How CoolSculpting Works
CoolSculpting freezes fat cells using controlled temperatures. Once those cells are frozen, they’re removed via your body’s natural processes, the same as any other damaged tissue. The amount of time this can take varies depending on your body’s natural rhythms, plus things like your age, how active you are, how hydrated you are, and your genetics. Everyone’s body is different, and that’s important. Some clients may see visible changes more quickly, others may take longer. That’s why we take follow-up photos at 120 days (about 4 months), so we can be sure that we’ve given your body enough time to get rid of those fat cells.
The Type of Fat Matters
CoolSculpting (any cosmetic procedure really) can only remove subcutaneous fat. That’s the fluffy, pinchable fat that you can squeeze with two fingers. This fat can be present on the thighs, chin, arms, love handles, armpit, back, and the abdomen – almost anywhere! There is one other type of fat, however, that CoolSculpting can’t treat, and that’s visceral fat. Visceral fat is located within the abdominal cavity, underneath your muscles and around your organs. This type of fat is hard, not soft, and can result in a rounded stomach that feels firm to the touch. Men typically have more visceral fat than women, but women can have it too. The only way to get rid of this type of fat is through diet and exercise. Learn more about whether you’re a candidate.
How Much Fat Can Be Lost with CoolSculpting?
A single CoolSculpting treatment can get rid of 20-25% of the subcutaneous fat in the treated area. What exactly that means depends on three factors: the applicator used, the size of the area treated, and the number of treatment sessions performed. Depending on the treatment plan, the total amount of fat removed can be anywhere from a few tablespoons to several cups of fat (though removing that amount would likely require several treatment sessions).
The applicator used determines how much fat is going to be treated. A CoolMini used on the chin will remove less fat overall (and cost less) than a CoolAdvantage Plus used on the abdomen. For applicators that use suction, any fat that’s not sucked into the applicator isn’t going to be treated. So keep in mind, when we say CoolSculpting eliminates 20-25% of the fat in the treated area, we’re just talking about the fat that the chosen applicator was able to suction and freeze – not 25% of your whole stomach!
We design treatment plans to help you reach your goals, which means that we may sometimes recommend additional applicators for a better overall appearance. This in entirely dependent on your body type and the area we’re treating. Treating an area like the love handles with a single applicator can sometimes result in a “shelving” effect if not done properly – think of a new ice cream pint with one spoonful removed. That’s not what we want! Using more applicators during a single treatment session will increase the size of the treated area, and therefore also increase the total amount of fat cells destroyed during the treatment.
A single treatment session may overlap applicators slightly for best results but will never treat the same area more than once, so you won’t see more than a 20-25% decrease in any one area from a single CoolSculpting session. If a greater reduction is desired (more than 25%), then multiple treatment sessions may be required to achieve your goals. Your CoolSculpting clinician will discuss your goals with you during your consultation, and if you are looking for a greater reduction, a second treatment session can be scheduled.
Here at DaVinci Body Sculpting we offer the DaVinci Promise. If for some reason you’re not seeing the expected 20-25% reduction in the treated area, and you’re within 4 lbs of your treatment day weight, we’ll retreat the area at no cost (call for full terms and details).
Lose Inches, Not Pounds
The amount of fat lost from CoolSculpting isn’t enough to have a significant impact on your weight. CoolSculpting isn’t a weight loss procedure, it’s a body sculpting procedure. If you’re looking to lose pounds, then diet and exercise are going to be the best solution for you. CoolSculpting can allow you to lose inches, but since the fat loss is limited to specific body areas, the overall amount of weight lost is negligible.
