What is Cryolipolysis / Fat Freezing? What is Cryotherapy?

It might be because summer is just around the corner and we are looking at getting back into our bikini or just to look and feel your best, but a certain topic has been making headlines again. It’s none other than cryolipolysis, commonly known as fat freezing.  This is a non-invasive body contouring procedure that can help you eliminate stubborn fat from just about anywhere you can think of.

This article will discuss the cryolipolysis procedure and whether it is a safe, pain-free, non-surgical body contouring treatment that can assist you.

So let’s get started….

WHAT IS CRYOLIPOLYSIS OR FAT FREEZING?

Cryolipolysis is a non-surgical body sculpting procedure using cold temperatures, which helps reduce the fat deposits in different areas of the body. It is more commonly known as ‘fat freezing’.

Cryolipolysis targets the subcutaneous fat in your body; it is a fat type you can pinch and is found just under your skin. As you age, your body’s ability to reduce subcutaneous fat decreases; thus, it is no surprise that you can’t get rid of the bra bulges anymore.

The procedure was first approved in 2010, and its origins are quite unconventional. It was invented after observing children eating popsicles. The research concluded that children who ate popsicles experienced a fat reduction or degradation in their cheeks; thus, fat is more sensitive to cold than other tissue types.

Plastic surgeon Jason Roostaeian, MD, says, “Fat is more temperature-sensitive than your skin. It goes through the cell death process before your skin does.”

HOW IT WORKS

Unlike liposuction, which requires needles and knives and the patient to be under anaesthesia, cryolipolysis is a relatively safe procedure conducted in an outpatient or clinic setting. The process is also pain-free and requires no downtime. Let’s discuss how the CRYO 21 method works.

The CRYO 21 is different from other cryo methods as its handle or probe is manually moved to where the targeted fat is. In contrast, other methods use handles that are directly attached to the body with a vacuum and give bruising or burn marks.

Cryo 21 is a therapeutic treatment that creates a thermal shock by reducing the temperature of the fat cells. This process is called apoptosis, which results in a gradual degeneration and elimination of dead fat cells. In this method, the machine reduces the temperature in the area from 34 °C to only 8 °C., without the patient feeling any cold. These fat cells become crystalized, then die. Your body then naturally processes and eliminates these dead cells. The result – permanent elimination of stubborn fat!

After 4-6 treatments, the patient can lose up to 12 cm around the waist or 5 sizes, completely permanent without surgery.

Treatments take around 30 mins and can treat more than 1 area at a time and target any area of the body, such as arms, double chin, abdominal fat, cellulite, etc.

WHAT HAPPENS TO FAT AFTER COOLSCUPTING

Once fat cells die, they are eliminated through the body naturally. These cells never return. Results are permanent! Any untreated areas will remain as they were prior to the Cool Sculpting procedure.

PROS AND CONS OR TREATMENTS

There are multiple pros and cons of cryolipolysis or fat-freezing; let’s have a look at each to determine whether the process is worth the cost and hype.

Pros

  • No pain compared to other fat reduction surgeries and alternatives
  • Non-invasive and non-surgical body contouring procedure.
  • Patients are not anaesthetised before the treatment and are awake during the whole session.
  • It’s a low-risk procedure requiring no downtime, and patients can return to their regular activities immediately.
  • It is affordable and takes less than an hour.
  • Patients can get multiple areas treated in a single session.
  • There is no lasting damage to the treated area or any blood vessels or muscles.
    Fat cells destroyed are permanently removed from the body.

Cons

Despite the advantages, there are a few risks and downsides associated with cryolipolysis or fat-freezing.

  • It is not recommended for individuals with obesity and is referred to patients with good general health who want to treat specific body areas.
  • The patient rarely feels no pain afterward.
  • The time difference between the two sessions is 2 weeks, as it takes that long for dead fat cells to leave the body.
  • It takes around 3-4 months to reach optimal results.

WHO IS A BAD CANDIDATE FOR FAT FREEZING

It is worth noting that cryolipolysis is not a one-stop-shop solution for fat reduction and degradation, and not everyone can take advantage of the non-surgical body sculpting procedure. The following individuals are bad candidates for fat freezing:

  • People with obesity
  • Those who cannot handle cold temperatures
  • People affected by phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, or varicose veins
  • People who have had organ transplants.
  • Pregnant or nursing individuals
  • People with inflammatory skin disorders
  • Individuals with diseases like Raynaud’s phenomenon, Cryoglobulinemia, Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, Cold
  • urticaria, or those with poor skin tone or loose skin.
  • Cryolipolysis is also not suited for areas that have rashes, lesions, varicose veins, or nerve problems.

Since we have discussed bad candidates for fat-freezing, let’s look at who can benefit from this procedure.

  • The ideal candidate is already close to their body weight and wants to remove stubborn pinchable areas of fat layers that are not removed by diet or exercise.
  •  The results will not be as prominent if the individual has firm and thick tissue.

Cryolipolysis is not intended for weight loss; it doesn’t improve your overall health or target visceral fat.

POST TREATMENT CARE

As stated above, fat-freezing is a relatively safe technique, and the only side effect is reddening, which will disappear within an hour. After treatment, patients should increase their water intake and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.

IS CRYOTHERAPY THE SAME AS CRYOLIPOLYSIS?

Yes, cryotherapy is the same as cryolipolysis. Cryotherapy, commonly known as cold therapy, uses freezing temperatures to remove abnormal tissue from the body. It is used to treat pain, reduce inflammation, treat skin conditions, and even some cancers. Cryolipolysis is a type of cryotherapy that is used for fat loss.

Cryolipolysis is an effective fat loss procedure that is non-surgical and affordable. A personalised treatment plan can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000, but the final cost depends on the size of the target body part, the number of sessions, and your practitioner. For more information regarding cryolipolysis, reach out to The Bod Shop – Non-surgical fat removal & skin tightening specialists.