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This blog has been authored by “Dr. Joe” Gryskiewicz MD, FACS.
About Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz:
Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing aesthetic
surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and belongs to the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons, The Aesthetic Society, The Rhinoplasty Society, and many other national institutions.
In addition to being in private practice, Dr. Joe is a writer and international speaker. He has traveled the
world delivering over five hundred presentations to professional organizations on plastic surgery topics such as
breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, hot topics, and ethics. He writes for a number of medical journals, society
newsletters, and academic publications.
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How Can Fat Be Removed By Freezing It?
May 3, 2021
The process of eliminating exercise-resistant fat cells with cold temperatures has proven to be a popular and highly effective method of non-surgical fat reduction. Although liposuction is still considered the gold standard of fat removal, “fat freezing” can produce noticeable results without needles, anesthesia, or major downtime. To help patients better understand how this technology — known as Cryolipolysis™ — works, Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz break down how CoolSculpting® is able to destroy fat cells and smooth bulges of stubborn fat without surgery:
- Inspired by the effectiveness of cryotherapy, which has been utilized for decades for both medical and therapeutic purposes, scientists at Harvard discovered that controlled cooling is also able to destroy fat cells. During a CoolSculpting® treatment, this works by using handheld applicators outfitted with flat cooling panels, which deliver cold temperatures to the treatment site(s).
- As the isolated fat is exposed to the cold, underlying fat cells are “frozen” and destroyed. The CoolSculpting® applicator is placed over protective gel padding, so there is never any direct contact with the skin.
- Your CoolSculpting® provider then massages the treated area to facilitate the breakdown of the targeted fat cells. Over the next few months, the fat is then flushed from the body through natural metabolic processes, leaving behind a sleeker, slimmer, and smoother contour. Depending on how many applicators are utilized and your unique needs, CoolSculpting® can reduce fat by 20 to 25 percent.
While the fat cells eliminated by CoolSculpting® are gone forever, this doesn’t prevent surrounding fat cells from enlarging with future weight gain. Therefore, the outcome of CoolSculpting® should remain stable as long as patients stay active and do not experience significant weight fluctuation.
Questions? Our skilled plastic surgeons and medical providers would be happy to further explain the CoolSculpting® process to Minneapolis patients who are interested in non-surgical fat reduction. Please contact our practice to schedule a consultation or to learn more.
