How Soon Can You See Results From CoolSculpting?

Are you finding it difficult to hit your goal weight, even with proper diet and exercise? For most people, one of the main obstacles is pockets of “stubborn fat.” These can collect around the thighs, abdomen, or in other areas. They can also be extremely difficult to eliminate, even for people who have healthy habits. Fortunately, you can address these concerns with CoolSculpting when you visit Steven H Dayan, MD in Chicago, IL.

How Soon Will I See Results From CoolSculpting?

One of the most common questions asked about this treatment is “how fast does it work?” The important thing to know is that it is a gradual process, showing changes over the course of time.

Three Weeks for the Preliminary Results

It's common for first-time patients to see positive changes quite quickly. Many will achieve initial visible results about three weeks after their treatment sessions. These changes also continue to improve over the weeks that follow, as more fat is eliminated from the body.

Three Months for Ideal Results

The ideal results often occur three months after your treatment has completed. At this point, much of the process has been completed. Of course, every patient is unique and will respond to the treatment differently. Still, this estimate gives you a good general sense of what a typical timeline would be.

Why Is It a Gradual Process?

You may be asking why it takes up to three months before your body will get the full benefit from this particular treatment. The answer is that the CoolSculpting approach works differently from liposuction or similar methods. Those approaches physically remove the fat all at once, sometimes through a tube.

Getting CoolSculpted is a slower process, but over time it gives excellent results, as it encourages the body to flush the fat on its own. This process is particularly effective when dealing with “stubborn” fat.

What Is Stubborn Fat and Why Does It Occur?

Why do we have these challenges to begin with? What causes these areas to be so resistant to diet and exercise, to the point where we might look at getting some sort of treatment? To answer these questions, we need to know a few basic facts about how this issue works.

Stubborn Fat Is Not Unusual

All of us have to retain a certain amount of fat in our bodies in order to survive. However, we all store this fat in different places on the body. These locations are often based on factors beyond our control (such as genetics). When we store more fat in one specific place than in others, we often take notice.

The result is that some of us might be frustrated when trying to slim down. This happens because, while we may notice that we shed fat in some areas, we are not able to make much headway in others.

Fat Cells Are Designed to Be "Stubborn"

You probably know that our fat is stored in fat cells. What you may not be aware of is that, even when we exercise and burn fat in the gym, we typically do not eliminate the cells themselves. Instead, we burn the fat inside the cells. But the cell walls continue to stay in place, even if they shrink in size.

This is a challenge because it makes it easier for the body to store fat in that same place again later. That is why we often call it “stubborn.” It's also why we need an approach that not only gets rid of the fat but gets rid of the cells, too. This is exactly what happens when you get CoolSculpted.

What Is CoolSculpting?

This is a ground-breaking and modern technological treatment. It can help you remove unwanted or excess fat for good because it causes the breakdown of the entire cell. The process is approved by the FDA for the elimination of stubborn fat. It shows high success rates, and best of all, it works in a way that avoids the need for downtime.

Our advanced cooling technology targets fat cells in a specific desired area (such as the thighs, abs, or arms). By controlling the temperature of this area very exactly, we can disrupt the structure of the fat cells without damaging the skin or organs nearby. The process can potentially take inches off your thighs or stomach, without any incisions or a lengthy recovery period. Because the process uses cooling technology, it is sometimes referred to as “freeing away” the fat.

How Does “Fat Freezing” Work?

When you arrive at our state-of-the-art facility, we will make sure that you are comfortable and at ease before the process begins. A treatment session typically lasts for 30 to 60 minutes.

We Treat a Specific Area

During this time, we apply the cooling technology to the target area (abs, thighs, and sides are common requests). The cooling applicator will lower the temperature in that region so that it affects the fat cells, but not the skin or other areas nearby.

We Break Down the Fat Cell

When the fat cells come in contact with our targeted cooling technology, some of these cells will begin to break down. This process is scientifically known as “cryolipolysis.” Not every cell can be eliminated in one single session, but a typical amount is roughly 20% of the fat cells in a treatment area. These cells will be eliminated by the treatment so that the body will not try to store more fat in them at a later time.

The Body Does the Rest of the Work

After the treatment session, your body will respond by flushing the damaged fat cells completely from your body. This is what makes this particular sculpting treatment a permanent solution. Although the process of cryolipolysis can take up to three months, those cells are gone, and will not come back.

For ideal results, it may be necessary to get more than one treatment session in a specific area.

What Areas Can I Get Sculpted?

Because this sculpting approach uses targeted technology, it will only have an impact on one area at a time. The applicators apply cooling temperatures to one specific spot, and this is where you will notice the effect of treatment. Typical spots for treatment are:

• Abdomen
• Arms
• Back
• Sides (“love handles”)
• Thighs
• Chin
• And more!

Our facility has multiple options for you. We can personalize your treatment to include multiple areas if you wish to treat more than one target area. Depending on the specifics, we might be able to do both areas in one session, or we may advise spreading out the treatment over multiple days.

FAQs About This Treatment

This treatment has been around for a few years, but it is still new enough that many people are discovering it for the first time. Here are some of our most common questions, especially from first-time patients.

“Freezing Fat” Sounds Dangerous… Is It Really Safe?

Yes, it is safe. CoolSculpting was approved by the FDA in 2012, and it now has a proven track-record, with a long history of successful treatment sessions. Millions of patients around the world have seen positive results and have returned for multiple sessions.

However, it is important that when you get this treatment, you get it from a trained professional! Under the direction of Dr. Steven Dayan, our staff has performed many sculpting sessions for a wide variety of patients and treatment areas.

Who Came Up With CoolSculpting?

This particular sculpting approach is the invention of the Zeltiq company, which originally created it to address only the abs and sides. However, in the years that have followed, the company has refined its applicator technology so that arms, thighs, legs, and other areas can be treated as well.

It Sounds Too Good to Be True… Does Coolsculpting Really Work?

The technology has undergone extensive clinical testing that documents its effectiveness. In an average session, roughly 20% of fat cells in a target area are eliminated. Although there may be some variation among different individual results, the process can also be repeated for higher effectiveness.

I Want to Lose a Lot of Weight… Will I Need a Lot of Sessions?

It is important to note that this “sculpting” treatment is not the same as medical weight loss. Ideal patients are those who are close to their ideal body weight but are having trouble getting rid of the last few pounds. If you are looking to lose a lot of weight, Dr. Steven Dayan may have other suggestions for how to accomplish this, and then use a sculpting session for the finishing touches.

Is There Anyone Who CAN'T Get This Treatment?

We do not recommend this treatment for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or who may be pregnant or breastfeeding in the near future. We also do not advise it for anyone who has a strong sensitivity to cold.

Will My Results REALLY Be Permanent?

Yes! The eliminated fat cells will be gone forever, once the body flushes them from the system. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle after treatment, you should be able to maintain your results as well. Of course, it is possible for the body to create new fat cells over time, so we strongly encourage our patients to continue a sensible diet and exercise routine in order to maximize their benefits.

What to Expect From the Treatment Experience

At Steven H Dayan, MD, we make sure your treatment is personalized to your specific needs. Different patients have unique goals, as well as individual concerns when it comes to their health. We have extensive experience working with patients to get it just right.

Your Consultation

At the beginning of our process, we will meet with you one-on-one. We will want to make sure that CoolSculpting is the right choice for you, and the best way to achieve your goals. We will discuss your medical history and any concerns you might have about the process.

Once we have determined that this is the best treatment for you, we will personalize the approach and schedule in order to get you the best results possible.

Your Treatment

Although it might sound intimidating at first, this sculpting treatment is very relaxing when compared to other approaches such as liposuction. There is no anesthetic required. We will take care of all of the work, and make sure that patients are comfortable throughout the session. If you like, you can read, text, or use your smartphone while the treatment takes place.

Your Results

After the treatment session, simply wait for the body to get rid of the fat on its own. No downtime or recovery is required, and you may even decide to go back to work or resume normal activities on the same day. The elimination of the cells will continue over a period of several weeks, and if you want additional results, we can arrange a follow-up session.

Call Us Today About Coolsculpting!

Millions of people dream about getting the body they've always wanted––but why waste time dreaming when you can actually do something about it? Learn more about the fantastic, state-of-the-art technology known as CoolSculpting. Contact Steven H Dayan, MD in Chicago, IL, and schedule your consultation today!