This week on the blog, we’re diving into everything you need to know about CoolSculpting results, including answering the question: is CoolSculpting permanent? Where does the fat go? And so much more! If you’re interested in understanding more about CoolSculpting results, make sure to chat one-on-one with a highly-trained CoolSculpting provider. Their expertise is the secret sauce to your transformation, as their skill with the treatment directly impacts the outcomes you’ll see.
If you’re new here, welcome to Element Body Lab, the premier practice offering CoolSculpting Elite and CoolTone in Dallas, Texas. Our team, led by Jessie Poole, is the top-rated and top-performing practice in DFW. Jessie is one of the few national trainers on CoolSculpting technology and has held the title of Allergan Medical Institute Faculty for three years. Our team is the highest-trained team in Texas! When you’re here, you’re in good hands.
Is CoolSculpting Permanent?
Yes, CoolSculpting results are permanent. Once the fat cells are gone, they’re gone for good. CoolSculpting works by delivering cold energy to targeted areas, freezing, and in turn, killing pockets of stubborn fat. Long-term studies have followed patients showing the outcomes of unilateral (one-sided) treatment. The understanding of how fat works in the body further supports the efficacy of CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting specifically targets subcutaneous fat, the notorious “last 5 pounds” that resist conventional diet and exercise. This non-invasive procedure triggers natural cell death in fat cells, ensuring that once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.
That said, it’s not a free pass. You can duplicate fat cells if they hit critical cell size (massive weight gain), and fat cells can redistribute during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. That’s why discussing lifestyle, weight changes, and goals is important during your consultation. Want to chat with our team for some customized advice? Book a consult with us to get started!
Where Does The Fat Go After CoolSculpting?
After a CoolSculpting treatment, the eliminated fat cells are naturally processed by your body through the lymphatic system. In simpler terms, your body excretes them through urine, stool, sweat, and even breath! Fortunately, this removal process is gradual, taking place over the course of weeks to months.
You won’t notice any changes immediately, although some clients at Element Body Lab do report a change in the texture or smell of their stool, especially those who are highly attuned to their diet.
How Long Does oolSculpting Results Last?
That said, it’s not a free pass. You can duplicate fat cells if they hit critical cell size (massive weight gain), and fat cells can redistribute during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. That’s why discussing lifestyle, weight changes, and goals is important during your consultation. Want to chat with our team for some customized advice? Book a consult with us to get started!
As long as you maintain your weight, CoolSculpting is permanent! Once the fat is gone, it’s gone for good, you just maintain your results by maintaining your weight. While exceptions do exist due to medical conditions and history, most people have a pre-determined number of fat cells, which is fairly stable and set by the end of adolescence. What happens during weight gain and weight loss is that fat cells get bigger and smaller, like balloons! But you don’t actually create any new fat cells. CoolSculpting changes the number of fat cells in an area, and once they’re gone, they’re gone permanently.
Do you Gain Fat Back After CoolSculpting?
You can gain weight after CoolSculpting, but not in the way most people think. Consider the image above, showing the difference between CoolSculpting vs weight loss.
During a CoolSculpting treatment, we don’t eliminate 100% of fat cells in any area. Instead, we sculpt away pockets of fat that seem or feel disproportionate to other areas, leaving behind a healthy, natural-looking body.
You will be able to gain and lose weight naturally within the silhouette we sculpt during your session. So if before your treatment, you were always “pear-shaped” and wanted a more hourglass figure, we could focus on the areas that always bothered you and sculpt a natural, hourglass shape. Then, when you gain and lose weight, you’ll do so in the hourglass shape, not in the pear shape.
It’s important to note that fat cells can duplicate if they reach a critical size (massive weight gain), and fat cells can redistribute during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. That’s why discussing lifestyle, weight changes, and goals is crucial during your consultation. Want to chat with our team for some customized advice? Book a consult with us to get started!
How Long For CoolSculpting Results?
CoolSculpting results take time. You probably won’t notice any changes at all for several weeks. On average, clients start to notice small changes around three weeks after the treatment, with full results visible three to four months after any one session. The timeline can vary; some clients see results sooner, while others may take longer. Factors that influence this include your metabolic rate, lymphatic flush efficiency, the treatment plan itself, and the texture of the fat being treated.
CoolSculpting Timeline: What To Expect After one week
Immediate Post Treatment Phase
After your CoolSculpting session, anticipate immediate effects such as redness, swelling, bruising, and numbness. Interestingly, the treated area might temporarily appear larger due to the expected inflammatory response.
Here is an example of the recovery process for an upper arm treatment, with photos taken:
- immediately after treatment
- 24 hours treatment
- 72 hours after treatment
- 1 week after treatment
What you’ll notice is that redness, swelling, and bruising are all present, and these are considered normal side effects. It’s important to keep this in mind when scheduling your treatment, as it may impact your decision on when to get started.
Subsequent Weeks
As the swelling subsides within 1-2 weeks, some clients might mistakenly believe they are noticing changes. However, true CoolSculpting results typically manifest between 3 weeks to 3 months post-treatment.
Factors influencing CoolSculpting Results
Individual Variations in Response to CoolSculpting
CoolSculpting isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Genetic predisposition and unique physiological characteristics influence how each body reacts to the treatment. The best way to know how you personally will respond would be to chat one-on-one with our team. Book a consultation to get started!
Impact of Metabolism, Lifestyle, and Treated Areas
- Metabolic Variability: Metabolism, often described as the body’s engine, differs from person to person. Factors such as age, genetics, and overall health contribute to this metabolic variability. Individuals with a higher metabolic rate tend to experience a more rapid turnover of substances within the body, including the removal of targeted fat cells.
- Enhanced Fat Elimination in High Metabolism Individuals:
- Efficient Fat Processing: High metabolic rates facilitate the swift processing and elimination of crystallized fat cells.
- Quicker Visible Results: Individuals with elevated metabolism often experience more immediate and noticeable CoolSculpting results.
Importance of Lifestyle in Metabolic Health
A healthy lifestyle, encompassing balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and proper hydration, significantly contributes to maintaining an optimal metabolic rate. Lifestyle choices complement CoolSculpting by supporting the body’s natural ability to process and eliminate treated fat.
How To Speed Up CoolSculpting Results
Accelerating your CoolSculpting results is possible with a few simple steps.
- Stay Hydrated: Ensure you drink plenty of water to help flush out the fat cells.
- Exercise: Engage in a workout session within 24 hours of your treatment to boost your metabolism and enhance the fat elimination process.
- Use Recovery Cream: Apply the provided recovery cream diligently to support the healing process. For our clients at Element Body Lab, we recommend Alastin TransFORM Body Treatment and/or Arnica Topical Gel..
- Compression: Use compression garments as recommended to reduce swelling and aid in recovery.
Ensure you stay adequately hydrated, engage in a workout session within 24 hours of your treatment, apply the provided recovery cream diligently, and make use of compression. For a more in-depth understanding of the CoolSculpting recovery process, delve into our detailed CoolSculpting Recovery guide.
The Role of Proper Consultation in Setting Realistic Expectations
During your CoolSculpting consultation, our providers delve into the intricacies of the treatment process and align treatment recommendations with your unique anatomy and goals.
It’s essential to pick a highly trained provider, as provider selection is the single, most-important decision you will make amidst your CoolSculpting treatment. They are the key ingredient to delivering exceptional outcomes, as it takes copious amounts of training and hands-on experience to master the skill of body contouring.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Open communication is encouraged to address concerns, discuss ideal timelines, and establish realistic expectations. Personalized treatment recommendations ensure successful outcomes, and educating yourself about potential result variations enhances your understanding.
Embark on your CoolSculpting journey with confidence, armed with the knowledge of how permanence, timelines, and influencing factors shape your transformative experience. At Element Body Lab, we’re not just sculpting bodies; we’re crafting lasting confidence.