Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in National Harbor Accepting New Patients Near Washington DC, Arlington, Fort Washington, Maryland & Virginia
You've worked hard to achieve a dynamite figure, but in spite of all your diet and exercise efforts, you still have a few stubborn areas of fat that just won't go away. This is quite normal. We're all genetically predisposed to store fat in certain regions of the body, and it can often be difficult to overcome our genetics – even when we put in the time and hard work at the gym. Fortunately, there are many body contouring solutions to help you put the finishing touches on your fitness efforts and eliminate these areas of fat once and for all.
At Bella Cosmetic Surgery, we offer a variety of options to eliminate targeted areas of fat that have been resistant to diet and exercise. If you prefer a nonsurgical alternative to liposuction, then CoolSculpting® may be right for you.
You can learn about your CoolSculpting® options and receive individualized treatment recommendations by speaking with Dr. Michael Chiaramonte in person. Please call 301-567-6767 today to schedule a consultation. We serve patients in Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia.
What Is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting® is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical body contouring treatment that destroys and eliminates excess fat cells in targeted areas of your body. It is essentially a fat-freezing procedure. The controlled cooling treatments destroy unwanted fat cells, which will then be gradually processed and eliminated by your body.
The CoolSculpting® technology has been specially designed in a way that ensures only the targeted fat cells will be impacted. The top layer of skin and all surrounding tissue will not be affected by your procedure. Since CoolSculpting® is nonsurgical, no incisions will be made. Instead, the CoolSculpting® applicators are placed directly on the treatment area, which will freeze the fat cells in order to deliver the toned, sculpted figure you desire.
Am I a CoolSculpting Candidate?
If you have stubborn areas of fat that have been resistant to your diet and exercise efforts, then you're most likely a good CoolSculpting® candidate. The procedure is highly effective at removing excess fat in the following areas:
- Abdomen
- Flanks
- "Love handles" and "muffin tops"
- Back
- Upper arms
- Inner and outer thighs
- Rolls of fat below the butt cheeks
- Double chin
The CoolSculpting® applicators come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to deliver precise results on such a wide range of body regions.
In addition, you should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. CoolSculpting® is not a tool for weight loss. You should already be near your ideal weight and have tried to tone your body through diet and exercise prior to undergoing your procedure.
What are the Benefits of CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting® offers you many benefits, including:
- Minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment
- No downtime
- Effective, long lasting results
- Destroyed fat cells will not regenerate
While surgical methods such as liposuction are also very effective, they result in more trauma to your body and a significantly longer recovery time. CoolSculpting® offers you a way to achieve the same great results in a much less invasive manner.
How is a CoolSculpting Procedure Performed?
Your CoolSculpting® treatment can be completed in a relatively short period of time. Dr. Chiaramonte will place the special applicators on the treatment area. These applicators will emit precisely controlled cooling treatments to the region. You may experience a cold sensation during the procedure, and your skin will likely feel numb during the treatment due to the cooling temperatures that are applied to your skin.
After your procedure, you will have a slightly raised, cool pocket of fat in the treatment region. Dr. Chiaramonte will massage the area to warm up the cells and initiate the process of destroying the treated fat cells. Mild swelling and redness in the treatment area is common, but this will subside shortly after your CoolSculpting® session.
While you are free to resume your normal activities right after your procedure, many of our patients prefer to take the rest of the day off from work to relax and recover.
Does CoolSculpting Work?
Keep in mind that your final results will not be noticeable right away. Your frozen fat cells will take time to die and be flushed from your body during natural metabolic processes. It may take about 3 weeks before you start to see a noticeable improvement in the appearance of your treated area. You should see more dramatic results after about 2 months of your CoolSculpting® procedure, and minor improvements in the area may continue for up to 6 months. In some instances, it may take multiple treatment sessions to achieve your desired results.
Once these fat cells are removed, they will not regenerate. However, it is still possible to gain weight after your CoolSculpting® procedure. If this occurs, the new fat will be distributed among your remaining fat cells. In order to avoid an unbalanced figure due to future weight gain, it's important that you eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly after your procedure. As long as you can maintain a stable weight and stay relatively fit, your results should last for years.
Testimonials:
- "This was the best experience I’ve ever had in visiting an establishment. From my initial inquiry all the way to the end of the process was outstanding. Thank you to the entire staff at Bella Cosmetic for making my experience an exceptional one." - M.C.
- "The entire office is fantastic, highly professional and so caring. And the smiles that come in and leave the office are amazing. Clients are happy with their results. And Dr. Chiaramonte is the best all around. He is So kind, and extremely skilled. Love you all Bella !" - S.D.
- "The best medical experience ever! All of the staff are very professional. From the consultation to the recovery, the team has been absolutely supportive. The office is conveniently located. Dr. Michael is very personable, takes his time to ensure you understand the procedures, to make sure that any and all questions are answered, etc. He is absolutely the BEST!!" - R.S.
Is CoolSculpting® Effective on Belly Fat?
Yes! CoolSculpting was originally created to be used on belly fat. However, it also works well on other parts of the body, such as the buttocks, thighs, hips, back, upper arms, and even the chin.
Will CoolSculpting® Tighten My Skin?
If you’ve worked hard to lose a lot of weight, you may have some sagging skin left over. It is possible that the CoolSculpting procedure will tighten loose skin a bit. However, its primary purpose is to get rid of stubborn fat, not to tighten skin. There are other procedures that can help if you have excess skin, which can be used with CoolSculpting or on their own. Dr. Chiaramonte can discuss these other treatments with you to ensure you get the results you want.
How Does CoolSculpting® Compare to Liposuction?
Liposuction and CoolSculpting are both very effective at getting rid of stubborn fat, but they do have some differences.
Liposuction, like CoolSculpting, can be used to remove fat on many parts of the body, such as the abdomen, the chin, and the hips. However, a liposuction procedure is more invasive than CoolSculpting. Before liposuction, you will be given anesthesia, then incisions are made and a thin tube is inserted to suck out fat. After the procedure, you should have someone drive you home, you will need to take time to rest, and you may have swelling and bruising (you may need to take medication to deal with this discomfort). You will need to stay home from work for about a week and you should avoid strenuous activities for 4 to 6 weeks as you recover. You will need to wear compression garments to help control any swelling. And, you will need to return to see Dr. Chiaramonte for a follow-up visit a few days after your procedure. You’ll start to see results after a few weeks, and it may take 3 to 4 months before you see the final results.
There are some good reasons why many patients prefer CoolSculpting over liposuction. It is noninvasive and there are no incisions required – it simply involves special applicators placed on the skin, which freeze fat cells, which are naturally and harmlessly eliminated by the body. Although you may have some swelling and redness right after your session, CoolSculpting requires no downtime and you can get right back to your normal activities when you leave the doctor’s office. You may need a few treatment sessions to get the results you’d like, and, as with liposuction, it can take a few weeks before you start to see results.
What Can I Do To Maintain My CoolSculpting® Results?
Once the fat cells have been frozen, it will take some time for them to be flushed out of your body. You’ll start to see improvements within about 3 weeks, and you might continue to see improvements for up to 6 months. Once these cells are destroyed and eliminated by the body, they are gone for good! However, it is always possible to regain weight and fat. The best thing you can do to maintain your CoolSculpting results is to live a healthy lifestyle: eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise.
Contact Our Maryland Plastic Surgeon
If you'd like to find out if CoolSculpting® is right for you, please contact Bella Cosmetic Surgery using the form on this page or call 301-567-6767 today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Chiaramonte serves patients in Maryland, Washington DC and Northern Virginia.