Eating a balanced diet and exercising a healthy amount can offer great results when it comes to weight loss, but sometimes there are stubborn areas that just don’t respond to diet and exercise. At Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley Park, IL, we offer CoolSculpting to help shape the body. It’s not a weight-loss treatment, but can be a wonderful way to tone certain “problem areas.”
How Long Does CoolSculpting Take?
Times Can Vary
In general, a CoolSculpting treatment will usually take about an hour, but this can vary depending on the area you’re treating. Some areas can be done in just over 30 minutes, while others may need a bit longer than an hour to be completed. This is a good opportunity for you to catch up on your favorite podcast, or listen to that audiobook your friend recommended to you.
During treatment, we will place a device over the desired area. The treatment is very gentle and has no required downtime. That means you only have to carve enough time out of your schedule for the treatment itself, rather than having to sacrifice a whole day.
Your Timeline
CoolSculpting is able to offer significant, measurable improvements. Its effectiveness has been proven through various clinical studies, as well as extensive use. Once you get your treatment, you may start to see improvements in as little as three weeks. The full results usually arrive between 60 to 90 days after your treatment.
Once you see your results, you can then decide whether or not you’d like a follow-up treatment. Many patients are thrilled after a single treatment, but others may benefit from more than one, so they can tone various areas of their body into their desired shape. We can help you come up with a treatment plan that has the best chance of fulfilling your goals.
Your Results
The reason it can take several months to see your full results is due to this treatment working with your body to flush out the treated fat cells. As your body continues to process the treated area, you should see your results improve until you reach the point of full effect. This is also why we recommend waiting a few months before you seek out any additional treatments in the same area.
Maintaining Results
Supporting your treatment with a healthy diet and exercise routine will help maintain your results for the long run. That said, while diet and exercise can help you make the most of your treatment, CoolSculpting can still help you keep your desired shape even if your weight fluctuates. You don’t have to make any sort of drastic changes before or after your appointment. Once fat cells are destroyed, those cells will be gone for good.
Of course, your body can make new fat cells during weight gain, but the treated areas should still look more toned than they would have without your treatment. In this way, the treatment can help “direct” weight gain to different areas. Some patients find that maintaining their weight is actually easier after their treatment, simply due to the fact that they feel especially motivated to preserve their results.
Support and Guidance
If you find yourself concerned about the durability of your treatment, that’s not something you have to face alone. We welcome you to contact us with any concerns and questions you have. We know picking the right treatment is important, and we can help you understand the process and whether or not it could be a good fit for your needs.
How Does It Work?
Freeze Fat Cells
If you’re hearing about this treatment for the first time, the idea of freezing off fat cells may seem a bit strange, and understandably so. When most people think of shaping the body, using a tool that’s able to freeze fat is probably not what comes to mind. That said, the science behind this treatment is sound, and has proven itself time and time again.
The treatment is also known as cryolipolysis, and how it works is pretty fascinating. It is able to target your fat cells while keeping your skin safe and intact. About 25% of the fat cells throughout the targeted area can be frozen during your treatment. It’s a type of frame contouring; it focuses on particular fat deposits and targets them for removal. Once the fat cells are frozen, your body will start to dispose of them.
Comparing to Surgery
Previously, surgery was considered the only way to carry out targeted fat removal. While it’s certainly an option, it’s no longer the only option available. Some patients either don’t want to go through the recovery time of surgery, don’t want the price tag associated with it, or simply don’t want to go through invasive surgical treatment. For those patients, a gentler approach with similar benefits might be the right fit.
Treatment Areas
Many patients want to target their abdomen. Even with exercise, the stomach can develop and maintain stubborn fat deposits. This can be true regardless of your gender or how strict you are with your diet. Even patients who have gone through significant weight loss will often find that the abdomen is one of the hardest areas to tone, which can be frustrating.
If you have a specific treatment area in mind that you don’t see listed here, feel free to ask us about it. In addition to treating the abdomen, the following list is an example of what we can treat:
- Inner and outer thighs
- Upper and lower flanks
- Double chins
- The neck
- The palms
- The bra area
- Knee deposits
- Axillary puff
Professional Advice
Don’t forget that we will be here to help you both before and after your treatment if you have any questions. Whether you’re thrilled with your results after a single treatment or are interested in a series, we can tailor the treatment to help bring you closer to your aesthetic goals. Our experience and training allow us to take a look at each situation and give advice that we believe will help you get the results you want.
Good Candidates
A good candidate for this treatment will understand that while this is an excellent way to target fat cells, it shouldn’t be considered a weight-loss treatment, or an alternative to a healthy lifestyle. Patients who have lost weight but have some stubborn areas that just aren’t going away, or patients who simply want to shape their bodies can both be excellent candidates for treatment.
In general, if you’re within about 30 pounds of your ideal weight, this could be a good treatment for you. Some patients use this treatment as a way to reward themselves once they’ve reached their weight or fitness goals.
Your Safety
This treatment has been extensively tested, and also enjoys an FDA approval status. It has been in use for over a decade and has grown in popularity across the globe. For patients who are nervous about getting liposuction or other more invasive treatments, this can help you achieve your results in a less invasive way.
What Are the Alternatives?
Emsculpt
In addition to CoolSculpting, we’re pleased to offer Emsculpt. Both treatments can be very effective. The reason we offer both of them is to give our patients options, as there isn’t a “one size fits all” treatment for everyone. Emsculpt is usually used to help tone the abdomen, or create your desired silhouette. It can even be used as a non-surgical butt-lift.
This treatment works in two steps. First, it encourages the targeted muscles to contract. These contractions burn fat and replace the fat with muscle. When used for the abdomen, it can help encourage a flatter stomach and can even help bring out a patient’s abs. The development of muscle can help lift and round out the buttocks at the same time.
Candidates for Emsculpt
Each patient is unique, and as such it’s important to come in for a consultation so we can evaluate your needs. Once we have a better idea of your expectations, we can talk you through the treatment to help you decide if either CoolSculpting or Emsculpt could be the right call. From there, we’ll work on a treatment plan.
Ready for More Answers?
We are dedicated to helping you pick the right treatment with confidence. If you have questions about any of our treatments, we’d be happy to talk with you. Contact us at Allure Laser & Med Spa in Tinley Park, IL, today to set up your consultation.
