Can You Freeze Off the Flab? Cryolipolysis

You’ve tried the fad diets; you’ve tried long-term lifestyle changes. You’ve walked the walks, run the 5Ks, done Zumba and weight lifting. You’ve eaten all of the internet’s superfoods, tried the cabbage soup and grapefruit, low-carb, and caveman diets. But despite all the hard work, that extra bit of flab just won’t go away. Surgery sounds expensive and potentially dangerous. You’ve read about “CoolSculpting,” also known as Cryolipolysis. What is it and is it something to consider?

Cryolipolysis

Crylipolysis is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction that freezes off your excess fat. It makes sense if you think about it – you always hear that you burn more fat outside in the cold, right? That’s what it does – it burns the fat without damaging the skin.

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The procedure was first tested on humans in 2009, so it’s quite a new procedure. The treatment takes one to three hours and does not require anesthesia. In fact you can read, nap or work on a laptop during the procedure. The procedure targets fat cells, cools them and then eliminates them without damaging any other tissue. The dead fat cells are then eliminated naturally through the body over several months.

How Much Fat Are We Talking?

One treatment can result in a 20% reduction in fat within two months of the treatment, and six months later there is a 25% reduction in fat. The fat burning effect takes place within two to four months.

What If I Want to Lose More than 25%?

This procedure is best for people who are within 15 pounds of their ideal weight and just need to eliminate stubborn love handles or flab that won’t go away. You can have the procedure more than once. After 2-4 months you could try it again, lose another 20-25% of fat cells for a total of 44%.

Experts emphasize that this procedure is meant for small to medium amounts of fat such as back fat, stomach rolls, etc. that patients would like removed. This is not a treatment for weight loss or obesity. If you’re looking for more dramatic results, you might want to consider an alternative such as liposuction or surgery.

Does It Last?

They say the effects are permanent as long as you stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Does It Hurt?

They say “little or no pain or discomfort.” One reviewer said it did hurt – she described it as nothing unbearable, more like the pain of a mammogram. You’ll feel an intense cold, but then it goes away and you can relax. After the procedure you can continue normal activities. You might be numb for as long as four weeks, feel mild cramping or tingling, but that will go away.

Are There Side Effects?

Redness, bruising and numbness are transient side effects that researchers say subside with time. No serious side effects have been reported.

Where Do I Go? How Much Does It Cost?

The treatment is often called “CoolSculpting.” It costs about $700. You’ll find it in medical salons in major cities.

So there you have it. Can you freeze off the flab? Yes, you can. It’s non-invasive, relatively harmless and doesn’t cost as much as some of the other methods out there to remove unwanted fat. Should you freeze off the flab? That’s up to you to decide. There are many options out there, and as long as there are people with money to spend and fat to remove there will probably continue to be new techniques every year. Compared to other options, Cryolipolysis appears to be relatively painless, non-invasive and inexpensive.