There has been a lot of buzz lately about fat freezing. Freezing fat, known medically as cryolipolysis, is one of the hottest trends in non-invasive body sculpting — that is, losing pockets of fat without needles, knives, or real downtime.
The basics of Body Fat.
Let’s start with the basics. Not all fat is created equal. We have two distinct types of fat in our bodies: subcutaneous fat (the kind that may roll over the waistband of your pants) and visceral a fat (the stuff that lines your organs and is associated with diabetes and heart disease.
From here on out, when we refer to fat, we are talking about subcutaneous fat, as this is the type of fat that cryolipolysis targets. A recent study showed that the body’s ability to remove subcutaneous fat decreases with age, which means we are fighting an uphill battle.
Cryolipolysis — which literally translates into cold (cryo) fat (lipo) destruction (lysis) — was invented, in part, by observing what can happen when kids eat ice lollies. No kidding here. The cofounders of this process were intrigued by something called “cold-induced fat necrosis” that was reported to occur after young children ate ice lollies that were inadvertently left resting on the cheek for several minutes. Skin samples taken from the patients, these showed inflammation in the fat, but normal overlying skin. Thus, it appeared that fat may be more sensitive to cold injury that other tissue type
Using this concept, a cooling device was tested on pigs in 2007 to see if fat cells could be selectively destroyed. The results were promising and predictable; there was about a 15mm reduction in the pig’s fat layer, without damaging the overlying skin, in the treated areas. By 2010, the first cryolipolysis technology approved for human use, the treatment was cleared for love handles. Clearance for treating other parts of the body, including the thighs, belly, bra fat, back, underside of the buttocks, and chin soon followed.
How does cryolipolysis work?
No one knows for sure, but we think that a few days after treatment, the cooled fat cells die. Over the next several months, macrophages, part of the immune system’s clean-up crew, digest the dead fat cells.
A cool procedure
To date, there have been more than eight million fat freezing treatments performed worldwide. Unlike liposuction, which can require anaesthesia and comes with risks of bleeding or serious infection, Fat Freezing is a relatively safe in-office procedure, with minimal pain and no downtime.
The treatment itself takes 30 to 60 minutes per application, and multiple applications may be needed to cover an area.
The most common side effects of treatment include redness, bruising, swelling, tingling, numbness, or darkening of the treated area. Most of these side effects, if present, will resolve within several hours after treatment.
Results can be seen as soon as two weeks, with maximum benefit seen at approximately three months. Average reduction in fat ranges from about 10% to 40% per round of treatment, and there is no evidence of any body-wide side effects. A second round of treatment may be needed after several months, depending on the desired results.
Who’s a good candidate for fat freezing?
Cryolipolysis appears to be a safe and effective treatment for fat loss without the downtime of liposuction or surgery. But it is important to note that cryolipolysis is intended for fat loss, not weight loss. The ideal candidate has stubborn, pinchable areas of fat that are difficult to get rid of with diet and exercise. Cryolipolysis also doesn’t target visceral fat, so it won’t improve your overall health. But it may help you fit into your favourite pair of skinny jeans.
Choosing the right clinic?
Multi Award Winning Body Lipo Lincoln is a medical lead clinic using only the best in Cryolipolysis technology, we believe only highly trained medical professions should preform aesthetic treatments, when choosing your clinic ask to see qualifications of practitioner and before and after pictures of their work (NOT STOCK PHOTOS). Every reputable clinic should be proud to show you their work and credentials.
Should you wish to book a consultation, the cost is £25 which is redeemable against any treatment plan. To Book your consultation you can click the link below or call 01522 523777 in office hours.
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Marcus Hudson Body Lipo Lincoln
