We received our new CoolSculpting fat freezing machine on August 10th. If you are not aware of this technology by Zeltiq please read on. Coolsculpting is a way to freeze your fat away. It was discovered that fat cells are damaged at cold temperatures and other cells (skin) are spared. This device allows us to place a device on your lumps and bumps of fat and freeze them away! Is it magic, of course not. This technology is for the individual who exercises, eats right but still has some grab (able) areas of frustrating fat. The machine sucks the fat/skin area into a hand piece and then freezes the area for one hour. The fat cells then undergo a process known as Apoptosis, this is how your body gets rid of dead cells. A 20-25% reduction of size can be expected over the course of 3 MONTHS. This is not a surgical procedure and does not require anesthesia or pain medication. You can resume normal activity that day. Patients may develop bruising at the site and will have some numbness and tingling over the treated are for about a week.
I treated my abdomen and my right flank today. I will use the left Flank as a comparison for you. I will treat it in the future.
My Lower Abdomen will be treated today
flank today.
My Right Flank will be Treated today
THE TREATMENT- The area to be treated will be pinched, marked and measured to determine what hand piece shape and size you will need. Then you will lay lay down on a stretcher depending on the area being treated. A very cold gel pad will be placed over the treatment area. The hand piece suction will then be turned on and the device positioned over the treatment area and then attached. The skin and fat will be drawn up into the device. This is quite an unusual feeling and can be a little uncomfortable ( it is not painful ) just weird. The cooling will now begin. For about 10 minutes I had a burning sensation in my abdomen and almost exactly at 10 minutes it stopped. The remaining 50 minutes was effortless.
Now the treatment is over, the device is shut off and detached, this is an unusual feeling. The area is red and looks like a frozen stick of butter. I will show a pic. The area is then massaged for 5 minutes. THIS IS IMPORTANT. There is some thought that the crystallized fat pokes and ruptures the fat cell during this process leading to more reduction of cells.
Post Treatment- For about 10 minutes I had some mild discomfort, there were some little jolts of pain, at no time did I ever think I needed medication. And again almost exactly 10 minutes later the pain was gone only to be replaced with a numb dull sensation over the treatment area.
The right flank was treated next and I must say was almost pain and sensation free, this is not a tender area and in comparison effortless. There was a small bruise on the flank after the treatment and none on the abdomen.
Immediately After the Treatment10 Minutes Post Treatment
The rest of my day was pretty easy. I was able to treat new Coolsculpting patients without discomfort. This machine is a winner. This is perfect to get those stubborn areas that do not seem to go regardless of how hard you work out. Call us for information and to see if it is right for you ( 732) 842-3737. Tell my office you read this in my blog and you will receive a free consultation.
Dr. Greco
