If you could get rid of stubborn fat without having to undergo surgery, would you do it? If the increased popularity of CoolSculpting is any indication, the answer is “yes!”
When any treatment becomes popular, it’s not long before you see cheap “DIY” or “at-home” versions of it popping up online or in stores. While giving yourself a DIY facial or trying a superficial chemical peel at home might not cause any problems, it can be a different story with DIY attempts at CoolSculpting. Learn more about the risks of trying to perform CoolSculpting at home, and why it’s a treatment you should always leave to the pros.
What is CoolSculpting?
The CoolSculpting treatment uses controlled cooling to damage and eliminate unwanted fat cells. During an in-office treatment with CoolSculpting, specially-designed applicators are placed on each side of the treatment area.
The applicators use gentle suction to lift up and hold the treatment area in place before applying cold temperatures. Exposure to the cold damages the fat cells in the area, causing them to die. Over the course of several weeks, the body flushes away the damaged cells, eliminating them for good.
Although people often describe CoolSculpting as “freezing” away fat, the truth is that the cells don’t actually get frozen. The temperatures they are exposed to are cold, but not below freezing.
CoolSculpting machines also have a variety of safety mechanisms in place, from gel pads that keep the skin from getting too cold to temperature regulators, which switch off the machine if the skin’s temperature falls below a certain threshold.
How Does CoolSculpting at Home Work?
DIY CoolSculpting seems to take several forms. Some people believe that they can get the same results at home as they can in-office by applying ice packs or ice cubes directly to the skin. There are also “at home” fat “freezing” devices sold online that claim to provide results similar to CoolSculpting.
It’s very unlikely that you’ll see any type of results if you try to freeze away your fat at home using ice packs or ice cubes. CoolSculpting in-office relies on suction to target specific areas of fat. The temperature is completely controlled by the CoolSculpting machine.
When you use ice packs, it’s likely that the cold from the ice won’t reach the fat below your skin. It’s also impossible to regulate and control the temperature when you’re using ice. More likely than not, you’ll feel some cold discomfort on your skin for a while, then the ice will start to melt.
What Are the Risks of Doing CoolSculpting at Home?
Along with not giving you the results you want at all, there are some real risks to trying to freeze your fat away at home.
One notable risk is frostbite. When you see a professional for CoolSculpting in an office setting, the device features the use of a protective pad that insulates your skin and keeps it from getting too cold. Meanwhile, if you place ice packs or cubes directly on your skin at home, there is nothing to act as a buffer between the cold temperature of the ice and your skin.
Depending on how long you leave the ice in place, you can develop frostbite, which can lead to circulation problems, nerve damage, and even skin death.
Along with potentially causing frostbite, performing CoolSculpting at home can also be pretty painful. With prolonged exposure, you can develop numbness that persists even after you take the ice away.
Are There Risks of Professional CoolSculpting?
Compared to DIY CoolSculpting, the risks of professional CoolSculpting treatments are minimal. The applicators have many safety features built in to keep your skin from becoming too cold. The design of the system itself is meant to protect you from cold damage and to ensure that the treatment works as effectively as possible.
There is some risk of developing minor side effects after an in-office CoolSculpting session. Some people have redness or bruising in the treatment area immediately afterward. Usually, these side effects fade away within a few weeks.
What You Can Expect From CoolSculpting
While you aren’t likely to get the results you want if you try to freeze your fat away at home, professional CoolSculpting works. You can expect to lose up to 25% of the unwanted fat in the treated area. It can take up to 16 weeks, however, before your final results become visible.
If you’re hoping to enhance your results, you can schedule multiple treatment sessions in the same area. Depending on how many areas you want to treat and how much fat you want to get rid of, you might be able to treat two or more areas, such as both thighs or both sides of your love handles, at the same time.
Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas is proud to offer CoolSculpting, as well as the option of “Dualsculpting” in our comfortable, private treatment rooms. To learn more about the treatment and to schedule a session, call 281-810-9083 today.