What Is CoolSculpting, and Is It Safe for Weight Loss?

 

CoolSculpting uses extremely low temperatures to target specific areas of stubborn body fat.

Every year, millions of people follow extreme diets or undergo surgery, hoping to achieve a slimmer figure.

 

 This can be a difficult goal for many reasons, so it's no surprise that the idea of banishing body fat without restrictive eating or going under the knife draws thousands of people each year to cryolipolysis, which is commonly known by the brand name CoolSculpting.

 

Cryolipolysis is the process of using cold temperatures to destroy fat cells just below the surface of the skin. (The clue is in the name: “cryo” means cold, “lipo” means fat, and “lysis” means “destruction.”)

 

Although the term “CoolSculpting” is often used to refer to the process of cryolipolysis, it’s actually the brand name of a specific medical device used to achieve cryolipolysis. The procedure is usually carried out by a doctor, a nurse, or a physician assistant, though some medical spa professionals can also perform CoolSculpting. Check your state’s medical board for more information on who’s qualified to carry out the procedure.

 

In the procedure, a technician will apply gel pads to the targeted areas and then pass over them with the device. They may also use an applicator cup with a vacuum to draw tissue into the cup.

In either case, the goal is to apply low temperatures to specific areas of the body to kill fat cells, thereby changing the shape of the body.

 

 CoolSculpting relies on the same basic science as other fat reduction procedures like liposuction, various heat and sound-wave treatments  and chemical treatments.

The dead fat cells don't necessarily disappear overnight. It may take up to six months for the body to fully process and eliminate dead fat cells after the procedure, according to the CoolSculpting manufacturer.

 

At the same time, CoolSculpting is a strictly cosmetic procedure and isn't effective as a means of weight loss, says Joshua the director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York City. Because the cold temperatures delivered by the device penetrate only the upper layers of fat below the skin, the procedure is best used to eliminate small areas of stubborn fat. CoolSculpting can't change a person's overall body composition.

“It's important to think of CoolSculpting as a fat reduction treatment rather than a weight reduction treatment,” Dr. Zeichner says. “It is not effective for people who have visceral fat, which is fat around the organs.” Visceral fat is linked to high cholesterol, insulin resistance cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer.

 

CoolSculpting is a fat-reduction procedure that involves a device that uses cold temperatures to kill fat cells near the surface of the skin. Experts who perform CoolSculpting say the results can be unpredictable, and sometimes patients who undergo the procedure are disappointed. In rare cases, CoolSculpting may cause PAH, which is the CoolSculpting side effect that Linda Evangelista reportedly experienced. PAH triggers the growth of additional fat instead of reducing fat, but doctors do not yet understand why this happens to some patients and not to others. Although it may be offered at medical spas in your area, experts recommend consulting with a qualified physician before undergoing the procedure.