Freeze the Fat Away: CoolSculpting
I couldn’t decide what to write about next, so I thought I’d just go through all the procedures I’ve had in chronological order. You might have already seen my experiences with CO2 laser and Botox, which were my first two non-surgical cosmetic experiences. The third procedure on the list – and my first ‘body contouring’ treatment – is CoolSculpting. If you haven’t heard of it, imagine a very cold vacuum cleaner that you stick on your body to melt fat away. Heaven.
What is CoolSculpting?
Why not start with how the company describes themselves:
In 1999, two scientists at Harvard University … spent years developing and refining an innovative and safe way to selectively freeze and destroy small pockets of fat cells, without damaging the skin or surrounding tissue.
This process of cryolipolysis, what we now know as CoolSculpting®, first became FDA-cleared in 2009 to treat stubborn fat. “Cryo” means “cold” and “lipolysis” means “to break down fat.” CoolSculpting® is the treatment doctors use most for nonsurgical fat reduction.
If that sounds complicated: put the device where the fat sits and it’ll freeze the fat cells until they die. Your body will then flush the dead cells out, leaving you looking slimmer or more contoured. It is one of the big non-surgical liposuction alternatives – but there are some caveats:
CoolSculpting doesn’t treat loose skin
If, like me, your double chin has stubborn fat AND loose skin that needs tightening, you will need to do a skin tightening treatment on top. CoolSculpting only targets fat.
The fat cells shrink, but don’t go away completely
If you put on weight, the shrunken fat cells can stretch to make room to store unburnt calories. CoolSculpting isn’t a shortcut out of a good diet/exercise regime, sadly.
It won’t remove 100% of the fat in an area.
You can lose 20-25% of the fat in the targeted area in one treatment. You can of course have multiple treatments, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Only surgery gets you that sort of result.
Image credit: www.coolsculpting.com
Where on the Body Can it Be Used?
CoolSculpting is a treatment option anywhere you can commonly find stubborn fat deposits. From top to bottom of the body, that’s the double chin area, the stomach, back and flanks, as well as under arms and thighs. I had it on my double chin area only.
Who’s a Good Candidate for CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is best suited for people who are near their ideal body weight but struggle with stubborn fat deposits that resist diet and exercise. It’s a body contouring tool, not a weight-loss solution.
What Happens in a CoolSculpting Appointment?
Step-by-Step Process:
Car crash dummy or CoolSculpting patient?
Consultation: Before undergoing CoolSculpting, I met with a specialist at Pulse Light Clinic, who assessed the area I wanted to be treated, and to determine whether I was a good candidate.
Application: During the procedure, a gel pad and applicator were applied to the targeted area (in my case double chin).
Treatment: The session lasted about 45 minutes in total. You can read, watch videos, or just generally vegetate during the procedure.
Post-Treatment: After the applicator is removed, the treated area was massaged to help break down the frozen fat cells, improving results. This was the only painful part of the procedure for me – it’s quite a vigorous massage and the area is really tender.
All done! There isn’t any downtime, I had it done during my lunch break and went straight back to work.
What Are the Benefits of CoolSculpting?
Despite the risks/limitations, CoolSculpting is popular for these reasons:
Non-Invasive: Unlike surgical options, CoolSculpting requires no incisions, anaesthesia, or significant recovery time.
Targeted Fat Reduction: The procedure allows for very precise targeting, helping patients reach a very individual outcome.
Minimal Downtime: Patients can usually return to their daily activities immediately after treatment.
Natural-Looking Results: Because fat cells are eliminated gradually, results appear natural over the course of several weeks.
Long-Lasting Effects: Once fat cells are destroyed, they do not regenerate. However, like I said you do still need to manage your weight to maintain results.
What Are the Risks of CoolSculpting?
While CoolSculpting is FDA approved and generally well tolerated, it’s not without risks.
Common Side Effects:
Temporary Discomfort: mild pain, redness, swelling, or numbness in the treated area. These effects typically resolve within days or weeks.
Bruising: Some individuals may notice bruising due to the suction applied by the device.
Skin Sensitivity: Tingling or sensitivity in the treated area can occur but usually subsides over time.
Rare but Serious Complications:
The most notable rare side effect is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). This condition causes the treated area to become larger rather than smaller, as the fat cells grow instead of breaking down. PAH is more common in men and is more common in the abdomen.
This condition gained widespread attention in 2021 when supermodel Linda Evangelista revealed she had developed PAH following a CoolSculpting treatment. She described feeling disfigured and unable to work, which led her to file a lawsuit against the makers of CoolSculpting. While cases of PAH are reported to be rare, Linda argues that many women spoke to her with similar concerns after her story went public.
I’ve asked some providers what they think about the Linda Evangelista story, and PAH in general. Some of them are so young they don’t even know who Linda Evangelista is – gasp! – but otherwise the suspicions have been that either she didn’t have enough fat to begin with, or perhaps the provider didn’t massage the area thoroughly enough once the treatment was finished. Or maybe she was just really unlucky. If you are going to explore getting this done, make sure you go somewhere you trust. Somewhere with the right staff on board to help you if things don’t go to plan. Don’t cut corners.
How Much Does CoolSculpting Cost?
I had CoolSculpting done at the Pulse Light Clinic in Bank. Because of the size of my very manly neck I needed three applicators in total. At the time I think each applicator was charged around £300, so just under £1,000 total. Someone did tell me that it was a bit cheeky to charge per applicator, so you could probably find a better deal if you did some research.
How long until you see results?
Initial results should be visible after about three weeks. Full results take up to three months, depending on how quickly your body processes the dead fat cells.
AAA Rating
On a scale of A (meh) to AAA (amazing!), this is an A for me. Pulse Light Clinic was perfectly lovely, but knowing the Linda Evangelista story now I don’t know if I’d want to risk having this done again.
The procedure itself has some considerable limitations. I’d probably opt more for something heat or laser-based instead (e.g. Thermage, Endolift) which can remove fat AND tighten the skin. Or just get actual face lipo, if I could factor the downtime in. These other treatments also don’t require the infamous CoolSculpt post-treatment massage, which stings like a b*tch.
In terms of my personal results, I did notice a subtle sharpening of the area but otherwise the only change was that I could ‘mew’. You know what the kids are all doing, sucking their tongue down their throat to make the double chin area look snatched. Search for Looksmaxxing on Tiktok if you want to see them in full force. I’m happy that my mew game improved, but this is a one-and-done procedure for me.
