CoolSculpting® has become one of the most popular body contouring options around, which also means that this fat reduction treatmenthas generated its fair share of myths about what it can and can’t do. To help you separate CoolSculpting fact from fiction and decide if it could be right for you, read up on these busted myths and the real facts behind them.
Myth #1. You’re Going to Drop Pounds
Since it’s not a weight loss procedure, CoolSculpting isn’t going to help you drop a significant amount of weight. In fact, most people see the number on the scale decrease by only a pound or two.
What CoolSculpting can do is help you get rid of pesky pockets of fat that won’t go away no matter how much you exercise.It works by freezing and destroying targeted fat cells in trouble spots like your love handles, belly pooch and thighs, which are some of the most common spots to get CoolSculpting treatments.
Myth #2.CoolSculpting Can Tighten Skin
While it can do a great job of helping you slim and tone your figure by freezing away unwanted fat cells, CoolSculpting can’timprove excess or loose skin. Make sure you’re a good candidate for CoolSculpting and have realistic expectations about how you can get the most from your CoolSculpting treatments.
Myth #3.Slender People Can’t Benefit from CoolSculpting
Contrary to popular belief, CoolSculpting can be a great option for slender men and women who might need a little extra help getting the toned, tight physique they want.The best candidates for CoolSculpting are typically within around 30 pounds of their desired weight and have small pockets of subcutaneous fat that they’d like to get rid of.
Subcutaneous fat is the “pinchable” layer of fat just beneath your skin.Visceral fat, on the other hand, surrounds your organs and cannot be treated with CoolSculpting. Exercise and healthy eating are the most effective ways to get rid of this type of fat.
Myth #4. CoolSculpting Is Just for Your Midsection
The abdominal area is one of the most common spots for CoolSculpting treatments, but it’s not the only place that CoolSculpting can treat. This nonsurgical body contouring procedure can also be used to banish unwanted fat in a number of areas like your upper arms, thighs, back and enlarged male breasts.
During your consultation, let your CoolSculpting specialist know which areas you’d like to have treated so he or she can develop a customized treatment plan.
Myth #5. You Can’t Regain Weight after CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting does get rid of unwanted fat by destroying these cells for good using a controlled cooling process called cryolipolysis. Although these cells are gone, you can still gain new fat in the remaining cells, which, in turn, will result in weight gain. Thus, CoolSculpting is not an alternative to living a healthy lifestyle.
The good news is that as long as you keep up with your healthy diet and exercise regimen, your CoolSculpting results can be very long-lasting.
Dr. Martin E. Everhard, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., enjoyed a distinguished career in general surgery at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, Westchester County, New York. After settling in Savannah, Georgia, he retired from general surgery to work with weight loss patients. This new focus on health and body contouring led to him opening CoolBodyContouring in October of 2014, home to Savannah’s premier CoolSculpting® specialists.
