Can You Freeze That Fat?

Not all fat is created equally, and some types of body fat are more stubborn than others. I perform CoolSculpting® in Los Angeles to freeze fat cells, but the location of stubborn fat varies by individual. So many patients ask, “Can you freeze that fat?”

Each patient needs a personalized treatment plan depending on her or his exact needs, but we commonly use CoolSculpting to treat areas such as:

• Hips
• Flanks
• Abdomen
• Inner thighs
• Outer thighs

Aside from the treatment area, the effectiveness of CoolSculpting depends on factors such as fat and skin thickness. On average, most patients start noticing improvements about 3 weeks after treatment and a 20 to 25% reduction of treated fat. I typically recommend 2 to 3 sessions.

If you’re considering CoolSculpting or a surgical option such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, seek out the advice of an experienced body contouring specialist. He or she will be able to explain the benefits and drawbacks of each procedure and what’s appropriate for the areas you want to treat.

Tags: coolsculpting los angeles
Posted in CoolSculpting

A Procedure So Cool, Even the Doctor is Getting It Done!

As cosmetic procedures become more popular, people tend to share their experiences. I enjoy speaking with people about treatments I’ve undergone, so right after my first CoolSculpting® by ZELTIQ® session in Los Angeles, I started sharing the experience.

Like many plastic surgery patients, I’m generally satisfied with my physical appearance, but there are certain areas that would benefit from cosmetic enhancement. I decided to try CoolSculpting for my pesky love handles because I know how this effective treatment can eliminate small pockets of fat without the downtime associated with surgery.

Turns out, the rumors are true: CoolSculpting is an effective and comfortable body contouring treatment. I was able to read during my hour-long cycles, and I returned to my daily activities immediately after the procedure. I’m thrilled with the results, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my next session will provide more dramatic results.

CoolSculpting is an excellent treatment, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with my patients who are interested in it.

Tags: zeltiq los angeles
Posted in CoolSculpting,Featured,Lasers & Injectables

3 Ways You Can Benefit from CoolSculpting®

I recently published an article on plasticsurgerypractice.com that focused on the benefits of CoolSculpting for aesthetic practices. The article focused on the perks of CoolSculpting from a practitioner’s perspective. For the patients, the benefits include:

Affordability

The non-invasive CoolSculpting treatment requires no anesthetic and, therefore, no anesthesiologist. It also requires less of the practitioner’s time, which translates to savings for you. You also don’t have to sign up for multiple sessions or take time off work for recovery, all of which makes this procedure a great value.

Satisfaction

With a few CoolSculpting pioneers (like me) developing innovative, customized treatment plans, we are able to achieve greater fat reduction and increased patient satisfaction. Also, with multiple CoolSculpting stations and applicators, we are able to address multiple areas at once, achieving more comprehensive results faster. I count myself among the hundreds of thousands of satisfied CoolSculpting patients.

Safety

Most people are aware that with surgery comes certain risks. With CoolSculpting, there are none of the risks associated with surgery, such as anesthesia side effects, infection, bleeding, etc. And since the treatment doesn’t damage surrounding tissue or nerves – it kills only fat cells in the treated area – it is considered extremely safe and low-risk.

Sometimes surgery is the best solution for correcting cosmetic concerns of the body. But for those who are eligible for CoolSculpting, it’s a truly extraordinary solution for reducing stubborn fat in a relatively short time.

Tags: coolsculpting
Posted in CoolSculpting

The Limit on Thinness

“You can never be too rich or too thin.” Is that really true? Patients often have questions regarding the perfect body weight and the best treatment for fat removal.

During consultations, I openly discuss how various procedures can help contour the body. This is also the ideal time to learn how thin the person would like to be. There is a limit on thinness, so it’s important to set realistic goals. Also, each patient’s body type and cosmetic goals determine which treatment will be most effective for creating an ideal body contour.

Recently, more people have been turning to non-surgical treatments for stubborn pockets of fat. Two of the most popular are:

• CoolSculpting® – By freezing fat cells, CoolSculpting removes the need for incisions, anesthesia and extended recovery periods. The body gradually eliminates the dead fat cells during the weeks that follow treatment.
• Liposonix® – Also a non-invasive treatment, Liposonix uses high-intensity ultrasound to destroy fat tissue beneath the skin. Each treatment takes about 1 hour, and most patients can expect to lose an about 1 inch around the waistline.

Both methods are excellent solutions for people who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet but are unable to lose that last bit of fat.

Tags: freezing fat
Posted in Body Contouring,CoolSculpting

Is Your Body Image Realistic?

Before performing a body contouring procedure such as CoolSculpting® in Los Angeles, I always make sure my patients have realistic expectations. Although CoolSculpting, liposuction and other procedures can help achieve many people’s cosmetic goals, I want to make sure my patients are both physically and emotionally good candidates for the treatments.

As part of my consultation with new patients, I talk with them about their perceptions of their appearance and what they want to change. The reason: I want to make sure they do not suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. This chronic mental condition causes its sufferers to worry excessively about what they see as a flaw in their appearance. In some cases, they become so focused on that flaw that they devote hours to obsessing over how they look. They may be eager to have cosmetic surgery, but in my opinion, plastic surgery should not be performed on these individuals.

If you have a realistic body image, CoolSculpting or liposuction can be an excellent choice if you:

• Are at or near your target weight. Neither procedure is designed for weight loss.
• Follow a healthy diet and fitness program.
• Want to reduce specific, small regions of fat, such as the love handles, in which case CoolSculpting may be the best solution.
• Want to lose fat from other areas, such as the upper arms, thighs, midsection or neck, in which case you may be a good candidate for liposuction.

Tags: coolsculpting los angeles
Posted in Body Contouring,CoolSculpting

CoolSculpting®: Freeze the Fat

There’s a buzz going on about the new alternative to liposuction in Los Angeles: CoolSculpting. People with a healthy body weight are finding this innovative procedure helps get rid of fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise.

• The Treatment: With no incisions or anesthesia needed, patients can enjoy a comfortable procedural process with no downtime. A cooling device is placed over the treatment area to freeze unwanted fat cells. Surrounding skin and tissue are not affected, and patients can return to normal activities immediately.
• Treatment Areas: This FDA-cleared procedure is most commonly used on the abdomen. My patients have also had success when CoolSculpting is used to treat the flanks, back, arms, buttocks, thighs, hips and waist.

While CoolSculpting is a great alternative to liposuction, sometimes patients need a surgical procedure to achieve the results they desire. The best way to determine which option is best for you is by talking with a qualified medical professional who offers a range of treatments.

Tags: los angeles coolsculpting
Posted in Body Contouring,CoolSculpting

Knowing the Difference Between Trendy and Timely

Non-surgical alternatives to Los Angeles liposuction are constantly emerging. So, how do you know whether a procedure is just a “flash in the pan” or a revolutionary new technique? Here are some things to look for:

• FDA approval: Approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ensures that the procedure has been thoroughly researched and tested for safety and effectiveness. However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between medical devices that are “FDA cleared” and those that are “FDA approved.” FDA clearance applies to devices that are substantially similar to those that are already available. Approval applies to items that employ new technology that hasn’t been previously tested and must go through a complete approval process to be investigated for possible new hazards.
• Scientific research: There are a lot of inflated claims floating around in the field of cosmetic medicine. Clinical studies give validity to a new product because they measure how predictable the new cosmetic device is. This also allows researchers to identify whether the machine produces reliable results, as well as pinpointing any weaknesses or limitations in the technology.
• History of use: There’s a fine line between “trendy” and “timely.” One of the distinguishing characteristics of a new cosmetic treatment is whether it is being widely used. Doctors only want to invest in technology that is safe and delivers real results. The more accepted the procedure is in the medical world, the more likely that it is turning out to be trustworthy and effective.

CoolSculpting®: A Non-invasive Method That Works

I have found CoolSculpting to be one of the most reliable methods of non-surgical liposuction. This procedure has undergone clinical testing and has been shown to reduce fat by an average of 20% to 25% after just 1 treatment. CoolSculpting received FDA approval in 2010 and has been widely used by doctors and dermatologists since that time. The results are consistent, and the side effects are minimal. With these qualifications, I think it’s safe to say that CoolSculpting is much more than a trend; it’s here to stay.

Tags: los angeles liposuction
Posted in Body Contouring,CoolSculpting,Liposuction