CoolSculpting®

CoolSculpting® is a CE-marked Class IIa medical device (a medical device with low-to-medium risk); and has FDA approval for the use of controlled cooling to freeze and break down unwanted fat cells in the body, without discomfort or downtime. CoolSculpting® is non-invasive: no needles, incisions nor surgical equipment are used, so there are none of the risks of injury or side effects that can come with surgery.

An important USP with CoolSculpting® is its Freeze Detect® technology, which senses if your skin is being frozen (rather than just the targeted fat). If the Freeze Detect sensors are triggered, an alarm sounds and, for your safety, CoolSculpting® treatment is stopped. CoolSculpting®’s patented Freeze Detect sensors protect you from serious complications such as burns and ulcers (that can occur with other fat-freezing machines).

There are very few contra-indications to CoolSculpting®, but patients with cryoglobulinaemia or paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria should avoid this treatment. Please note that CoolSculpting® is not a treatment for obesity; you will not lose weight with this treatment. CoolSculpting® is most effective for clients who are already close to their ideal weight yet are struggling with areas of excess fat that are not responding to diet and exercise.

CoolSculpt can treat visible fat bulges in areas as varied as the stomach, flanks, thighs, buttocks, arms, back, fat around the bra straps, the area under the chin and lower jaw, and the banana roll (the area at the top of the thighs, just below the buttocks). No other fat removal method on the market is as targeted as CoolSculpting®, nor as effective; and with CoolSculpting®’s 4 different attachments, most body areas can be treated. A CoolSculpting® treatment can successfully remove up to 25% of the fat cells in an area of concern and can treat stubborn pockets of excess fat. However, it is important to understand that CoolSculpting® is not a weight-loss treatment.

Before your session, you will have a thorough consultation to ensure your suitability for the treatment. This involves an assessment of your body and your medical history. Patients are advised to be prepared and comfortable about getting undressed during this initial consultation, because your practitioner will need to assess the areas to be treated and mark them with removable pen before your treatment commences. With your permission, we will also take photographs to document your starting point before treatment (and ideally, we will want progress photos too, because CoolSculpting®’s results develop over time).

After your initial assessment and preparation, you will then lie on the treatment couch while your practitioner attaches and programs the CoolSculpting® machine. During treatment, all you have to do is lie back and relax! When the CoolSculpting® treatment is over, the treated area will be massaged vigorously to reduce any discomfort that you might be feeling.

Be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours at The Clinic, West London for a single CoolSculpting® treatment (including your initial consultation). CoolSculpting® is administered in ‘cycles’; a single cycle on the body will take 35 minutes, while treatment on a submental area (under the chin or lower jaw) takes about 40 minutes.  Most treatments will involve at least 2 cycles (or more, depending on the areas to be treated), which means, typically, that a CoolSculpting® session will last for a couple of hours. Even for the smallest of treatment areas, expect a single CoolSculpting® session to last for over an hour (in all).

You may feel some slight pulling and a cooling sensation as the treatment begins. For some people, the treatment can cause a slight stinging or a tingling sensation, but these sensations are usually temporary. Most patients are able to relax while the treatment is in progress.

Important: for the first 2 weeks after any CoolSculpting® procedure, do not take any anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen).

Whereas some clients experience no side-effects whatsoever, there are certain temporary side-effects to be aware of:

• Numbness in the treated area
• Redness, bruising, swelling or firmness in the treated area
• Tingling, stinging or pain in the treated area.

Numbness and swelling typically begin to subside around 3-4 weeks post treatment, and nerve sensation gradually returns during this time. Should any of these side-effects persist (say, for over a month post treatment), we recommend that you contact The Clinic and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Although rare, some clients experience paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a condition in which fat cells increase rather than shrink.

CoolSculpting® is non-surgical, non-invasive, and requires neither needles, incisions nor anaesthesia; so, there is no risk of injury or permanent side-effects. Therefore, you can return to normal activities straight away. However, please be aware that swelling, redness, numbness and possible bruising may last for several weeks after treatment.

After just one CoolSculpting® session, the treated area will gradually appear smoother and considerably toned. Visible results will be noticeable from 2-3 months onwards, with ongoing improvements for up to 6 months. Your body will continue to naturally process and eliminate the injured fat cells from your body during this time. Results should have fully developed within 3–6 months – so you can literally watch yourself get slimmer!

Please note that results vary from person to person (due to each individual’s metabolic rate, fat distribution, and skin elasticity); so, you may decide that additional treatments are necessary to achieve your desired outcome.

Typically, clients require 1-3 sessions. However, this is entirely dependent on the amount of built-up fat in the areas to be treated, and the desired outcome.

• Important: for the first 2 weeks after any CoolSculpting® procedure, do not take any anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen).
• Avoid hot baths and showers (including saunas and steam rooms) for 72 hours following treatment, and gently dry the treated skin.
• Makeup should not be applied to any treated area for 24 hours after the procedure.

You can return to normal activity following treatment; but do be aware that there is potential for temporary redness, swelling, bruising or numbness in the treated areas, which could last for several weeks. To maintain your optimum physique, we do recommend a balanced diet and regular exercise programme. Our Public Health Nutritionist, Yvonne Wake, would be happy to advise you on healthy eating and how to make the right lifestyle choices.