21 Sep 2023 | by Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS
We have all seen the ads featuring the slogan: “A New Year, A New You”. They are typically touting some beauty product or health regime. While this may sound great in theory, the process of getting there is often time-consuming, cumbersome and simply not realistic. Most of us do want to exercise more, for example. But committing to a daily hour and a half work out is just not in the cards for everyone. At the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, we have a lot of tools in our tool chest for helping our patients to become the best versions of themselves. When it comes to improving the shape of your body, one of the fastest, safest and most effective methods is also one of the easiest: CoolSculpting. This procedure can, in the right patient, truly deliver a “new you” without incisions or anesthesia. Furthermore, the new year is actually a perfect time to schedule your CoolSculpting procedure.
Why is January Good for CoolSculpting?
A Boston January can be grueling. It’s cold. It’s snowing. And we all have to dress in 20 layers just to walk two blocks. But this is also why it can be the ideal time for a body contouring procedure — your body is not on display. Even though CoolSculpting requires little to no downtime, you can expect to be swollen for a few months while your body eliminates the destroyed fat cells. And there is no better way to hide a little swelling than with a giant sweater, puffer coat or fluffy scarf. The really nice thing, though, about having CoolSculpting at the beginning of the year is that it allows you to embrace your final results well before bathing suit season, even if that season begins for you at spring break.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting was actually discovered by accident. Two scientists at Harvard were studying something else when they noticed that the children in the study who ate popsicles would get dimples in their cheeks where the fat disappeared. This is what gave birth to Cryoplipolysis which is the process by which targeted areas of fat are “frozen” to the point where the fat cells are destroyed. While this sounds painful, most patients simply find it to be a bit uncomfortable.
During your CoolSculpting session, the tissue in your treatment area will be sucked up by vacuum into the specially designed handpiece where it will be treated with cold. There are different hands pieces for different parts of the body. One of the greatest things about CoolSculpting is its versatility. It can effectively treat isolated pockets of fat in the:
- Abdomen
- Flanks
- Inner & outer thighs
- Upper Arms
- Lower back
- Bra roll
- Under the chin
What Results Can You Expect with CoolSculpting?
The procedure only takes about 35 minutes so it can easily be scheduled during your lunch hour. Once you are done, you continue on with your day. As mentioned, you will experience some swelling. This is your body’s way of eliminating the destroyed fat cells through the lymphatic system and it will resolve with time. In terms of results, patients can realistically expect a 20 – 25% reduction in the number of fat cells in the treatment area per CoolSculpting session.
While some patients can achieve their final Coolsculpting results with one session, most require at least two sessions, spaced 4-6 weeks apart. But more sessions simply means that you can target more fat cells. And once those fat cells are destroyed, they are gone for good.
Who is a Candidate for CoolSculpting?
The key to any successful procedure whether it is non-surgical or surgical is matching the right procedure to the right patient. This is one of the many ways in which experience matters. As one of the first places in the city to offer CoolSculpting , our staff is not only highly trained but also incredibly experienced. This deep knowledge of what Coolsculpting can and can not achieve allows us to have an honest dialogue with our patients during their consultation.
In general, the ideal CoolSculpting candidate is someone:
- Who is close to his or her maintainable goal weight
- In good shape
- Has isolated pockets of fat
- The fat in the targeted area is not visceral fat
Visceral Fat vs. Pinch-able Fat
In order for CoolSculpting to work, your fat must be subcutaneous. This is fat that resides above the muscle and under the skin. However, there is another type of fat called visceral fat. This is the fat that exists beneath the muscle, wrapped around your organs. One of the simplest ways to determine what kind of fat you have in your treatment area is to pinch it. If you can literally grab the fat and pull it away from your body, it is subcutaneous and can be treated with CoolSculpting . If you can not, it is visceral and can really only be treated through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
With DualSculpting™, Treat Twice the Area in Half the Time
So, if you are tired of your muffin top, bra roll or love handles, schedule an appointment to come in and speak with us about CoolSculpting. Not only are we experienced enough to give you an honest answer about what you, personally, can expect from the procedure, but we also have multiple machines. This means that if you want to treat two areas such as your abdomen and your flanks, you can do both of them at once. DualSculpting™ allows you to treat twice the area in only half the time. Since time is the most precious commodity out there, this is something that our Boston area patients really appreciate.
Is there a Coolsculpting near me?
To find out more about body contouring procedures and CoolSculpting at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 735- 8735 to schedule a consultation.
