Perhaps nothing is more aggravating than exercising and maintaining a healthy diet, only to have stubborn fat that won’t seem to go away. This hard-to-reach flab usually resides in the abdomen and saddlebag regions of the outer thighs. And for many, crunches, leg raises, leg lifts, planks, sit ups, lunges and squats can only do so much and go so far. Unless you are a world-class athlete who constantly trains and adapts a diet to manipulate your body in extraordinary ways, you may never get below the average body fat percentage for men and women who are “fit,” which is 21-24 percent for women and 14-17 percent for men.
But with growing technologies like CoolSmooth, certified dermatologists and skilled cosmetic surgeons are able to help clients get rid of stubborn fat once and for all. If you've heard of the procedure, or even if you have not, you may have queries. Here are the top eight:
1. What is CoolSmooth?
CoolSmooth is an applicator specifically designed to target “non-pinchable” areas of fat in the abdomen and saddle bag regions of the outer thighs. It is a byproduct of the CoolSculpting procedure, which uses a suction apparatus over the target area to suck in the skin between two cold plates. More than other body tissues, fat cells are more susceptible to cold. The plates take the fat cells to just above freezing, causing them to die and break apart. The body then absorbs these destroyed cells and eliminates them from the body over time.
2. How Does CoolSmooth Compare to CoolSculpting?
CoolSmooth works very much like CoolSculpting, in that it uses extreme cold to cause fat cell death and then the body naturally absorbs or metabolizes the destroyed fat cells, leaving behind a slimmer, more sculpted area. The exception, however, is that CoolSmooth does not suction the skin between two plates. Instead, it freezes the fat cells with a direct compression application pressed against the treatment area.
3. What Happens to the Fat After It Has Been Destroyed?
Many wonder what becomes of the fat that is lost. Once the fat is destroyed and absorbed by the body, it is gone for good; meaning, the fat loss is permanent. However, it is up to the patient to continue to remain active and maintain their weight to keep new fat cells from forming in the area. Also, maintenance and care are required for an optimal outcome, which means this procedure may need to be performed again in the future.
4. Is Surrounding Tissue or Skin Harmed in the Process?
CoolSmooth is a smart technology that only targets fat cells in the treatment area. Muscles and tissues are not as vulnerable as fat cells are to cold temperatures, so the applicator can be applied without affecting them. And to guard the skin, a protective gel is put over the treatment area before the applicator is applied. Also, immediately following treatment, the area is massaged to warm the skin and increase blood flow to the site.
5. How Long Is the CoolSmooth Procedure?
In all, this procedure generally takes 1- 2 hours.
6. Is There Downtime with the Procedure?
Because it is non-invasive and requires no anesthesia, there is little downtime. Most patients are able to return to their daily activities immediately.
7. Are Results Immediate with CoolSmooth?
Results will take time, so it is important that the patient be realistic about their goals and discuss expectations with their specialist prior to having the procedure. While many patients will see results in as little as three weeks, more dramatic changes will appear over 1 to 3 months as the metabolization/absorption process continues.
8. Who Is the Best Candidate for CoolSmooth?
This procedure is best for people who have an active lifestyle but are having trouble ridding stubborn regions of fat around the outer thighs and abdomen.
