CoolSculpting is based on the scientific concept of cryolipolysis, which was discovered a number of years ago by two scientists at Harvard University. Drs. Dieter Manstein and Rox Anderson observed that children who ate a lot of popsicles got dimples in their cheeks. They soon realized this phenomenon was a result of the popsicles freezing fat cells in the cheeks.

Upon further study, the doctors realized that adipose (fat) cells were actually much more sensitive to cold than other body tissues, and they identified the precise temperature at which fat cells begin to die while the surrounding tissues remain unharmed.

Dr. Manstein and Dr. Anderson called the concept Cryolipolysis®. “Cryo” is the prefix for “cold” while “lipolysis” means the breaking down of fat cells. Freezing fat cells leads to apoptosis, which is a natural and controlled death of a fat cell. Fat cells start to die through apoptosis in the first 2-3 days after treatment.

As the targeted fat cells break down and die, they are eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system and the treated area begins to shrink.

It’s important to understand that losing weight is NOT the same as losing fat. Our bodies contain a fixed amount of fat cells, and gaining or losing weight generally does not increase or decrease the number of fat cells. Instead, it changes the size of fat cells. However, CoolSculpting actually reduces the number of fat cells in treated areas by about 20% to 25%, with no change to fat cells in untreated areas.

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure. Using various applicators, the technology can selectively target areas of fat on different body parts using a precisely controlled cooling method. By killing the fat cells, each CoolSculpting treatment reduces the fat layer in the area(s) treated.

Over the course of several weeks and months, your body naturally eliminates the dead fat cells, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good! All that’s left is a more toned, more sculpted you.

Dr. Stephanie Martin oversees the CoolSculpting process for every client – from evaluation to treatment. She will meet with you to discuss your goals for reshaping your body and customize a treatment plan.

During your consultation, Dr. Martin will recommend which areas should be treated, present multiple options, set expectations regarding the results you should see and the number of treatment sessions you will require, and estimate how long your treatment session should take.

The CoolSculpting system includes a wide range of applicators to use for different parts of the body. We will choose the appropriate applicator based on the area to be treated. We will then place a protective gel pad over the treatment area and position the device.

The specially designed applicator uses vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the applicator cup and gently hold it between two cooling panels. As the cooling begins, you will feel pressure and intense cold during the first few minutes. You might also feel some pulling, pinching, tingling, numbness, or discomfort, but this subsides fairly quickly.

In fact, it’s easy to sit back and relax during a CoolSculpting session. Many people read, check email, surf the Internet, or even take a nap during the procedure.

The length of your treatment session will depend on the size of each area to be treated. The larger the treatment area, the more times the applicator will have to be positioned to cover the entire area.

Following the procedure, you may experience temporary numbness, redness, swelling, or bruising. CoolSculpting is completely non-surgical, so you can typically return to work and normal activities immediately.

Results: You may start to see changes as quickly as 3 weeks after your treatment, and you will experience the most dramatic results after 3 months. But your body will continue to flush out fat cells for up to 4 to 6 months after treatment.

In general, the younger you are, the better your body will respond to CoolSculpting. After the age of 40, some people may find they need to repeat treatment after 6-8 weeks.