Overview | Procedure | Ideal Candidates | Targeted Body Parts | Results and Side-effects | CoolSculpting vs SculpSure | Self-care | Who Should Avoid Coolsculpting | Myths | Costing
We can understand how frustrating it can be to try and lose stubborn fat. What most people do not realize is that the number of fat cells in the body do not lessen; they only reduce in size. So, it might feel like an uphill battle trying to achieve your body shape goals. What option is now left?
Well, we have some really exciting news to share with you. If all the strict dieting and exercising regimes aren’t working to help you get rid of stubborn body fat, you can consider trying body sculpting. We, at The Bombay Skin Clinic, have helped many patients attain their ideal toned body shape with the leading, non-invasive, US Food and Drug Administration-approved body sculpting technique known as CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is an innovative way to contour your body by freezing unwanted fat. It involves no surgery and the downtime required is almost nil. To help you gain a better understanding of this cosmetic procedure, we take you through some key facts including the treatment process, expected results, side effects, and other helpful information.
Treatment process (Cryolipolysis)
Body sculpting involves cryolipolysis, which is an innovative technology that enables the controlled cooling of targeted fat cells underneath the skin without damage to the surrounding tissue. Once these fat cells freeze, they are naturally eliminated by the body. Provided by Allergan, this is a great alternative to surgery with little to no downtime. Research by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, too, hails the great efficacy of this type of treatment in reducing unwanted fat.
Treatment steps: We, at the Bombay Skin Clinic, use the recently upgraded CoolSculpting technology by Allergan, which includes CoolAdvantage and CoolAdvantagePlus. These ensure faster treatment, a more comfortable experience for the patient, and more effective results.
CoolSculpting is a relatively easy process. Let us take you through it. To begin with, our clinic doctors conduct a thorough assessment of the treatment area, following which they clearly demarcate it. For a smooth procedure, a gel pad is spread over the treatment site, post which the CoolSculpting applicator is applied. This applicator creates suction and delivers controlled cooling to the targeted fat cells. The entire process takes anywhere between 35 to 45 minutes, post which the frozen site is gently massaged.
Post-treatment, there may be some temporary tenderness and cramping felt. Our medical experts take every measure to reduce discomfort during treatment and also advise patients on the ideal aftercare procedure.
Ideal candidates
We recommend CoolSculpting to patients who are at or near their healthy weight and not significantly overweight. This means that around three or five kilograms overweight is alright. Your doctor will advise you if your weight is suited to body sculpting. You must bear in mind that this is a spot reducing procedure and not an alternative to a concrete weight loss plan. Most healthy people with problem areas of stubborn fat are the ideal candidates for body sculpting.
At The Bombay Skin Clinic, our doctors and aesthetic dermatologists thoroughly assess every aspect of your physical condition and wellbeing before recommending this cosmetic procedure.
Targeted body parts
This treatment can help to successfully eliminate visible fat bulges in the double chin areas, upper arm, underneath the buttocks, back, flank areas, inner and outer thighs, bra fat, and stomach. Harvard Health Publishing notes that CoolSculpting may also be used to treat fat around the bra line.
Risks or side effects
We ensure that all our patients are well aware of both the short-term and long-term side effects. The former, which are immediate, include:
- Redness, minor swelling, and bruising
- Firmness, numbness, and tenderness
- Tingling, pinching, and stinging
- Mild to moderate pain and skin sensitivity
A few weeks after the procedure, you may:
- Feel fullness in the throat after treatments near the neck
- Feel itchiness in the treated site
Our experienced and trusted medical professionals will take every effort to ensure that all possible risks and side effects are minimized to allow for zero downtime and the least discomfort post-treatment. Your doctor will discuss the procedure with you at length and let you know what you can expect.
Expected results
Our patients at The Bombay Skin Clinic have seen fantastic results after undergoing body sculpting. Many report seeing a fat reduction in as little as three to four weeks post-treatment. Maximum results are seen up to three months later.
What thrills our patients is that fat cells are continuously removed from the body for up to six months after the procedure. This fat loss is long-term, as fat cells that are frozen and crystallized die off, so they are permanently gone.
All treatments do vary between patients. Our doctors will speak to you about what you can expect from body sculpting. We do advise our patients on living a healthy lifestyle to maintain their ideal body shape.
CoolSculpting vs SculpSure and liposuction
Liposuction is an invasive surgery in which a plastic surgeon makes incisions to reach fat deposits and remove excess subcutaneous fat. This procedure requires general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Since CoolSculpting is a non-invasive surface treatment with minimal downtime, it is definitely superior and more preferable to liposuction.
SculpSure is a light-based therapy used to destroy the fat in problematic areas while keeping the skin safe. It uses laser technology 1064 nm, where the heat generated is delivered in pulses and alternated with cooling. This causes fat cell destruction thereby releasing fat from the cells. While it is also non-invasive, CoolSculpting is superior as it freezes fat within the cells to disrupt them and remove them from the body naturally in apoptosis. So, CoolSculpting destroys fat cells rather than simply releasing fat from the cells. Its results can be superior and more predictable. Yet, further research is still required in this field and is being done.
Self-care for the future
We advise our patients to follow a healthy lifestyle so as to appreciate the full results of CoolSculpting. This will also help in stabilizing long-term fat loss post-treatment. To this end, you must follow a healthy diet and exercise routine. Moreover, for six weeks after the treatment, anti-inflammatory medications are best avoided.
We also encourage our patients to schedule a follow-up with our clinic for a medical assessment and a review of the results and progress. This also helps to determine whether additional sessions are required. The number of sessions does vary between patients.
Who should avoid CoolSculpting?
At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we are very particular when it comes to recommending treatments. We do not recommend CoolSculpting if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain, an auto-immune disorder, or fibromyalgia
- Have a hernia or a history of hernias in the targeted area
- Have a Body Mass Index of 34 or more
- Have a history of bulimia or anorexia in the past 12 months
- Have lymphoma or other lymphatic system conditions
- Have had body-contouring surgery within the last 12 months
If you have a Body Mass Index of 34 or more, we recommend following a complete weight loss regime, post which you can consider CoolSculpting for toning.
Myths about CoolSculpting
There are a few myths about CoolSculpting that we would like to dismiss.
- Myth 1: The results are instant – Fact: Some patients see results in a month and others see them in three months. Your doctor will let you know what you can expect. We encourage our patients to allow some time to pass before looking for results.
- Myth 2: It can treat sagging skin – Fact: CoolSculpting can only work on fat cells and not the surrounding tissues. So, if you have sagging skin, you need another form of treatment. However, it is best to consult a doctor to find out if instead of sagging skin the issue is fat.
- Myth 3: CoolSculpting hurts – Fact: The procedure is non-invasive so you do not need to worry about any kind of intense pain. There will be a cold sensation on the skin but nothing that our patients cannot manage. As per the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, patients can resume normal activities after leaving the clinic. So, there is barely any downtime.
We also want to stress on the fact that CoolSculpting is not a weight loss treatment; it is strictly a body toning procedure for people with small pockets of stubborn fat.
Costing
Each patient has a unique body and personal body reshaping goals. Thus, the cost of CoolSculpting will vary from patient to patient. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we do a detailed analysis of your body, and with your goals in mind, we let you know how many sessions will be required per targeted area. On average, one session may cost between INR 25,000 and INR 40,000.
Closing paragraph
The toned body of your dreams is now within reach. And we are here to help you every step of the way. Book an appointment at The Bombay Skin Clinic to discover a slimmer and fitter version of yourself today!
References
- Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/skin-and-hair/is-coolsculpting-effective
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/cryolipolysis/cryolipolysis-for-excess-fat
- National Centre for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4079633/
