The basics of CoolSculpting: how does it work?

When you first hear about CoolSculpting, it sounds pretty hard to believe, right? Freezing away fat seems counter intuitive. Afterall, who doesn’t gain weight during the winter? And if freezing fat works, then why do things like hot yoga exist? So, yes, CoolSculpting sounds like it wouldn’t make any sense, but it does work. But it is understandable that you would want to know the specifics of how this process actually does work. So, let’s talk about it. 

How does CoolSculpting work? 

Let’s get into this right off the bat, shall we?  

As mentioned, CoolSculpting is essentially freezing away fat. Fat cells have a relatively high freezing temperature. Meaning that it doesn’t take much for them to freeze and die. Meanwhile, the cells surrounding the fat, the muscle and skin cells, freeze at much lower temps and are generally unaffected by the temperature that freezes fat. What all this means is that if you expose an area to a particular temperature, it may be able to freeze and kill the fat, all while leaving the other cells virtually untouched. This is pretty different when compared to other weight loss procedures, like liposuction. Those are intrusive and may cause damage to surrounding areas. But that’s not the only thing that’s different. 

To show you why so many people prefer CoolSculpting over liposuction and other weight loss procedures, let’s talk about how the average CoolSculpting session goes. It starts by a CoolSculpting technician placing a protective pad on your target area. While CoolSculpting is safe, it is still good to take these extra little precautions. Then the tech will place the CoolSculpting applicator on the target area and turn it on for a predetermined amount of time. During this time, you can do whatever you want (as long as it allows you to stay where you are). Many people will read or work, some even take this opportunity to catch up on some sleep. After that time has passed, the tech will turn off and remove the applicator and pad, then they will message the target area. This helps break up the frozen cells and speeds up the losing process. 

This is where CoolSculpting really stands out from other weight loss procedures. After each session, that’s it. You can go home, or run some errands, or go back to work. There’s no downtime. There’s no recovery time. There’s no need to take time off (except if you need to make time for the session). After your session is over, you can get back to your life. This is pretty different from the intrusive procedures that require you to take time to recover and heal. There’s nothing to recover from. 

That being said, there are some potential side effects. During the session, you may notice a pulling or pinching sensation. Most CoolSculpting patients report that this goes away after a little while because the area starts to numb. This is a normal response from the body when exposed to cold. After the session there may be some slight bruising and swelling in the target area. But this will go away after a little while.  

How do I know that it will work for me? 

Now that we’ve talk about how CoolSculpting works, it’s only fair that we cover who CoolSculpting works for, because it doesn’t work for everyone, unfortunately. There are those who should avoid CoolSculpting for health reasons, or just simply won’t be able to lose weight with it. 

One thing to note about CoolSculpting Utah is that it is for those who are near their target weight, but just can’t seem to lose that little pouch on their stomach, or the wings on their arms. It is not design for those who have been diagnosed with obesity. So, if you’re not near the end of your weight loss journey, it may not work for you. It is also not made for those with cryoglobulinemia or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, because people with these conditions could experience some major complications as a result. 

The best way to know if CoolSculpting is right for you is by talking with your doctor. Then setting up a free consultation with one of our CoolSculpting experts here at the NIMA Institute. They will go through with you whether or not CoolSculpting is right for you. They will also help you decide where your target areas are and how many sessions you will need. All of this for free. 

It’s good to note that you won’t see result right away. It takes time for the body to notice that the cells have died. After that it takes more time for the body to expel these cells. The bigger the target area, the more fat in that place, the more time it takes for the cells to go away and for you to see results. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to four months to see considerable results. 

But most would say that the wait is worth it. Because when the fat is taken off using CoolSculpting it is usually off of good. That doesn’t mean that you’ll never gain weight again, but when you do, the weight will be more even distributed, instead of focused in your target area like it was before. But most people love their results so much, that they work to keep the weight off after their sessions. 

As you can see, CoolSculpting is not a terribly complex process. You get to lose weight while doing whatever you want. Plus, the science behind it isn’t the complex thing to wrap your head around either. Just freeze away fat, and there you go. If you’re ready to give CoolSculpting a try, feel free to reach out to us here at the NIMA Institute. We are one of the top CoolSculpting providers in the country, and the absolute top for Utah. You don’t even have to commit yet. You can just set up your free consultation to see if it’s right for you. So, why not give it a try and start loving your body? Learn about the risks of CoolSculpting.