimum gap of two months.
Q: What is the difference between Coolsculpting®- Legacy and Advantage applicators? Are the results different with different series of Coolsculpting® applicators?
A: The newer Advantage series of Coolsculpting® applicators are technologically more advanced over the older Legacy applicators. In the legacy applicators, only the side panels provided cooling whereas the Cool-advantage series of applicators provide more uniform cooling as the entire applicator provides the cooling. As a result, the required temperatures are achieved at the target site in almost half the time than with the older applicators. Also, with the new and better applicator cup design, more surface area is cooled, and a lesser amount of suction and pulling is required with the newer applicators. This makes the procedure far more comfortable than it was before. Studies have reported about 45% increase in comfort with these newer Coolsculpting® applicators.
Comparison of different series of Coolsculpting® applicators:
|
Advantage series |
Legacy Series |
Cooling Temperature achieved |
-10 to -11 degree Celsius |
-9 to -10 degree Celcius |
Time taken per cycle |
35 minutes – Cool Advantage 45 minutes – Cool Advantage plus 45 minutes Cool Mini 75 minutes – Cool Smooth Pro |
60 minutes – Cool Legacy 90 minutes …………………
|
Cooling technology |
Cools the area uniformly from the whole applicator surface |
Less uniform cooling as only the side panels of the applicator does the cooling |
Surface area cooled |
More area cooled |
Lesser area cooled |
Amount of suction applied |
Lesser pulling and tugging |
More pulling and tugging and for almost double the time |
Comfort level of patient |
Much more comfortable because of a better cup |
Less comfortable |
Q: Can Coolsculpting® be done on men?
A: Coolsculpting® is ideal in both men and women. Whereas the most popular indications in men are double chin, Love Handles, belly-fat; women most commonly want to dispose of ‘blouse bulges', upper arm fat, double chin, ‘banana rolls', ‘saddlebags' apart from belly-fat.
Q: Is Coolsculpting® safe?
A: Coolsculpting® is the only device for cryolipolysis, that has been cleared for the treatment of stubborn fat in flanks (love handles), abdomen, thigh and double chin by the US-FDA. It has an excellent safety track record and effectiveness with more than 7 million procedures done till date. It’s proven results have been backed by scientific evidence, and many plastic surgeons now feel confident to suggest this treatment to their clients.
Q: Because it is non-invasive, it eliminates many of the risks associated with traditional surgical liposuction. If something gives you similar results without having to go under the knife, then, why not?
A: Some patients do experience temporary side effects such as numbness, soreness and mild bruising. However, these side effects are usually transient and mostly subside on their own without any problems.
Q: Are there any risks or adverse effects of Coolsculpting® ?
A: Adverse effects are minimal and vary between patients. While most clients walk out of our clinic without reporting any side effects, some people do experience short-term redness, swelling or numbness in the area treated, mainly when larger areas are addressed. However, these side effects are temporary and generally disappear within a few days. These signs are usually not worrisome and do not stop you going about your daily routine. The FDA- clearance is a stamp of its safety and effectiveness for non-surgical fat reduction. With the old Legacy series of applicators, which had double the treatment time many people would see bruising, swelling, numbness and firmness in the area but with the new Cool-Advantage series of applicators, these side effects are infrequent.
Occasionally, however, one might experience vaso-vagal symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, nausea, and flushing. This is usually reversed by making the patient lie down.
In sporadic cases, instead of being annihilated by freezing, fat cells respond to Coolsculpting® by swelling up. This rare condition is called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). The incidence of PAH with has Coolsculpting® been reported to be around 0.0051 per cent, more so in men. The good thing is that this can be treated with liposuction. A tiny percentage of clients might develop some hyperpigmentation in the treated areas, this is usually self-limiting and usually resolves within a few months.
A lot depends on the technical expertise of the Coolsculpting® team. If the applicators or gel pads are not applied correctly, you might end up with frostbite, or first- and second-degree freeze burns. Therefore, always choose a facility where treatment is done in the supervision of a doctor and a clinic of good repute.
Q: In what instances should one avoid Coolsculpting®?
A: You should not the Coolsculpting® procedure if you suffer from Cryoglobulinemia, Cold agglutinin disease or Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. Also, Coolsculpting® must be avoided in pregnant or lactating women since there are no long-term studies to prove its safety in these conditions. It should also be avoided if you suffer from Raynaud's disease, chilblains or nerve conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy. If there are any local skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, inflammatory skin conditions, recent injuries, scar tissue or a hernia in the area being treated, your doctor should not proceed with Coolsculpting® in that area. People on blood thinning medications or those with bleeding disorders or those with active implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers should also avoid Coolsculpting®.
Q: How long does it take to see the results of Coolsculpting®?
A: You may start to see the results as quickly as 3-4 weeks after your treatment, but peak results are achieved between 8-12 weeks. Your body, however, keeps flushing out the destroyed fat cells, and this might continue for as long as 3-4 months. Therefore, some improvement may continue to happen for as long as 16 weeks’ post-treatment. So, we review our patients at eight weeks and again at 16 weeks to take photos and document the transformation achieved.
Q: How long will the results last after Coolsculpting®?
A: As with surgical liposuction, the results are permanent. This is because, once the treated fat cells are frozen they crystallise and die and over the course of 2-4 months, they are eliminated from your body for good!
That’s not to say that once you have got Coolsculpting® done, you needn't watch your diet or can discontinue exercise. Remember, Coolsculpting® helps only in spot reduction of fat and if you gain overall weight, you will still accumulate fat in other areas and might lose the improvement seen in the cool sculpted areas. To continue seeing stable results, you must, therefore, maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Q: Should you combine Coolsculpting® with dieting and exercise?
A: Watching your diet and exercising your body are essential aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, there is no need to diet and exercise to do Coolsculpting® work in the area where it is done. That said, we have seen people use diet and exercise to their advantage by combining them with the Coolsculpting® to see an overall better figure of their bodies. This way you can dispose of ‘stubborn fat’ with Coolsculpting® and ‘non-stubborn fat’ with diet and exercise.
Q: Can I return to normal activities after Coolsculpting®?
A: Yes, you can. The Coolsculpting® procedure is entirely non-invasive, and typically most patients return to normal activities almost immediately. Often, patients return to work after getting Coolsculpting® done in the lunch hour.
Q: Does Coolsculpting® (cryolipolysis or fat-freezing) work on cellulite?
A: Coolsculpting® is FDA-approved treatment for the reduction of resistant fat pockets. Commonly treated areas include the abdomen, inner thighs, flanks, outer thighs, blouse bulges and under the chin. It does not work on reducing cellulite per-se!
Cellulite is caused by fibrous fascia in the fat compartments that get pulled when the fat cells grow. As the area gains more fat, the cellulite in that area gets accentuated. Coolsculpting® does not help in getting rid of these fibrous fascia bundles, but it does decrease the appearance of cellulite by decreasing the fat in that fold.
Q: Does Coolsculpting® tighten skin?
A: The Coolsculpting® process works, and best-suited cases are those where skin tone is relatively well preserved. In cases where there is extreme skin laxity, surgical options like Tummy tuck would be better suited. Coolsculpting® procedure, however, can be combined with skin tightening procedures using Radiofrequency or Ultherapy to achieve skin tightening as well.
Q: What if I gain weight or become pregnant after getting Coolsculpting®done?
A: We often advise our clients to postpone body-sculpting procedures if they are planning a pregnancy soon or if they are planning to go on a diet to lose weight. Coolsculpting® gives optimum results once you achieve a relatively stable weight.
However, if you do become pregnant after getting cool sculpting done, do not worry! If you return to your pre-pregnancy weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you will still retain the results. Once the fat cells have gone, they do not return to the area that has been treated.
However, if you gain weight, you would gain it evenly all over your body, not just in the treated areas. In our experience, most people feel more motivated and take even better care of themselves after undergoing Coolsculpting®.
Q: Why is Coolsculpting® known as the most effective and safest fat reduction treatment?
A: There are many reasons for the trust that Coolsculpting® device has gained over the last decade amongst medical professionals and the public.
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The first and foremost is the development of this technology by doctors from Harvard University.
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The second most important reason is the US-FDA stamp of clearance for its use for fat-reduction. Coolsculpting® is the only cryolipolysis machine that has been cleared by US-FDA for fat reduction in certain areas.
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Thirdly, more than seven million procedures have been done worldwide.
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Fourthly, that patient satisfaction rate as reported by a community of patients on real-self is very high.
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Fifthly, many top-notch celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Khloe Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan and Mariah Carey have used this procedure to sculpt their bodies and have publically endorsed it.
Q: How does Coolsculpting® compare to liposuction?
A: Coolsculpting® is a non-invasive alternative to liposuction surgery, and its results are comparable to it. It does not require anaesthesia, incisions or injections and multiple areas can be treated in one sitting. Furthermore, one can get Coolsculpting® done at lunchtime as it does not require any downtime for recovery.
Q: Do I need to take special dietary supplements or follow a strict diet and exercise program?
A: There is no need for any special dietary supplements or pills after Coolsculpting®. You also do not need to adopt a new diet and exercise habits for Coolsculpting® results to show. However, choosing a balanced eating regime and a healthy lifestyle with the incorporation of moderate exercise is always beneficial to achieve general fitness. Most patients who undergo Coolsculpting® anyways feel more motivated to take care of themselves after their treatment.
Q: What's the difference between losing fat with Coolsculpting® and losing weight?
A: When you lose, or put on weight, the number of fat cells doesn’t increase or decrease. It is only the size of these fat cells that decreases or increases. That is why the moment you stop dieting, the lost weight bounces back. Moreover, when people go on a crash diet, the fat cells become hungrier, and the moment they stop following it, the fat comes back with a vengeance. With Coolsculpting® however, fat cells in the targeted area are permanently destroyed. One must, however, keep it in mind that Coolsculpting® is not a weight loss treatment. It only leads to a more sculpted look in that area, and your clothes will fit better too.
Q: Why do we find mixed reviews about Coolsculpting® treatments online?
A: Like with any treatment a lot depends on client selection and expertise of the Coolsculpting® provider.
You won't find much benefit if you undergo Coolsculpting® with the goal of weight reduction in mind. It works best in cases of stubborn fat pockets with pinch-able fat. In some instances, the surgical alternative is better suited. Therefore, one must choose a clinic with reputed doctors and where both surgical and non-surgical options are provided.
The marking of the areas and placement of the applicators and proper post-procedure massage is also significant to get the optimum results. The applicator should be aligned in the direction of the fat pad, and this requires some training and experience. Wrong placement of applicators could thus lead to unsatisfactory results. Moreover, improper placement of either applicators or gel pads could lead to complications and lead to a decrease in patient satisfaction.
Q: Who can perform Coolsculpting®?
A: Coolsculpting® should only be offered in a clinic under the supervision of a trained and experienced doctor. However, trained technicians or nurses can do the actual procedure but a doctor who is experienced in Coolsculpting® should always be available.
Q: How can I tell if I’m getting the real Coolsculpting® and not a fake treatment under its name?
A: That’s fairly easy. You must check the list of providers on the official Coolsculpting® website - https://www.coolsculpting.com/ .Once you find your chosen clinic, you must ask the doctor to show you the Coolsculpting® machine. It should look like this one in the picture. Make sure you check the logo. When the treatment is being started, make sure to look for the Coolsculpting® name and logo on applicators too.