CoolSculpting: The Cold That Reshapes Your Body

What is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure for subcutaneous adipose tissue reduction. It operates on the principle of controlled cooling of cells to eliminate fat deposits. This mechanism achieves an effective reduction of approximately 20-25% of fat cells without damaging the overlying skin or surrounding structures, inducing cell death (apoptosis) with proven, visible, and lasting results. Typically, in adulthood, body changes occur through increases or decreases in adipose cell volume; CoolSculpting determines the numerical elimination of a percentage of these cells, ensuring fewer cells subject to dimensional changes in the treated area in the future. Treatment areas include thighs, abdomen and flanks, arms, and submental region, with handpiece size and shape varying based on thorough clinical assessment.

Clinical Consultation

As with any medical treatment, the clinical consultation is essential, including anamnestic evaluation, assessment of patient expectations, and collection of necessary data to develop the appropriate therapeutic path. It's crucial to establish treatment eligibility and create an individualized treatment plan tailored to the patient's specific objectives. Some patients may require multiple sessions or treatment of multiple areas with CoolSculpting. During consultation, the physician will indicate which areas can/should be treated and how many treatments will be necessary to optimize results.

The CoolSculpting Treatment

The procedure begins with a preparation phase where the physician marks the treatment areas (previously agreed upon during consultation) and verifies the exact handpiece position using a template. Following this, the installation phase begins with handpiece application and securing with elastic bands on the cutaneous area, where a protective gel/patch is applied to reduce any adhesion risks between the plate and tissues. The CoolSculpting procedure then commences, exerting suction force to ensure safe and precise controlled cooling of fat cells beneath the tissue held in the handpiece. The treated adipose cells are crystallized (frozen) and then physiologically eliminated, resulting in long-term results. The final phase consists of handpiece removal followed by manual massage for several minutes. The effective treatment duration is 35-60 minutes per treated area.

Side Effects and Results

Unlike invasive procedures such as liposuction, the CoolSculpting procedure presents minimal side effects. Following treatment, temporary redness, swelling, burning, possible chemosis, and in some cases tingling, itching, or reduced skin sensitivity may occur. These effects are temporary and generally resolve within days or weeks, without affecting normal social life. The CoolSculpting procedure is completely non-surgical and typically allows immediate return to normal work and daily activities. Results become visible after 3 weeks, with progressive improvement over the following 2-3 months and continuous modeling of the treated area. The session can be repeated after six months according to the protocol established with the physician or if further reduction of fat accumulation is desired.