As we hold our collective breath, waiting for the stay-at-home restrictions to lift, here’s another date to keep in the back of your mind: June 20. The start of summer.
Under normal circumstances, we’d be registering for boot camps and tightening up our diets with an eye toward the stream of bathing-suit days just ahead of us. With the coronavirus complicating those plans, a little extra firepower may be in order. Enter CoolSculpting.
Why CoolSculpting, you ask? For one, it’s noninvasive, so there’s no downtime. The last thing any of us wants is to be pinned back on the sofa with a long recovery once the quarantine ends. The timeline also fits well. You can expect up to a 25 percent reduction of fat in the treated area over the weeks following your treatment. More on that to come. First, let me explain what CoolSculpting is.
How it works
CoolSculpting, you’ve probably heard of before this post. It and other noninvasive body-contouring treatments comprise one of the fastest-growing segments in cosmetic plastic surgery. Less familiar is the term cryolipolysis, which is the name of the process behind CoolSculpting.
An FDA-approved device freezes and kills fat cells in the targeted area without harming the skin, nerves, vessels, or muscles. It’s proven effective for treating the abdomen, love handles, the inner and outer thighs, upper arms, back fat, including the bulge under your bra strap, and under the butt. With a special applicator called the CoolMini, it can also be used to minimize or even eliminate altogether a double chin.
Are the results as dramatic as they are with liposuction? Not quite. But the procedure’s also a lot easier. There’s no anesthesia, incisions, or downtime. The treatment time depends on the size of the targeted area, or the number of areas being treated, but the procedure generally runs about an hour or less. Short enough to squeeze in before heading into the office or over lunch.
Is CoolSculpting right for you?
In my next post, I’ll get into what the treatment entails and how long it takes for the results to become visible. But, first, let’s figure out if CoolSculpting’s a good fit for you.
The treatment tends to be most effective when you’re within about 20 pounds of what you would consider to be your ideal weight. In other words, you’re looking for help with a couple of stubborn pockets of fat rather than a total-body makeover.
That’s not to say that you’re not a candidate if you’re trying to shed more than 20 pounds. It just may take two to three treatments to achieve the results you’re expecting. In that case, keep in mind that the treatments are generally most effective when they’re spaced about five months apart. If that’s a longer timeframe than you’re hoping for, you’re not out of luck. Ask your plastic surgeon about your alternatives.
I’ll leave you with this: CoolSculpting is not considered a treatment for loose skin or cellulite, but it’s shown an ability to visibly improve both in many instances. If you’ve been having a hard time picturing yourself at the shore this summer in a bathing suit, try now.