CoolSculpting®
Imagine a safe, gentle alternative to liposuction that doesn’t require incisions or anesthesia. Does that sound too good to be true? It is a reality with CoolSculpting®. We offer this FDA-cleared procedure which uses cooling technology to reduce areas of excess fat. There’s no downtime required after the comfortable, 35- to 60-minute treatment, and you begin to notice your new shape in 6 to 8 weeks after your procedure at our Tucson, AZ, practice serving the Green Valley, Sierra Vista, Saddlebrooke, Sahuarita and surrounding communities.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
The CoolSculpting procedure uses a patented process called cryolipolysis to freeze fat cells without harming the overlying skin. During the course of several weeks, the fat cells that were damaged by freezing are metabolized by the body and flushed away through normal processes.
Is CoolSculpting Right for You?
Candidates for CoolSculpting should be at a healthy, stable weight, have good skin elasticity, and want to reduce localized areas of fat. Areas commonly treated include:
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Belly or tummy
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Love handles or muffin top (flanks)
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Inner thighs
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Saddlebags (outer thighs)
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Back, including bra fat
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Double chin or neck fat
Women and men who are looking for a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction may also be good candidates for the procedure.
Treatment
At Foothills Dermatology, CoolSculpting treatments are performed right in our office. No anesthetic is needed. It takes up to an hour to treat a single area. We have various applicators to fit the size and shape of specific areas. Most use suction to draw the area of fat into the cooling panels. The CoolSmooth applicator does not use suction and is designed for areas of dense fat, such as the outer thighs, that is difficult to pull between panels. Once the treatment is complete, you can drive yourself home and return to your normal activities.
What to Expect After CoolSculpting
You won’t see results from CoolSculpting right away. While experiences vary, changes usually begin to appear in 2 to 3 months, with the final results generally visible by 4 months. Some people may choose to have multiple CoolSculpting sessions for more thorough body contouring.
How Much Does a CoolSculpting Treatment Cost?
A CoolSculpting procedure may cost anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000. At our Tucson practice your actual price is determined by several factors, including which area you’d like to treat and the amount of fat that needs to be treated. Because each patient is different, it’s not possible to provide an exact estimate on our website. At Foothills Dermatology, we strive to keep our fees competitive with those of other practices in the area. During your consultation, we provide you with a written quote that reflects the specifics of your desired procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the CoolSculpting procedure feel like?
The CoolSculpting procedure is described as quite comfortable by most of our patients. Initially, a feeling of pressure is experienced as the fat tissue is drawn up between 2 cooling panels. Then, a sensation of cooling (similar to icing a sore muscle) is felt as the machine goes to work. This feeling diminishes as your body adjusts to the temperature.
Will a CoolSculpting treatment get rid of cellulite?
No. Although most people think of cellulite as a fat-related concern, it’s actually a bit more complex. Cellulite is caused by bands of connective, fibrous tissue that pull on the skin from below, causing those telltale dimples to form. Fat can protrude through these bands, exacerbating the appearance of cellulite. Although fat reduction through weight loss or a procedure such as CoolSculpting may help reduce the look of cellulite, it’s unlikely to completely eliminate it.
How many CoolSculpting treatments will I need?
Depending on your current body composition and the size of the treatment area, you may require more than 1 treatment. Many people are happy with the results after their first session, while others may choose to have additional treatments in order to achieve more dramatic changes. Our CoolSculpting patients often visit us for other advanced nonsurgical treatments as well such as laser hair removal and BOTOX® Cosmetic.
What are the side effects of CoolSculpting?
Side effects are marginal and typically include only minor redness, bruising, and numbness in the treatment area. These normally disappear within a few days.
What is CoolSculpting recovery like?
One of the great things about the CoolSculpting procedure is that it doesn’t require any sort of recuperation. The overwhelming majority of patients who undergo a CoolSculpting treatment resume their typical activities as soon as their appointments are over. You can get back to work, head to the gym, or run errands just as you normally would. Although the procedure can leave behind some soreness, redness, and swelling, these symptoms are temporary and aren’t typically severe enough to hamper you from your everyday activities.
Should I get CoolSculpting or liposuction?
The CoolSculpting procedure and liposuction both have the same objective, which is to remove unwanted fat. However, a CoolSculpting treatment is not a perfect liposuction alternative. The CoolSculpting procedure is appropriate for adults who wish to reduce the size of fat deposits in their abdomens and other larger areas of the body. Although the results of a CoolSculpting treatment aren’t typically as significant as those of liposuction, a CoolSculpting treatment is a wonderful option for many people in search of targeted fat reduction without downtime or discomfort.
How was the CoolSculpting treatment developed?
The process for the CoolSculpting procedure, called cryolipolysis, was originally developed by Harvard scientists Dr. Dieter Manstein and Dr. Rox Anderson. Their ideas were based on research that showed children sucking on popsicles would lose cheek fat. Over the course of several years, they refined cryolipolysis to effectively freeze and destroy body fat cells without affecting the surrounding tissue. The FDA cleared the process for fat reduction in 2010.
The CoolSculpting device, manufactured by ZELTIQ®, is the only device to use true cryolipolysis. Other counterfeit and impostor devices in use around the world can be dangerous. At Foothills Dermatology & Facial Plastic Surgery, we use only a genuine CoolSculpting device.
