There's been a lot of chatter about freezing recently, and no, we're not referring to the start of the snow season in Thredbo. Freezing fat, or coolsculpting as it is also known, is one of the biggest developments in non-invasive body contouring.
This revolutionary technology, known medically as cryolipolysis, permanently eliminates stubborn fat pockets all over the body, without getting anywhere near a knife, a needle or necessitating any downtime.
A Quick History – From Icypoles to Fat Freezing
Strange as it may sound, Cryolipolysis, which literally translates as cold (cryo) fat (lipo) breakdown (lysis), was developed in part by studying what happens when young children consume iceblocks. No joke. It was a phenomenon known as “cold-induced fat necrosis,” which inspired the process’s cofounders’ initial interest. It was reported that when young toddlers ate iceblocks and mistakenly left them sitting on their face or cheek for several minutes, this caused some of the fat cells in the cheeks to die and be eliminated. Skin samples from paediatric patients indicated inflammation in the fat but normal overlying skin. As a result, it appeared that fat was more susceptible to cold harm than other tissue types.
“when young toddlers ate iceblocks and mistakenly left them sitting on their face or cheek for several minutes, this caused some of the fat cells in the cheeks to die.”
In 2007, a cooling device was tried on pigs using this approach to explore if fat cells might be selectively eliminated. The findings were encouraging and exciting. The fat in the pig’s treated areas dropped half an inch AND without injuring any of the surrounding skin. Fast forward a few years of R&D to 2010 and the first cryolipolysis technology was authorized for human use as a therapy for love handles and the dreaded muffin top. Other regions of the body, such as the tummy, thighs, back fat, butt, and chin were subsequently cleared for treatment also.
How Does Coolsculpting work?
The fundamentals of body fat
To understand how it works, let’s start with the fundamentals. Not all fat is the same. Our bodies are made up of both subcutaneous fat (the sort that rolls over the waistband of your jeans) and visceral fat (the stuff that lines your organs and is associated with diabetes and heart disease). It is this subcutaneous fat that is targeted by coolsculpting.
The Treatment
During the coolsculpting procedure, freezing temperatures are used to break down fat cells. Because cold does not harm other cells in the same manner as it harms fat cells, the skin or underlying tissue is not impaired.
The practitioner applies light suction to the skin above the region of fatty tissue into an applicator that cools the fat cells during the process. The chilly temperatures numb the region and this is usually experienced by the patient as a cooling sensation.
What Happens to the Fat in Fat Freezing?
The cooled fat cells die a few days after therapy and continue to do so over a period of time. Harnessing the body’s natural processes, macrophages, which are part of the immune system’s cleanup crew, begin to consume the deceased fat cells over the following few months.
Who is a good candidate for fat freezing?
Cryolipolysis a safe and effective fat removal procedure that does not need the downtime associated with liposuction or surgery. It is vital to emphasise, however, that cryolipolysis is meant for fat removal rather than weight reduction. The ideal candidate is already near to their optimum body weight but has persistent, pinchable regions of fat that are tough to eliminate with diet and exercise alone. Cryolipolysis also does not target visceral fat, thus it will have no effect on your general health. However, it may assist you in fitting into your favourite little black dress.
