Freeze Your Fat?!? Is that even possible? In the 1960s, it was noted that children who ate popsicles developed dimples in their cheeks. This phenomenon was coined “popsicle panniculitis” and was a result of the effect of cold on fat cells. Fat cells are more susceptible to cold than other tissues. After exposure to cold, the fat cells die, leaving a dimple. Since the discovery of this phenomenon, extensive research has been done. Zeltiq coined the phrase “Freeze Your Fat” to describe CoolSculpting. CoolSculpting was FDA cleared in 2010 and Zeltiq has continued to make improvements and advancements in the technology since that time.
In 2013, the CoolFit was released, allowing you to freeze your fat on the inner thighs and arms.
In 2014, the CoolSmooth was released, which led to a huge increase in the number of patients that could be treated with CoolSculpting. The applicator is intended for treatment of the outer thighs, but can also be used to treat any “nonpinchable” fat. It is a great tool to freeze your fat in small abdominal fat pockets and in patients with tight abdominal skin.
The latest addition to the CoolSculpting family came in late 2015 with the CoolMini. The CoolMini was designed for the small pockets of fat that can be extremely frustrating. Before the release of the CoolMini, the only options for reducing a double chin were liposuction and Kybella (which involves multiple painful injections, bruising and swelling). But the CoolMini can be used for so much more! You can freeze your fat on the inner and upper knees, that bulge that can develop in the front of the armpit and anywhere else the small applicator can be placed.
With these new applicators, CoolSculpting can treat just about any area on the body. No needles, no surgery, no downtime, just freeze your fat away! Other advances on the horizon will shorten the time of each treatment and make it even more comfortable for the patient. Unlike other practices where CoolSculpting is performed by technicians or nurses, at Imagen all of our CoolSculpting applications are applied by our experienced physicians assuring the best possible treatment and outcome. Also, Imagen Body Sculpting is the first and only practice in Omaha to offer CoolSculpting Mini.
If you would like to find out more about how to freeze your fat with CoolSculpting, come in for a complimentary consultation. We would love to discuss if CoolSculpting is right for you and how we can help you reach your goals!
Jennifer Tighe de Soto, MD is a cosmetic surgeon who is board certified through the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. For more advice from Dr. de Soto on CoolSculpting, SmartLipo and other aesthetic treatments please visit www.omahaliposuction.com where you can read her blog and see before and after photos of actual patients. If there’s a topic you would like to see us cover in a blog, please Contact Us.