CoolSculpting uses a procedure known as cryolipolysis. It works by placing a roll of fat into two panels that cool the fat to a freezing temperature.

CoolSculpting is a procedure where we can selectively eliminate certain pockets of fat and we can do this without surgery and without any downtime.  Male Speaker: I chose CoolSculpting because, in particular, because it was something that fits my lifestyle, my business. I don't have time to have a downtime for a week or two weeks.

Dr. Wong: The most commonly treated areas are the love handles or the flanks and the abdomen. For women, the inner thighs is really popular as well as the outer thighs – or women call them "saddlebags" – can be effectively treated. We also have a new indication which is to treat the submental area, or the fat underneath the chin for those people that have a double chin. 

The CoolSculpting procedure uses controlled cooling to bring the fat down to a temperature where the fat cells will be damaged. Fat is actually much more sensitive to cold as compared to skin, or muscle, or any subcutaneous tissues that might be in the treatment area. So this selective targeting of fat causes the fat cells to eventually die. The body goes and processes this fat and eliminates it from the body. Once those fat cells are gone, they're gone for good.

Male Speaker: I chose the CoolSculpting after my research. I found this is the perfect fit for me. Just with my working out five days a week and activity level nice and high – with my diet not quite perfect – but I was looking for something that's going to help me with losing my love handles.

Dr. Wong: Results are typically seen best around one to three months but they can be seen as soon as three weeks after the procedure. We use the technology that utilizes shock waves to go after the treatment area right after your treatment. And with this treatment, we see that we can reduce the amount of time it takes for you to see results as well as increase the total amount of fat that you're going to lose from that area. Each area treatment requires the applicator to be on for an hour but, if you have a clinic where you have more than one machine you can actually treat two areas simultaneously so that way you're cutting the treatment time in half.

For those people that think that surgery is the only way to remove fat, CoolSculpting's a great, clinically proven, and effective way to remove fat without surgery or downtime. If you're interested in CoolSculpting or have questions about the procedure, you should visit your local medical aesthetics clinic.  Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition.    Presenter: Dr. Mandy Wong, Family Doctor, Kelowna, BC

Local Practitioners: Athletic Therapist