Is CoolSculpting Elite better than traditional CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting® has been the go-to treatment for non-surgical body contouring and fat reduction for over a decade. After being cleared by the FDA in 2010, Allergan, the maker of CoolSculpting, has continued to research and improve the “fat-freezing” technology to achieve stronger results with fewer treatments with the new CoolSculpting® Elite machine.

Here, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian K. Reedy explains the exciting upgrades CoolSculpting Elite features and what patients can expect from their treatment at our Reading med spa.

What is CoolSculpting Elite?

Like traditional CoolSculpting, CoolSculpting Elite uses a process called cryolipolysis to freeze and eliminate unwanted fat cells with no downtime required. Using a hand-held applicator and gentle suction, stubborn excess fat deposits are frozen in a precise, controlled, and safe way; the fat is then naturally broken down by your body and removed by your lymphatic system.

Because fat cells are more sensitive to cold, both CoolSculpting and CoolSculpting Elite will not harm your skin or surrounding tissues when used by highly-trained aesthetic professionals. (In contrast, at-home fat-freezing belts and devices are comparatively primitive and important tissues may be damaged by their imprecise temperatures, not to mention the lack of medical support and aesthetic guidance also leading to poor results when people attempt any form of fat-freezing self-treatment.)

The results of cryolipolysis are permanent in the sense that targeted fat cells are destroyed and will not return to treated areas or migrate to other areas of the body—that said, weight gain may produce new fat cells in treated areas as well as increase fat in surrounding tissues and thus affect your results.

What areas can CoolSculpting Elite treat?

CoolSculpting Elite is FDA-cleared to treat fat bulges in 9 areas of the body:

• Jawline (jowls)
• Submental (double chin)
• Upper arms
• Bra bulges around the underarm area
• Flanks (“love handles” at the waist)
• Abdomen
• Back
• Underneath the buttocks (“banana roll”)
• Inner, outer, and front of the thighs

What can I expect from CoolSculpting Elite treatment?

Here’s what you can expect from your CoolSculpting Elite treatment in Reading, PA:

• Quick treatment times. A single CoolSculpting Elite treatment takes just 35 minutes for most areas.
• An easy, comfortable experience. Most patients are able to peruse social media, work from a laptop, or just sit back and relax during a CoolSculpting Elite treatment.
• Zero downtime required. After your CoolSculpting Elite treatment, you can resume most normal daily activities (we simply ask that you avoid strenuous exercise for a week following treatment).
• Fewer treatments to see results. CoolSculpting Elite’s updated technology means you’ll likely need fewer treatments compared to traditional CoolSculpting to see the results you want.

During your personal and private consultation, your expert CoolSculpting Elite technician will help you determine the placement and number of treatments you may need to achieve the body contouring results you are looking for.

What upgrades does CoolSculpting Elite offer?

While both CoolSculpting and CoolSculpting Elite can achieve noticeable fat reduction in men and women, CoolSculpting Elite’s upgrades have quickly made it the preferred treatment by CoolSculpting technicians and patients alike.

CoolSculpting Elite features improved applicators

CoolSculpting Elite boasts dual applicators that are available in 7 different shapes and sizes for greater efficiency and enhanced comfort; its design is better suited for the body’s natural curves. The paired applicators allow Elite treatments to cover twice the surface area as traditional CoolSculpting and cuts treatment times for patients in half. (Earlier CoolSculpting devices offered a single treatment area and applicators were not suited for as many parts of the body.)

CoolSculpting Elite achieves enhanced fat removal

The improved applicators allow better contact with the skin’s surface, enhancing the cooling effects to targeted fat cells. Thus, CoolSculpting Elite achieves 20-25% fat removal in a single treatment versus 18-20% fat removal with earlier CoolSculpting technology.

CoolSculpting Elite achieves faster body contouring results

CoolSculpting Elite covers about 18% more surface area per applicator, making ideal fat reduction results quicker to achieve. Further, because two applicators are available for symmetrical side-to-side treatment, patients can have multiple areas treated simultaneously and thus enjoy shorter treatment times compared to traditional CoolSculpting.

While many patients still benefit from multiple fat-freezing treatments for optimal body contouring results, patients usually need fewer treatments and less treatment time to achieve their goals with CoolSculpting Elite.

CoolSculpting Elite offers more comfortable, safer treatments

CoolSculpting Elite’s updated system is quieter, and its fat-freezing technology offers more comfortable treatments as fat cells are frozen more effectively and in less time. Elite technology also reduces the amount of pressure or squeezing of treated areas to significantly reduce uncommon side effects like Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH). In sum, shorter treatment times help to reduce discomfort, and more advanced technology achieves stronger, safer results for a better overall treatment experience.

Is CoolSculpting Elite right for me?

Because CoolSculpting Elite provides a more comfortable treatment experience and achieves greater body contouring results in a shorter time frame compared to traditional CoolSculpting, it is now the preferred treatment to reduce stubborn fat pockets and create a smoother silhouette. That said, for patients who wish to target a single, smaller area, we may recommend traditional CoolSculpting, as larger, dual applicators may not be necessary or appropriate.

Non-surgical fat reduction at Berks Plastic Surgery

Proudly serving Reading, PA and the surrounding areas, our expert cosmetic staff is led by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian K. Reedy to ensure patients achieve outstanding results with the latest treatment modalities available. To learn more about CoolSculpting Elite and other non-surgical treatments to enhance your natural beauty, we invite you to schedule a consultation by calling Berks Plastic Surgery at (610) 320-0200 or contact our practice online.