Why Choose Noninvasive Body Contouring Treatment CoolSculpting®?

Cosmetic surgery and convenient med spa treatments offer men and women a variety of ways to achieve an improved appearance. One problem that has long plagued patients is the inability to lose stubborn pockets of fat. In some cases, certain areas of excess fat can become unresponsive to traditional diet and exercise or respond at a much slower rate than the fat in other places. Fortunately, noninvasive CoolSculpting treatments make it possible to eliminate these fat cells easily and effectively, allowing patients to achieve their aesthetic goals without the need for surgery. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Après Plastic Surgery have helped numerous patients in the Beaverton, Lake Oswego, and Pearl District areas of Portland rid themselves of stubborn fat cells with CoolSculpting.

To better determine if CoolSculpting is right for you, it is important to first understand the procedure, how it works, and what kinds of results you can expect.

What is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical body contouring treatment designed to eliminate small to moderate amounts of fat in certain areas of the body. This is accomplished through the use of regulated cooling technology, formally known as cryolipolysis. Using this method, fat cells are frozen, destroyed, and ultimately passed from the body.

Which areas can be treated with CoolSculpting?

One of the most exciting benefits of CoolSculpting is its versatility in treating a variety of areas on the body. Some of the most common areas that CoolSculpting is used on include:

• Stomach
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Flanks
• Double chin
• Male chest

If you have other areas of concern, the knowledgeable and experienced team at Après Plastic Surgery can determine if CoolSculpting, or another treatment option, may be effective for you.

Is CoolSculpting safe?

CoolSculpting is FDA-approved for the treatment of fat cells and is considered a safe procedure with few risks or side effects. Patients may experience some redness, stinging, bruising, or swelling at the treatment site, but these symptoms are usually moderate and subside fairly quickly. Another aspect of CoolSculpting that patients enjoy is that there is virtually no downtime associated with the procedure. Immediately following a CoolSculpting session, patients are able to return to work or school in most cases. It may be recommended that you refrain from strenuous exercise for 24 hours following treatment.

How long do CoolSculpting results last?

When fat cells are frozen and destroyed through CoolSculpting, they never come back, making the results permanent. However, it is important to remember that new fat cells can generate, even in areas where CoolSculpting has been performed. This makes it essential that patients maintain a stable weight through regular exercise and a healthy diet, as weight fluctuations may compromise the results of CoolSculpting.

Should I get CoolSculpting or liposuction?

Though CoolSculpting and liposuction are both used to reduce and eliminate fat, the two procedures have several unique features that may make them more or less appropriate for an individual patient. Some things to consider when deciding whether liposuction or CoolSculpting best fits your needs include:

• Amount of fat to lose: Portland-area patients who are at their ideal weight with small areas of stubborn fat may benefit most from CoolSculpting. While liposuction is not designed as a high volume weight-loss tool either, it is generally able to address slightly larger amounts of fat than CoolSculpting.
• Recovery: Though it is considered minimally invasive, liposuction is still a surgical procedure that requires a longer and more involved recovery process than CoolSculpting. Liposuction patients will need to care for their incisions, avoid certain activities, and wear compression garments for a lengthy period of time. Patients with busy lifestyles who aren't able to take any time off work or don't want the inconvenience of compression garments and postoperative care guidelines may consider CoolSculpting a more convenient option.
• Additional procedures: If you are considering additional cosmetic surgeries, such as a breast augmentation, breast lift, or tummy tuck, it may be appropriate to consider liposuction, as it can be performed at the same time as your other procedures.

Am I a candidate for CoolSculpting?

In general, candidates for CoolSculpting are at or near their ideal weight and have small to moderate pockets of stubborn fat. It is also important that men and women considering CoolSculpting have realistic expectations about the treatment and possible results.

The best way to determine if CoolSculpting may be right for you is to be evaluated by a qualified and experienced provider at Après Plastic Surgery. Call our convenient Portland, OR office to schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons today, and find out how CoolSculpting can get you one step closer to the body you've always dreamed of.