CoolSculpting®

CoolSculpting^® is a safe, FDA-cleared, and effective treatment for fat reduction. The results look natural and may start to appear as early as three weeks following treatment, with the most dramatic results after one to three months. Click on the image below to view our CoolSculpting^® before-and-after photo gallery.

Resistant fat often seems to linger on certain areas of the body, and most of us have at least one area we wish was slimmer. Unfortunately, stubborn fat doesn’t seem to go away no matter how much exercise we do or how closely we stick with a diet.

Humans have two main types of fat: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat is the pinchable, soft type of fat that is stored just beneath the skin, while visceral fat is found deep within the abdominal organs and can’t be seen from the outside. An excess of subcutaneous fat creates noticeable bulges, while visceral fat can contribute to health problems.

CoolSculpting^® is made to target and reduce subcutaneous fat, which makes it a cosmetic treatment.

Each of us has a relatively stable number of fat cells that “settles” once we reach adulthood. The way fat is stored and distributed throughout our bodies is something we don’t have much control over. Hormones and genetics have the biggest influence on our natural body shape. Although being physically active can improve your health and help you manage weight, it can be almost impossible to reduce fat from certain areas via exercise and diet on their own.

When we lose weight through diet and exercise, the weight comes off of everywhere on the body equally—but it’s impossible to spot reduce bulges. This is why localized deposits of fat are a common complaint.

How does CoolSculpting^® work? Based on the principle of Cryolipolysis^® (a portmanteau of “cryogenic,” “lipid,” and “lysis”), the CoolSculpting^® applicators safely cool down the treatment area to a temperature of about 39° F, at which fat cells crystallize, but skin and other surrounding tissues remain unharmed. This is because fat cells are much more sensitive to temperature changes than other types of cells. These crystallized fat cells are naturally flushed out of the body, leaving the area slimmer and more sculpted.

Unlike most other methods of fat reduction, CoolSculpting^® involves no needles, surgery, or downtime. Patients often spend the procedure time reading, working on their laptops, or simply relaxing.

What areas does CoolSculpting^® work best to treat? CoolSculpting^® is effective on almost any area of the body. The most common areas for treatment include:

CoolSculpting^® can enhance abdominal contours by reducing excess, stubborn belly fat. It can enhance the shape and size of the arms by removing stubborn fat deposits from the backs of the arms. It can also improve the size and shape of the buttocks and legs. Some patients may benefit from CoolSculpting® for enhancing the definition of the neck and jawline areas.

The CoolSculpting^® device precisely and safely cools down treatment areas through various types of applicators. To better accommodate the differences in fat distribution from patient to patient, our practice is equipped with the latest line, as well as the original models of CoolSculpting^® applicators.

The CoolAdvantage^™ applicator with interchangeable contour pieces includes:

While these contour pieces may seem to replace the original individual applicators (which have similar names), there are some differences in shape and size between these sets. Some patients’ fat deposits may be better captured with the CoolAdvantage^™ pieces, while others may find the original applicators are more of a match for their shape.

The CoolAdvantage Petite^™ is FDA-cleared to treat the upper arms, and can also target fat above the knees, while the CoolAdvantage Plus^™ can treat larger areas for debulking. A smaller applicator, the CoolMini^™, is specially designed for precise fat correction in smaller areas, such as the submentum or chin region.

While all the applicators listed above use vacuum pressure or suction to pull pinchable fat closer to the CoolSculpting^® device, the CoolSmooth Pro™ is an exception. This particular CoolSculpting^® applicator has a flat design that is better suited to treating non-pinchable fat deposits, such as those at the outer thighs.

You may be wondering: “Who is the best candidate for CoolSculpting^®?” CoolSculpting^® is a body contouring treatment best suited for patients who are within their goal weight range and would like to correct localized fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise efforts.

Even if multiple and/or large areas are treated, the procedure will not result in significant weight loss, and is not meant to be used as a cure or treatment to combat overall excess weight or obesity.

Dr. Turner makes a point of selecting the proper procedures that meet each patient’s specific needs and goals. To achieve this, she believes in informative consultations held in a comfortable setting, during which a patient can openly share concerns and hopes, leading to a careful evaluation and formulation of a treatment plan tailor-made for the person.

CoolSculpting^® requires little to no preparation. It’s recommended that you stop taking blood thinners to lower the risk of excessive bruising from the suction of the applicators, since bruising is a common side effect. Patients should also ensure that they are healthy and close to their ideal weight. Again, CoolSculpting^® is not intended to be a weight loss procedure, and overweight or obese patients will not be good candidates.

Patients report initially feeling a firm pressure and pulling of the treated area, but once it is cooled, the area becomes numb, so little to no discomfort is experienced by most people. It is common to experience some sensations of pulling or pinching. The treatment is comfortable enough that many patients read, use electronic devices, or even take a nap during the session.

This procedure takes around one hour to be completed, depending on the size of the treatment area. CoolSculpting^® is completely non-surgical, so you can typically return to normal activities as soon as you’d like. Some patients experience redness, minor bruising, tingling, numbness, or discomfort in the treated area, but these side effects are temporary and will resolve on their own shortly after treatment. There will be mild discomfort that lasts for a few days, but patients can resume all of their other normal activities right after a CoolSculpting^® session. Patients will often return to work after the CoolSculpting^® treatment is over.

Typically, you’ll see a noticeable loss of fat in the treated area after the first treatment, but many patients seek additional treatment sessions to achieve even greater fat reduction. The total number of CoolSculpting^® treatment sessions required varies from patient to patient, and depends on the number and size of the fat deposits to be treated, as well as the patient’s desired goals.

You may start to see changes as quickly as three weeks after your initial treatment, and will experience the most dramatic results after one to three months. During that time, your body is still flushing fat cells and will continue doing so for up to four to six months after treatment. During CoolSculpting^®, the treated fat cells are crystallized and then flushed out by the body.

While the fat cells that are destroyed and flushed out during the course of CoolSculpting^® treatment sessions, it is important to note that existing fat cells still have the ability to store fat (and therefore increase in size). In other words, CoolSculpting^® destroys fat cells, but it won’t prevent new ones from appearing. To best prolong the results, CoolSculpting^® should be combined with positive changes to your routines and habits. As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle with appropriate diet and exercise to minimize weight gain, long-term results should remain stable.

Dr. Turner’s practice offers CoolSculpting^® consultations performed by a medical aesthetician trained to evaluate your body. Patients will go through a 360-degree rotation to determine the best course of action for achieving a lean and contoured look. This approach is necessary for a complete evaluation, since a straight-on, in-the-mirror angle does not provide enough of an overall view.

Ultimately, anyone who receives CoolSculpting® treatment should know that costs can vary depending on how many sessions will be delivered and on which areas the treatment will focus. People seeking for help with payment for this elective procedure can apply for a payment plan via CareCredit, which is a direct, outside financing option. After a successful online application, the patient can enjoy the treatment, then pay for it over a series of months via a custom-made payment plan. Lean more by asking our staff for more details.

Beyond CoolSculpting^® treatments, Dr. Turner also offers various other fat and lax skin treatments at the Dermatology Office. Options include EMFACE^™ and Emsculpt Neo^®, which use non-invasive technology to build and tone muscles while reducing fat at the same time with high-intensity electromagnetic technology. Emtone is a combined thermal and mechanical energy treatment for reducing cellulite dimples. Kybella^® is an injectable fat reduction treatment that contains deoxycholic acid, a synthetic version of a bile acid found in the stomach. This reduces the fat cells below the neck area for patients who have stubborn double chin fat.