CoolSculpting is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat cells in specific areas of the body, resulting in a noticeable reduction in fat. If you are struggling with excess adipose tissue that refuses to budge regardless of your diet or exercise routine, there’s a good chance that you will qualify for this fat removal treatment at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX. Here’s what you need to know about it.
You shouldn’t be surprised to see your ideal results in two to four months. However, numerous factors affect how long it actually takes to see the final results of the treatment. For example, the amount of time you have to wait for your ideal results depends on how much excess fat your body has to remove, how efficient your body’s fat removal system is, and how many treatment sessions you need to achieve your desired results.
How Many Treatment Sessions Will I Need?
The number of treatments needed will vary from person to person, depending on the extent of the fat reduction desired. If you are already at your ideal weight, you may only need a session or two to achieve your desired contours. On the other hand, you may need five to six sessions to achieve your desired contours if you are dozens of pounds away from your goal weight.
How Should I Prepare for My Treatment Session?
When you’re preparing for CoolSculpting, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that your body needs to be able to cool down. That means avoiding exercise for a few days before the treatment. You’ll also need to avoid sun exposure and drink plenty of fluids. On the day of your appointment, you’ll need to wear loose, comfortable clothing. You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other metal items from the treatment area.
What Can I Expect During My Treatment Session?
During the treatment, a gel pad and applicator will be placed on your skin. The applicator will deliver controlled cooling to the targeted fat. You may feel pressure and intense cold at first, but the pressure is not uncomfortable and the cold will eventually numb the treatment area. Typically, treatment sessions take around 35 minutes to complete. However, if you’re treating a smaller area, your session may take only 15 minutes.
On the other hand, your session may take closer to an hour if you are treating a larger area. Note that the CoolSculpting (cryolipolysis) process has advanced significantly over the years. There is now a technique called DualSculpting that allows us to treat two areas at once. For example, we can symmetrically treat your thighs, the backs of your knees, your upper arms, your hips, your calves, or your flanks.
Are There Any Restrictions After Treatment?
There are some restrictions that you need to be aware of after your treatment. You should avoid intense exercise and sun exposure for the first few weeks after the treatment. You should also avoid taking hot showers or baths, and you should not massage the treated area. However, you can get a lymphatic massage once your session is complete. In fact, a lymphatic massage given by a certified masseuse will help you see your results faster.
How Else Can I See My Final Results Faster?
Regardless of whether you opt for a professional lymphatic massage, there are other ways you can ensure you see your final results as quickly as possible. For example, you need to remain hydrated if you don’t want to delay the onset of your results. It is so important to drink plenty of water and other hydrating fluids after your treatment because your body needs an abundance of water to urinate out the fat cells frozen during the treatment.
Also, adequate water consumption is essential for seeing rapid results because your body breaks down fat into components that are expelled through water and carbon dioxide. Your body eliminates water through sweat and urination. However, carbon dioxide is only eliminated from the body through exhalation. Unfortunately, water is also present in exhalations. Since you’ll be losing a lot of fat post-treatment, you will be exhaling a lot of carbon dioxide and water.
Walking to See Your Final Results Faster
If you’re looking to see your final results as quickly as possible, adding extra exercise to your routine is a great way to do it. There are all sorts of exercises you can do to help you reach your goals, but walking is a particularly great cardio exercise that can help you burn fat fast. It’s a low-impact activity, so it’s safe for your joints. However, you can customize it so it’s also a high-intensity activity that gets your heart rate up and burns a lot of calories.
Swimming is another great cardio workout. Like walking, it’s a low-impact exercise that’s easy on your joints, and it’s a great way to burn calories and lose weight. If you can, try to swim for at least 30 minutes a day. For maximum efficacy, try to exercise for a total of five hours per week at a moderate intensity level or 2.5 hours per week at a vigorous intensity.
Resistance Exercises to See Your Final Results Faster
Weightlifting is a great way to build muscle and lose fat. It is particularly effective if you don’t have a lot of time because an intense lifting session creates EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption). The bottom line is that this means your metabolism is significantly increased for several hours after you lift. Note, if you’re new to weightlifting, start with lighter weights and work your way up.
Yoga is another great way to burn extra calories and support your cardiovascular system to see your final results faster. If you feel a little anxious about attending a class, look up videos of poses on YouTube. Any movement you do is better for your cardiovascular system than no movement, and your cardiovascular system supports your body’s fat removal system. As an added bonus, yoga tightens your core muscles and may enhance your results.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
This treatment is most effective for those who are at or near their ideal body weight and have isolated pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. However, an initial evaluation is crucial to verify that you are a good candidate for this fat removal technique. For example, it is important that you are healthy enough to receive this treatment. We need to discuss your medical history and verify that you do not have any nerve or skin conditions.
We also need to make sure that there is enough excess fat for this treatment to be effective. Remember, an applicator will be placed on your skin. This applicator gently pinches the skin as it cools the targeted tissues. If there isn’t much fat in your area of concern, the cryolipolysis device will not be able to grip the area effectively. Also, it is important to know that if there is too much excess fat in an area, you may not be satisfied with your treatment results.
How Effective Is This Treatment?
While you may need up to six treatment sessions to see your desired results, freezing-based fat removal is incredibly effective. The efficacy of each session depends on several factors, including the size of the targeted area. However, you can expect to lose around 26% of the localized fat cells in a large targeted area.
Who Is a Poor Candidate for This Treatment?
This treatment is not appropriate for those who are significantly overweight or suffering from obesity, as it is not a weight-loss solution. It is also not appropriate for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are considering this non-invasive fat removal solution, it is important to attend an initial evaluation to ensure that you are a good candidate for this fat removal technique.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
CoolSculpting is a safe, effective way to sculpt your ideal contours quickly. It is not uncommon for the desired results to become apparent after only two to four months. However, the efficiency of your lymphatic system, how much excess fat you have, and the number of sessions you will need for ideal results will affect how soon you really see your desired contours. Learn more by scheduling an appointment at Rios Center for Plastic Surgery in Edinburg, TX.
Back to Blog
