What I'm hearing from a lot of my patients lately is that they really learn a lot from the short videos I've been making. I talk about how a certain plastic surgery procedure or facial treatment works and describe what kind of results they can expect. They tell me I explain things in a way they can understand. I'm glad! Since these videos really seem to help people make informed decisions, I'll keep making them.
This most recent one is about CoolSculpting. You can read what I talk about (below) or you can watch my short 2-minute video by clicking on the button below.
CoolSculpting: the non-surgical way to freeze away fat
Everybody's looking for some way to remove unwanted fat without having surgery. CoolSculpting is potentially that way for many patients. To learn more about the range of body sculpting procedures I offer, click here.
We're born with a certain number of fat cells and then as we get older, in adolescence we add a few more. But essentially, after puberty, we're no longer adding or taking away fat cells. Those cells just get bigger or smaller. So if we can destroy those cells, by liposuction or CoolSculpting or some other method, those cells are gone and they're not there for storage later.
What CoolSculpting does: it freezes the skin and it freezes the fat under the skin at the same time. Then after about 35 minutes or so, the machine is turned off and the skin bounces back. It has a good blood supply, it's robust. You might get a little bit of swelling in the skin after the CoolSculpting session but for the most part, the skin takes the freezing well and comes back to normal very quickly.
Fat cells die and don't come back
On the other hand, the fat cells do not take that freezing very well, and start to die over the course of a month or two or three. A significant number of them—maybe 20-25%—will die and be absorbed by the body. Once those fat cells are gone, they're gone. They're not there to store fat anymore.
So for somebody who has good skin tone, who has a little bit of unwanted fat in an area where we can pinch it with the CoolSculpting machine and have that machine work on it, CoolSculpting is a very effective technique to reduce the fat in that area without surgery.*
What happens during the procedure
First, we place a gel pad over the area that is being treated to protect the skin from the freezing treatment. Next, a negative pressure device is attached to your skin. You will feel a cold sensation like an ice pack on your bare skin, then a firm tug and pull—enough of a pull to make sure the selected tissue will be cooled most efficiently. Then you will feel a sensation of intense cold, which soon goes away.
Since the CoolSculpting procedure is completely non-invasive (non-surgical, no incisions), you can return to your normal activities immediately. You may experience swelling, redness, minor bruising, tingling or numbness in the treated area, but this is temporary.
How long do the results last?
After a CoolSculpting treatment, the treated fat cells no longer exist and can therefore no longer expand, resulting in the size and occurrence of "trouble spots" being reduced long-term. However, since each contouring treatment reduces only about 20-25% of fat cells, if patients do not continue to eat well and exercise, they can still gain weight in that area due to the remaining 75% of fat cells that can expand. That’s why it’s important not to gain weight after the procedure or the dramatic body contouring results will not be long-lasting.
Interested in CoolSculpting?
If you are thinking about getting CoolSculpting, please contact me to schedule a free consultation and I will send you additional information prior to your appointment. When we meet, I will answer all your questions, evaluate your body type and understand what you’re hoping to achieve. Then together, we’ll choose the areas for CoolSculpting that will bring you the best possible results.
More information on body sculpting procedures
You might also find these pages helpful on my website:
*Results may vary from person to person
Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a highly accomplished plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With more than 20 years’ experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, Dr. Beran consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body. Recently, Dr. Beran was named a “Top Doctor” by RealSelf for his dedication to responding to consumer questions and patient feedback. The “Top Doctor” designation is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf physician community.
