What Is Fat Freezing Therapy?

Fat freezing, also known as cryolipolysis, is a non-surgical, non-invasive fat reduction treatment that uses low temperatures to destroy excess fat mass in certain areas of the body thereby reducing fat deposits. It works by freezing fat cells. This treatment is more often used for areas of the body where fat reduction cannot be achieved even with reduced diet and exercise, causing them to deposit or bulge. It is not generally used for people who are obese or significantly overweight. The technology is patented under the name Cooling Sculpting.

The procedure can be done in a doctor’s office or outpatient clinic. The size and shape of the fatty deposit is assessed and the area to be treated is outlined with a skin-marking pencil. Patients are awake during the procedure.

Fat freezing treatment can be performed directly in the doctor's office or in an outpatient clinic. The patient is awake during the treatment. Prior to treatment, the doctor assesses the size and shape of the fat deposits and uses a marker to outline the areas the patient needs to treat.

A handle called an applicator is used during the treatment to freeze the fat cells under the skin. First, a gel pad is placed over the area to be treated to achieve a protective effect. Next, the fat bulge is suctioned into the applicator. During the suction process, the patient will feel a sensation of pulling of the skin, as well as a strong cold and tingling sensation, and the treated area will gradually become numb as it cools, a sensation that will diminish 5-10 minutes after the treatment.

It takes about one hour at most to treat an area. After the treatment, the applicator is removed. The area can be massaged for 2 to 3 minutes to aid in the breakdown of fat cells. After the treatment, the fat cells that were frozen die and are processed and absorbed by your body over the next few weeks to a month or two.

How does fat freezing work?

Fat freezing treatment targets dormant fat cells in the body, using low temperatures to freeze the fat cells in the area to be treated, which are destroyed resulting in "cell death". The dead cells are then processed by the body and excreted through the liver.

Since fat cells are more sensitive to temperature than skin cells, they do not damage the surrounding skin, this is the reason why fat freezing therapy is better than traditional liposuction.

Fat freezing therapy does not require surgery, which is why it has been able to become a fairly popular fat reduction treatment among many people.

The benefits of fat freezing

• It's non-invasive

Fat freezing is a low risk procedure. There is no risk of infection and no surgical incision is required. Patients do not require anesthesia prior to receiving treatment.

The popular fat freezing devices being used today are equipped with a number of applicators of varying sizes that can effectively work on various areas of the treated body. The doctor will place the applicator on the area to be treated and it begins to work by applying a functional pull to the skin, releasing cryogenic energy to destroy the fat cells deposited under your skin. Many patients report that their treatments are virtually painless and that the suction of the applicator is tolerable.

• Short treatment time

It takes up to 60 minutes to treat one localized area at a time. If you want to effectively target multiple areas, then you may need longer treatments to show results. Larger areas of the body, such as your back and abdomen, will also take longer to see results.

However, it is possible to treat more than one part of the body in the same session if the patient is physically able to tolerate it. But this is a decision that needs to be discussed with a professional.

• Short recovery period

Compared to traditional liposuction, fat freezing treatment can be performed as an outpatient treatment. The biggest advantage over liposuction is that there is no downtime after the treatment, and patients can return to their normal life and work on the same day or the next day of treatment. And the treatment can be performed on people of all ages.

• It is safe

Fat freezing treatment does not cause damage to nerve fibers, blood vessels, or muscles, nor does it cause lasting damage to the skin in the treated area. Following treatment, damaged or destroyed fat cells are permanently removed from the body.

The treated patient will also experience an increase in self-esteem due to the improved physical appearance.

Possible side effects of fat freezing

Common side effects of fat freezing include:

• Sensation of being sucked or pulled during the treatment
• Mild stinging pain
• Painful sensation
• Temporary skin irritation
• Swelling of the treated area
• Redness and swelling
• Bruising

These side effects will slowly diminish at the end of the treatment, so there is no need to worry too much.

A side effect known as paradoxical lipoatrophy may occur in a small number of people, which is less common. This manifests itself in the form of fat cells in the treated area that have not shrunk, but have grown larger. If this happens, the enlarged fat cells will not shrink on their own, and a traditional liposuction procedure will be needed to address the problem.

However, this is a rare occurrence and patients can check whether their body is tolerant to fat freezing treatment before undergoing the treatment without too much concern.

Who is a good candidate for fat freezing?

Fat cryotherapy is a safe and effective fat reduction treatment that has no downtime. However, it is important to note that the goal of fat freezing treatment is to lose stubborn fat, not to lose weight.

The best candidates for fat freezing therapy are people who are in good general health and want to improve their body shape but have difficulty losing fat through exercise and controlled diet. This is because cryo-liposuction is not intended for massive fat loss.

Fat freezing also does not target fat cells in your internal organs, so it will not improve your overall health. But it can help you fit into the tighter clothes you like.