A New Look for a New Year

If you're in your ideal weight range but you have pockets of fat that just won't go away, you might want to consider a Coolsculpting procedure to help contour your body. This procedure isn't a weight loss treatment; it's intended to remove small pockets of fat to improve the shape of your abdomen, chin, thighs, back, or arms. People store fat in different places, and you can be at your ideal weight but still have back fat or a double chin. Coolsculpting could be the solution for giving you the shape you've been trying to achieve through dieting and exercise. Here's a quick look at how Coolsculpting works.

Coolsculpting Is An Office Procedure

Coolsculpting isn't surgery, and you don't need anesthesia. Instead, you can have the procedure done in the doctor's office or a spa while you read a book or listen to music. Some clinics have multiple machines so you can have different body parts done at the same time and shorten the length of your treatment time.

First, you and the consultant determine the goals you want to achieve, and the targeted areas of your body are marked as a guide for equipment placement. A gel pad is placed on your skin and the cooling device is placed on the pad. Some machines use gentle vacuums to pull your fat into the cooling wand. You'll feel pulling on your body and cold sensations, but you won't have pain or discomfort. After a few minutes, your skin is numb, so you don't feel much at all.

The Cold Temperatures Kill Fat Cells

This procedure gets rid of fat pockets because it kills off the fat cells that make up the unsightly bulges. The cells don't all die off immediately. Instead, the cells die gradually and your body sheds them over time. It could take a few months to see the end results of the treatment. It's possible to repeat the treatment to the same area if necessary, but you'll need to wait long enough to see results from the first procedure. The cold temperatures only affect fat cells. They don't harm your skin or other tissue cells.

There Is No Downtime For Recovery

One reason Coolsculpting is preferred over liposuction is because there is no downtime needed to recover since the only tissues damaged during the procedure are fat cells. You can have the procedure done in an afternoon and then go about your usual activities. The treated area may be swollen and red initially, and you might experience numbness or itching for a few days after the procedure. It could take a few weeks for all the swelling and numbness go to away completely after your Coolsculpting treatment.

To learn more, contact a spa that offers Coolsculpting.