CoolSculpting Elite in St. Louis

CoolSculpting is the patented name for cryolipolysis, a non-surgical procedure that uses cold temperatures to reduce unwanted body fat. This type of body contouring procedure aims to create slimmer, more desirable contours by eliminating stubborn pockets of fat in certain areas. CoolSculpting also refers to the machine used for this treatment.

The CoolSculpting machine was developed by Zeltiq Aesthetics and received its first FDA clearance in 2010 for the treatment of love handles. Since then, it has received further FDA clearance for nine different areas of the body and has become one of the most sought-after body contouring treatments today.

In a nutshell, CoolSculpting works by quite literally freezing fat cells.

The CoolSculpting machine comes with rounded applicators with integrated cooling panels. The applicators create a vacuum to first suction the targeted fat bulges.

Then, the machine delivers carefully controlled cold temperatures to the treatment area. This causes fat cell membranes to rupture and the fat cells to die. The body’s lymphatic system then removes the dead fat cells over three weeks to three months.

The idea for CoolSculpting came from clinical observations that fat freezes at lower temperatures than water-rich tissue. It all started with “popsicle panniculitis,” a condition first observed by researchers in the 1970s.

The condition namely involved redness, swelling, and fat cell death in an infant who had been sucking on a popsicle. This same phenomenon was later observed in adults as well.

Using the above observations, researchers at the Harvard Medical School developed cryolipolyis in 2007 as a new method of non-invasive fat removal.

There are many non-surgical as well as surgical ways to sculpt the body. Examples include liposuction, Emsculpt®, Liposonix®, Vanquish®, Zerona® and Kybella®. While each of these has its unique advantages, CoolSculpting remains the top, most sought-after treatment for the following benefits:

Non-invasive

Because CoolSculpting does not involve incisions, anesthesia or stitches, it is safer and better tolerated than its surgical counterparts. As a result, there is no downtime involved, and side effects are mild and resolve quickly (within two to three weeks).

Quick and Simple

There’s little preparation and no downtime involved with CoolSculpting. All patients need to do is come to their scheduled appointment, lie down, and relax as the CoolSculpting machine delivers controlled cooling for one to three hours.

It Works!

Studies show that a single CoolSculpting session can eliminate up to 25% of the fat in the treatment area. What’s more, up to 86% of treated patients show improvement and 76% claim they were happy with their results compared to other non-invasive treatments.

Permanent Results

Unlike other non-invasive treatments, CoolSculpting offers permanent results. Your body produces a limited number of fat cells by your mid-20s. So once we remove fat cells through CoolSculpting, these cells are gone for good. However, keep in mind that the remaining fat cells can accumulate fat and grow in size.

Fat can accumulate in nearly any body area. Luckily, the makers of CoolSculpting have developed a range of applicators to help address unwanted fat nearly anywhere on the body. Currently, this treatment is approved for treatment in the following sites:

• Under the jaw and chin
• Abdomen and flanks
• Inner and outer thighs
• Banana rolls
• Above the knees
• Upper arms
• Back and bra fat

At Aestheticare STL in St. Louis, we also offer QuadSculpting, which is CoolSculpting® but four times faster! For that purpose, we have two CoolSculpting® machines, which allow treatment of four different areas in a single session.

A typical CoolSculpting treatment is simple, relatively quick and painless.

Before treatment, patients don’t need to do much. You may be advised to avoid medication and supplements that thin the blood, avoid smoking and come to your appointment in comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

During treatment, you will be seated in a reclined chair in a comfortable and quiet room. Because treatment can take up to three hours, we often advise patients to bring something for entertainment, like a book or music. Your provider will place one or several applicators on your problem areas and let the machine do the rest.

As far as sensation goes, you may feel cooling, mild pinching, and numbness from the suction and cooling involved. Immediately after treatment, it is normal to experience some level of numbness and redness in the treatment area. Swelling after treatment is also expected and a sign that the treatment is working. This is due to the body’s immune system responding to eliminate the destroyed fat cells.

At Aestheticare STL, we offer CoolSculpting Elite to all our St. Louis clients. Many of our patients wonder if and how this treatment differs from CoolSculpting.

CoolSculpting Elite is simply an upgraded version of the original CoolSculpting system. It features two applicators instead of one so we can treat multiple areas at once. For the patient, this means fewer treatment sessions and more dramatic results. The new applicators are C-shaped instead of U-shaped like in the older version, which has made the treatment more comfortable and efficient, decreasing the severity of side effects.

CoolSculpting is meant for patients already at or near their ideal body weight but struggling with stubborn fat pockets that don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise attempts. That’s because CoolSculpting removes only small portions of unwanted fat, so it isn’t likely to offer visible improvement in patients with large amounts of excess body fat.

Besides that, the ideal CoolSculpting candidate is relatively healthy and not a smoker, pregnant or breastfeeding.

To learn more about CoolSculpting in St. Louis, contact our offices today at 314.310.0454 or schedule your appointment here.

Ideal CoolSculpting candidates are individuals who have areas of unwanted fat, especially those who are resistant to diet and exercise. People within 30 lbs of their ideal body weight get the best results.

CoolSculpting is a body sculpting treatment, not a weight-loss treatment. People who are obese or morbidly obese are normally not suitable candidates.

Most people feel minor discomfort during the first 5 minutes of the treatment and the final 10 minutes of the treatment. This is very tolerable, and it requires no medication.

Areas treated with wave therapy have a more dramatic reduction in overall fat at four weeks post-procedure.

If you gain weight following any fat cell removal or destruction procedure, then fat cells somewhere in your body will increase in size. Lifestyle choices are important.

The number of CoolSculpting Elite sessions required for optimal results varies depending on the individual’s goals and the specific area being treated. Generally, 1 to 3 sessions are sufficient to achieve the desired outcomes. 

While some people may notice enhancements within a month, most see significant improvements and benefits within one to three months. 

Treatment is usually well-tolerated with minimal discomfort. You might experience mild itching or tingling in the treated area shortly after, but this typically subsides within a few days. Although rare, bruising or swelling can also occur but should resolve quickly with proper aftercare. 

The length of each session varies based on the treatment area, but they generally last between 30 to 75 minutes. 

CoolSculpting provides a long-lasting fat reduction solution by permanently destroying targeted fat cells.