The first official day of summer is right around the corner, and there’s no better time to talk about swimsuit season. Exciting to some and dreaded by others, the summer months require sunscreen and swimwear. If you’re ready to feel more comfortable in summer wear, body contouring treatments like CoolSculpting at our Washington, DC, practice may be the answer.
How Do You Get Rid of Exercise-Resistant Fat?
Just after New Year’s, people begin their resolutions and flock to the gym, swearing to have that bikini body by Memorial Day. However, it’s easier said than done. For some, life gets too busy or the motivation subsides, and they resume their normal routines. However, even those who manage to follow through with their diet and exercise routine can run into snags.
Sometimes no matter how well a person eats or how much they exercise, there are areas of the body where it is more difficult to remove fat. It doesn’t mean a person isn’t working hard. Sometimes fat storage is genetic, and people need a little extra help to achieve their ideal body shape.
Common areas where excess fat is stubbornly stored are:
- Stomach
- Upper and lower back
- Buttock
- Thighs
- Under the chin
CoolSculpting® can treat all of these areas without downtime or discomfort. You can see how well CoolScupting reduces the “banana roll” under the buttocks for our patient featured in the post below:
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What Is CoolSculpting & How Does It Work?
CoolSculpting is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure based on the science of cryolipolysis. Dieter Manstein and R. Rox Anderson, both doctors and scientists at Harvard University, discovered the technology of cryolipolysis when they noticed that some young children who ate popsicles developed dimples. Upon further investigation, they learned the popsicles were freezing and eliminating small pockets of fat cells, causing the formation of dimples in the cheeks.
Thus, CoolSculpting was born, a “fat freezing” treatment that contours and shapes the body by cooling and targeting fat cells. And with the CoolAdvantage applicator, we are able to reduce the time of each treatment so patients can get back to their schedule more quickly!
What Areas Can Be Treated With Fat Freezing?
CoolSculpting can treat small areas of fat that cannot be reduced with diet or exercise. A good rule of thumb is that “if you can pinch it, you can treat it.” This is commonly the case with “muffin tops” and “love handles.” Unfortunately, CoolSculpting cannot treat visceral fat, which is body fat within the abdominal cavity that surrounds vital organs.
Since the FDA approval of CoolSculpting for the most common treatment areas (the abdomen and love handles), there have been several additions to treat smaller areas of concern. CoolSmooth is an applicator created to specifically treat the “non-pinchable” areas of fat such as the outer thighs. CoolMini was created to treat submental chin fat, also known as a “double chin,” which can be caused by genetics or weight fluctuation. You can read more about slimming your double chin in this related blog post.
CoolSculpting cannot treat loose or flabby skin or the appearance of cellulite, though. If you have lax skin around your midsection, neck, or face, Exilis Ultra uses radiofrequency waves to shrink fat cells and stimulate collagen production so that the skin is firmer and more youthful-looking. And if you want to build more muscle in the treatment area, Lutronic Accufit™ is a good option.
Both Exilis Ultra and Accufit can be excellent complements to CoolSculpting treatments for more comprehensive body contouring goals.
Common Misconceptions About CoolSculpting
Perhaps the most common misconception about CoolSculpting is that it is a weight loss tool. Many patients who seek out the non-invasive procedure are under the impression that it can be used to remove large portions of fat and reduce overall weight.
Although CoolSculpting can reduce up to 25% of fat in the treated area, it is NOT for losing large amounts of weight. It is a fat-reduction tool to sculpt and mold the body, and tone and tighten certain areas where small pockets of fat exist. CoolSculpting is most successful on patients who are at or around their goal weight and who maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine.
Who Is an Ideal Candidate For CoolSculpting?
Here are a few traits that can make a patient an ideal candidate for CoolSculpting:
- Maintains a healthy diet
- Has a regular exercise routine
- Is near or at their target weight
- Is not currently pregnant or planning to get pregnant soon after the procedure
- Have extra fat around the chin, abdomen, flank, inner thighs, or outer thighs.
The ideal candidate for CoolSculpting is a person who maintains a healthy diet and exercise routine but still has small, “pinchable” areas of fat on their body. These people see the most successful results. You can see my patients’ CoolSculpting results in these before-and-after photos.
A few pounds away from your goal weight is certainly okay, but if you plan to lose a significant amount of weight, it is highly suggested you reach that goal first. This allows for the procedure to last longer and display more defined results.
Is It Safe To Do CoolSculpting While Pregnant?
CoolSculpting has never been tested on pregnant women, and it is never a good idea to undergo any cosmetic procedures while pregnant. Furthermore, with the body changes and possible weight gain that can come with pregnancy, any results may be canceled now if a baby is conceived soon after the procedure.
How Long Does It Take to See CoolSculpting Results?
While it is recommended to have 3 to 4 treatments and wait at least 3 months for final results to show, most results begin to show within 2 weeks. So, if a patient is planning a cruise 2 months away, CoolSculpting could provide significant results in a small amount of time.
Why Choose CoolSculpting?
There is no downtime with CoolSculpting. Possible side effects are slight bruising or temporary numbness, but these side effects are rare. Patients undergo CoolSculpting while reading a book or watching a movie, so there is no discomfort during the procedure, and they can resume their daily routine after their treatment. It’s a great option to consider to try to remove that small amount of stubborn fat standing between you and your ideal body shape.
Ready To Lose That Stubborn Fat?
Interested in sculpting your body with CoolScupting? People from Arlington, VA, and Bethesda, MD, come to our Washington, DC, practice because they trust us with their care and results. Get started by giving us a call at (202) 393-7546 or using our online form to request a consultation.
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