Do you wish you had a thinner physique when you look in the mirror? Ready to get rid of that stubborn stomach fat? Then CoolSculpting might be your answer, though you might be wondering, “Can you lose weight with CoolSculpting?” We turned to Master CoolSculpting Elite provider and Body Contouring Specialist Nicci Pedroni to find out.
Even those not in the market to lose fat have likely heard of CoolSculpting. It’s the most popular treatment to reduce fat noninvasively. With CoolSculpting, you don’t have to deal with needles or downtime.
If you are in the market to lose fat and seeking out the options available to you to make it happen, CoolSculpting is a viable consideration. With that said, you might be wondering, “Can you lose weight with CoolSculpting?”
To answer that question and more, we turn to Houston-based Aesthetician, Laser Technician, and Body Contouring Specialist Nicci Pedroni.
What is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared treatment for fat reduction in diet and exercise- resistant areas of the body. Treatment areas include:
- Submental
- Upper arms
- Bra fat
- Upper flanks
- Lower flanks
- Abdomen
- Inner thighs
- Outer thighs
- Banana roll.
As the #1 non-invasive fat reduction treatment recommended by doctors, CoolSculpting safely freezes focused pockets of fat with a technology referred to as cryolipolysis.
Can you lose weight with CoolSculpting?
It’s understandable that some might think CoolSculpting is a weight loss treatment. After all, when we think of fat reduction, we connect it to losing weight. However, CoolSculpting is not a treatment for weight loss.
Instead of being a weight loss program, CoolSculpting is a fat reduction treatment.
Pedroni points out that CoolSculpting is for those with stubborn fat that won’t go away after months of eating well and working out. “A CoolSculpting Elite procedure is not a weight loss treatment. It does not replace traditional methods such as exercise, diet, or liposuction.”
Weight Loss vs. Fat Loss
As mentioned above, CoolSculpting is a fat loss treatment. Fat loss and weight loss aren’t the same thing, and here’s why.
We are all born with a certain number of fat cells that stabilize once we reach a certain age. In other words, our total number of fat cells doesn’t increase or decrease over time – it remains the same.
When we gain and lose weight, it’s the size of our fat cells that change – they increase and decrease in size. Our fat cells increasing in size means we gain weight, and our fat cells decreasing in size means we lose weight.
With CoolSculpting, we actually lose fat cells. In other words, the total number of fat cells that we have is reduced when the fat cells in the treated area die. Once the fat cells are eliminated, they’re permanently gone and won’t grow back or return.
With a healthy diet and lifestyle, CoolSculpting results are long-lasting. However, it is possible for the treated area to increase in size if the remaining fat cells grow, and as a result, you gain weight.
How does CoolSculpting work?
CoolSculpting applicators are placed on the treatment area. From there, targeted cooling freezes fat cells, after which the body naturally removes them from the body over time.
According to Pedroni, “The CoolSculpting Elite device has two applicators that drop to -11 degrees Celsius, or approximately between 30 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature that safely and permanently kills the fat cell,” Pedroni continues, “We target the area by freezing the pockets of fat 2 to 3 times typically, with 30 days in between treatments. We bring the client back 90 days after their last treatment to verify results.”
Is CoolSculpting safe?
Yes, Pedroni points out, CoolSculpting and CoolSculpting Elite are both safe treatments.
“These treatments are one of safest ways to non-invasively contour the body to get rid of stubborn unwanted fat in all nine FDA cleared treatment areas both for men and women, including chin, submental, upper arms, upper flank, bra fat, lower flank, inner and outer thighs, upper and lower abdomen, knees, and banana roll.”
Cryolipolysis selectively freezes treated fat cells to a specific temperature. The fat cells are damaged without causing harm to the surrounding tissue. Over time, the frozen cells are naturally processed and die and then are eliminated from the body.
Who’s the ideal candidate for CoolSculpting?
If you are at your ideal weight or about 30 pounds from your ideal weight, CoolSculpting Elite could be a viable option to help you get rid of those stubborn pockets of fat, like stomach fat, back fat, and fat on the inner and outer thighs.
It’s worth noting that CoolSculpting Elite is safe for patients of all skin types. However, certain health conditions make you ineligible, including:
CoolSculpting Elite is safe for people of all skin types, but certain health conditions make you ineligible, such as:
- Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (the sudden presence of hemoglobin in the urine).
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Cold agglutinin disease
- Hernias
In addition, CoolSculpting is not recommended for those with the following traits:
- Poor blood circulation in the area to be treated.
- Hernias.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Has a recent surgery, injury, or inflammation on or near the area treatment
To see if you’re a candidate for the CoolSculpting procedure, you can take a simple five-question quiz at their official website.
What is a treatment like?
Many people relax, work, read, or sleep during their CoolSculpting treatments. Sensations during treatment, like tingling, numbness, mild cramping, and itchy skin, vary from person to person and can last for a few days to a few weeks. After treatment, some might also notice redness and bruising.
Pedroni states, “Typically, you can return to your daily activities and routine, including your workout routine or job, immediately following each session. Your treatment provider will go over all signs and contraindications or side effects and reactions away.”
How long does it take to see CoolSculpting results?
You can expect to lose up to 20 to 25% body fat in the treatment area, according to Pedroni.
“You can typically begin to notice a change in the body area in as little as 4 to 6 weeks, with full results expected 90 days after that last treatment visit,” shares Pedroni, “Personally, I like to set my expectations with all of my clients similarly by telling them that their countdown to notice a difference starts after their last treatment visit.”
Pedroni further points out that results, which may be seen as soon as 1 to 3 months after treatment, are permanent and can vary from person to person.
In her personal experience as a Master CoolSculpting Elite provider, Pedroni believes in being transparent with clients and providing them with a realistic treatment plan of what they can expect both physically and regarding the timing of seeing results.
Is CoolSculpting right for you?
To determine if CoolSculpting Elite is a good treatment option for you, contact your local provider. Be sure to seek out a well-experienced provider and ask to see before and after photos of people they’ve treated with similar body types to yours. This can be a huge help to determine if you would like something similar.
To learn more and learn if CoolSculpting is right for you, consider scheduling a consultation with a provider near you.
We’ve provided thousands of CoolSculpting treatments to satisfied clients, making us the #1 CoolSculpting provider in Houston and in the top 10 in the state of Texas. Contact us today for a consultation, or schedule online 24/7.
Nicci Pedroni, Aesthetician, Laser Technician, CoolSculpting Specialist
Nicci Pedroni is a Houston-based Aesthetician, Laser Technician, and Body Contouring Specialist. She has extensive experience working with clients to develop individualized treatment plans that include top-of-the-line aesthetic treatments, such as DiamondGlow™, SkinPen, BBL, CoolSculpting ELITE, CoolTone, Ultherapy, Chemical Peels, and more. Learn more about Nicci and the team of professionals she works with at DermaTouch RN.
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
