The Ultimate First Timer’s Guide to CoolSculpting®
If you’re bothered by stubborn fat that doesn’t seem to go away no matter what you do, you might have considered CoolSculpting to help you reach your goals. But even with all of the information available out there, it can be hard to know where to look for the right answers.
Fortunately, Wink Medical Aesthetics near Austin in Lakeway, Texas, has you covered. Whether it’s your first time getting CoolSculpting or you’re just curious about it, keep reading to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this popular treatment option.
First Things First — Understanding CoolSculpting
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a nonsurgical, noninvasive fat reduction procedure. It is FDA-cleared to treat over nine areas of the body and can help you shed those last few inches that are keeping you from reaching your fitness goals. CoolSculpting Elite can target two different areas at once and uses applicators in various shapes and sizes for improved fit and comfort.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting works by freezing away stubborn fat. During treatment, extreme cold is applied to targeted areas to destroy unwanted fat cells, which are more susceptible to lower temperatures than the surrounding skin and tissue. Then, they’re naturally cleared from the body over the next few weeks, leaving you with slimmer, smoother contours.
What Areas Can It Treat?
CoolSculpting can treat your most bothersome trouble spots, including the abdomen, flanks, outer and inner thighs, back, upper arms, buttocks, and beneath the chin and jawline. With CoolSculpting Elite, you can target up to two different areas during each treatment session, using improved applicators that are designed to fit people of all shapes and sizes.
What Kind of Results Can I Expect?
CoolSculpting can reduce fat in treated areas by up to 20-25%. Most patients undergo a series of two or more sessions to reach their fitness goals, but this can vary depending on your unique needs and concerns. Once treated fat cells are eliminated, they’re gone for good — the body cannot grow more to replace them. This means you can enjoy permanent results as long as you maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, the remaining fat cells can expand with weight gain, negatively impacting the contours of your new figure.
Benefits of CoolSculpting
- Nonsurgical, noninvasive fat reduction treatment
- FDA-cleared to treat nine areas of the body
- Permanent results when maintained with a healthy lifestyle
- Up to 20-25% fat reduction after just a few treatments
- Quick, easy treatments with no downtime or recovery
- CoolSculpting Elite allows you to address two different areas at once
- Can be combined with CoolTone, VelaShape and other body contouring devices
- Personalized treatment plans can be tailored to your unique goals
- Safe, effective and ideal for the majority of patients
Next — The CoolSculpting Experience
Before CoolSculpting
Unlike invasive surgical procedures that might require you to fast or avoid taking certain medications before your appointment, there isn’t much prep you have to do before your CoolSculpting session. However, we do have some recommendations that can help you get the most out of your treatment and make the experience more enjoyable.
- Shed any excess pounds so you’re at or near your goal weight. CoolSculpting can eliminate pockets of stubborn fat, but it isn’t a weight-loss procedure. Additionally, being close to your goal weight will help you see the best possible results.
- Stay hydrated before and after your appointment. This helps your body flush out the treated fat cells and recover more quickly.
- Wear light, loose-fitting clothing to your appointment to stay comfortable.
- Bring something to do while the CoolSculpting applicators work their magic on your targeted areas — some patients like to read, listen to music or watch Netflix during their appointment, which can last between one to three hours.
During CoolSculpting
Your actual CoolSculpting treatment will be pretty relaxing. During your appointment, a gel pad will be applied to your skin to protect it from the freezing temperatures, then the device’s applicators will be placed on your desired treatment area. These come in various shapes and sizes for improved fit and comfort no matter where they’re being used. If you opt for CoolSculpting Elite, dual applicators allow you to treat more areas at once.
Once the device is turned on, you’ll feel cold at the treatment site, along with a mild burning or stinging sensation. This is often compared to putting your hand in a bucket of ice. But after about five minutes, the area will go numb, so you’ll be completely comfortable for the duration of your session. Treatment times may vary, but you can expect your appointment to last from one to three hours. Smaller areas, such as under the chin, take less time to complete.
We recommend bringing a book, movie or some other form of entertainment to use while the CoolSculpting device freezes away unwanted fat cells. Some patients are even able to sneak in a quick cat nap during their session! Your treatment time is your time, so do whatever makes you happy while you sculpt your body closer to your desired contours.
After CoolSculpting
Immediately after your CoolSculpting session, the treated area will be massaged to eliminate even more fat cells and improve the results of your procedure. Then, your skin will be cleansed of the protective gel and you’ll be free to go home to resume your normal routine.
CoolSculpting involves no downtime or recovery. The applicator site might be numb or tender for the next few days, but this is completely normal and will subside on its own. Some very minor swelling may also be present; however, we doubt anyone will notice but you.
Very rarely, serious complications may occur, including an enlargement of the treated area called paradoxical fat hyperplasia. During your consultation, we’ll review all the risks of the procedure in more detail so you can make an informed decision regarding your treatment.
Click here to learn more about what to expect after your CoolSculpting treatment!
Determining if CoolSculpting is Right for You
What Are You Trying to Achieve?
Get Rid of Stubborn Fat
CoolSculpting and CoolSculpting Elite are ideal for getting rid of stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise. By using cold temperatures to trigger the process of cryolipolysis, CoolSculpting can target your trouble spots and result in an overall reduction of 20-25% of unwanted fat in treated areas.
Build Muscle
CoolSculpting can effectively eliminate unwanted fat, but CoolTone® gives you that lean, contoured look by building muscle in treated areas. During treatment, powerful muscle contractions are stimulated using Active Magnetic Pulse™ (AMP™) technology, which strengthens muscle fibers to build tone and help you achieve results that go beyond your typical workout.
Eliminate Cellulite
While toning your body by eliminating stubborn fat and building muscle may help reduce the appearance of cellulite, these techniques won’t get rid of it completely. That requires a treatment like VelaShape to target cellulite at the source. VelaShape uses a combination of technologies to address the underlying causes of cellulite and leave you with smoother skin.
When to Consider and Not Consider CoolSculpting
| When to Consider CoolSculpting | When Not to Consider CoolSculpting |
|---|---|
| You’re bothered by stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise | You aren’t near your goal weight quite yet |
| You’re at or near your goal weight but need help reaching your fitness goals | You’re planning to have a baby soon |
| You have a pinchable amount of fat in treatable areas | You don’t have a maintenance plan and see CoolSculpting as a shortcut to weight loss |
| You eat healthily and get regular exercise | You have poor skin elasticity |
| You prefer nonsurgical treatment options with no downtime or recovery | You have a serious medical condition such as cryoglobulinemia |
So… Am I a Candidate for CoolSculpting?
If you’re within 30 lbs of your weight loss goals, struggle with stubborn fat in common problem areas, and want a nonsurgical way to get rid of those last few inches, CoolSculpting is likely appropriate for you. Ideal candidates should also have reasonable expectations and be able to maintain their results. During your consultation, our body contouring experts will evaluate your needs and goals to develop your own customized treatment plan.
If you have other concerns you’d like to address, such as loose skin, cellulite or lackluster muscle tone, we might recommend CoolSculpting alongside other proven body contouring devices such as CoolTone or VelaShape. Together, these treatments can eliminate excess fat, build muscle and reduce the appearance of dimples so you can achieve the lean, fit look you’ve always wanted.
What Makes CoolSculpting So Popular?
Some Fat Doesn’t Respond to Diet or Exercise
We always want to think that with some hard work and discipline, we can tone, shape and sculpt our bodies to our desired proportions. Unfortunately, diet and exercise aren’t always enough to achieve our goals. This is due to a variety of factors, including age, genetics, hormones and overall health. We’ve all built a little differently, and some people are just pre-programmed to hold onto stubborn fat in different places.
It Can Be Hard to Target Some Areas
Countless workouts are intended to burn fat in specific areas — this is called spot reduction. However, a number of studies have debunked this technique and shown that it isn’t as effective as one would hope. If you’re interested in body contouring devices, this may be something you’ve already learned on your own. Because CoolSculpting can be applied directly to your biggest trouble spots, it has become a popular solution for eliminating fat in specific hard-to-target areas such as beneath the chin, under the bottoms, love handles, and more.
CoolSculpting Provides Permanent Results Without Surgery
Some surgical procedures like liposuction might produce more immediate results when it comes to eliminating unwanted fat, but these come with a catch — they’re more expensive, often painful, and require extensive downtime that interrupts your busy lifestyle. On the other hand, CoolSculpting can target your exact problem areas without surgery or downtime, reducing fat in treated areas by up to 20-25%. The only caveat is that your results take some time to develop, but you know what they say: good things come to those who wait.
Schedule Your CoolSculpting Appointment Today
If you’re ready to say goodbye to stubborn fat, book your free consultation at Wink Medical Aesthetics in Lakeway, Texas, to find out if CoolSculpting is right for you. Our team of body contouring experts will develop a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your fitness goals. To get started, click here to contact us or call our office at 512-263-2400.
