Can you get rid of unwanted fat by freezing it?
Thanks to the great minds of physicians at Mass General Hospital (Harvard Medical School’s Hospital), a revolutionizing new technology named Coolsculpting by Zeltiq is available to decrease targeted fat deposits in the belly, love handles, and back area by doing just that… freezing the fat!
What is Zeltiq?
Zeltiq is unique and patented device that eliminates fat cells from specific localized targeted areas of the body, without surgery, needles, anesthesia or the need for pain medication. Clinical studies involving hundreds of patients show that the Zeltiq procedure provides a noticeable, measurable fat reduction in 2-4 months in properly selected patients.
How does Zeltiq work?
The Zeltiq cooling system causes crystallization of the fat cells which leads to gradual and safe elimination by the body’s normal metabolic processes.
Patients comfortably lie down or sit, depending on the area treated. The actual process involves attaching a hand piece, which suctions itself to the area that needs treatment, and the cooling plates are then turned on for one hour. No pain medication or anesthetic is needed. The Zeltiq procedure is comfortable enough to read, work on a laptop, listen to music with headphones, watch DVDs, or take a nap.
Usually two hours of treatment will be scheduled at a time, but patients may schedule more or less time depending on your schedule for that day.
Are there side effects or downtime?
The Zeltiq procedure has no down time! It is safe and completely non-invasive which allows immediate return to work, exercise, shopping, or dinner. Afterwards, patients experience redness which usually lasts minutes to hours. Some patients may experience bruising and/or mild tenderness, cramping and/or itching for 1-2 weeks and a temporary dulling of sensation for 1-8 weeks.
How long does it take to see results?
It takes about 8 weeks to see the results from Coolsculpting treatments, and those results continue to improve for up to 16 weeks.
Are the results the same as liposuction?
The results from Zeltiq are not as rapid or dramatic as liposuction, but it is not a surgical procedure so the discomfort, recovery time, and cost are usually much less. Usually, multiple treatments are required with Zeltiq, so if you’re looking for a quick fix, you might be better of with liposuction. If you can afford to take a few days off of work, however, Zeltiq may be the right procedure for you.
How much does Zeltiq cost?
The cost of Zeltiq varies depending upon the skill and experience of the treating physician, as well as geographic location. The cost ranges from $600 to $900 per treated area per session.
