The old way was with liposuction or mesotherapy (fat melting injections).

Liposuction is still the best method available for the treatment of localized fat deposits. Unfortunately, it is invasive, involves downtime, requires pressure garments, leaves scars, can result in uneven areas, can overtreat leaving NO fat (resulting in loss of smooth soft curves) etc. 

Mesotherapy uses injections (a lot of them when treating large areas) to melt fat. It works well for some people, but results are quite unpredictable. We know, because we used to offer it. We stopped (and most other clinics did too) because of unpredictable results. The treated area stings for a few hours following every treatment. There can be a lot of bruising, and infection is a risk. We continue to offer fat melting injections only for small areas (jowls and under the chin) where results are predictably good.

Modern non-invasive fat reduction techniques use the application of ultrasound waves, laser light, radio waves, and cooling.  

CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling.

CoolSculpting uses the application of cooling to reduce fat.
The scientific term is cryolipolysis.  (cryo = cold, lipo = fat, lysis = split or break: the use of cold to break fat cells).

The cold only affects fat cells. Skin, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels in the area are unharmed.

The fat that is released from the damaged cells is metabolized or redistributed.

25-30% of the fat cells which are treated in each area will die when they are frozen.

CoolSculpting can be done on tummies, love handles, saddle bags, inner thighs, inner knees, banana rolls, bra rolls, upper arms, and under the chin.

The best candidate is at or close to his or her ideal body weight, eats well, and is active.

Ideal body weight equates to a Body Mass Index (BMI) of about 18 to 25.
We will not treat people with a BMI of 30 or more (with the possible exception of the under-chin area).
Your BMI can easily be determined by inputting your height and weight into an online BMI calculator such as this one by Diabetes Canada.

CoolSculpting is not a weight loss technique. This is body contouring. Results are measured in inches, not pounds.

There are no special actions required prior to treatment. You just show up.

A gel pad is applied to the skin. The applicator is positioned on the pad and held in place with suction and velcro straps. The device is activated and left in place for about 35 minutes. 

During the treatment, you are quite comfortable, so you can read a magazine, work or play on your laptop or phone, or have a snooze.

CoolSculping treatments take about 35 minutes per area treated. In most clinics, one machine is used and two areas are done per session (eg. left and right love handlles). So device time is 70 minutes. Add 30 minutes for set-up etc and you can count on about an hour and a half total.

At York Laser and MedSpa, we have two machines (DualSculpting), so left and right sides are done simultaneously. This significantly reduces treatment time. For example, left and right love handles take about an hour. 

Multiple areas can be treated during one visit. Add about 40 minutes for each additional area.

CoolSculpting treatments are generally quite comfortable. For about 3 minutes it feels cold. For the next 2 minutes it's burning/stinging cold. Then the cold makes you numb for the duration of the cycle.

When the cycle is complete and the applicator is removed, the nurse or esthetician will massage the area to help rupture crystallized fat cells. This can be a bit uncomfortable, but it significantly improves the efficacy of the treatment, so it's well worth it.

As the fat warms up, it will sting for a while (just like your cold fingers warming up after being outside in the winter).

Immediately after treatment the area will feel hard. It softens in minutes.

Your skin will be white for a few minutes then red for half an hour or so.

You might get some tiny petechiae (little red dots) that are the result of the suction. They will disappear in a few days.

You will likely have some numbness in the treated areas. This will resove, usually in afew weeks.

Some people notice a difference about 2-3 weeks after the first treatment, but this is variable. You will continue to improve over the next several weeks with the final result being at 2-3 months.

Sometimes it is hard to see the difference, because it comes on gradually. What most people notice is that their clothes feel looser.

The number of sessions required depends on your condition. Of course, multiple areas require multiple sessions. Each area usually requires multiple sessions. 

There are discounts for multiple sessions (4-5 sessions: 25% off; 5-7 sessions: 35% off; 8 or more sessions: 50% off)

Generally, no.

You stopped making new fat cells at puberty. The fat cells that are killed by CoolSculpting will not be replaced (unless you gain a lot of weight). There is a loss of fat cells in the treated area, so there are fewer cells available to store fat. Therefore, the shape you achieved with treatment will persist as long as your weight stays stable.

If you gain perhaps 30 pounds or more, your body can make new fat cells, and you might get those localized fat deposits back.

Just maintain a reasonable weight, and your CoolSculpting results will be long-lasting.

Mild numbness and tenderness in the treated areas is common.

Bruising, swelling, redness, cramping, and pain can occur in the treated area for one to two weeks after treatment is uncommon.       

There are no special skin care requirements following your CoolSculpting treatments. There is no downtime.

Stay active and eat a low carbohydrate diet.

During treatment, fat is released from dead cells. This fat is slowly taken up by lymphatic system which eventually takes it to the blood stream. The fat that is taken into the bloodstream is available for energy. If it is not used, it will be put into storage by being evenly distributed to all the fat cells of your body. It can't go back where it came from, because those fat cells are dead and gone.

There is a misconception among the general population and even the medical community that the fat that is released is excreted in urine or feces. This is false. Significant amounts of fat in urine or stool is actually an indication of bowel or kidney disease. In healthy people there is very little fat in stool and almost none in urine. As stated above, the released fat is picked up by the lymphatic system and taken via the thoarcic duct to a large vein near the heart. Once in the blood, the body will do one of three things to the fat: use it to build things (like hormones, prostaglandins, cell membranes etc), burn it for energy, or store it. These are the same three things the body does with fat that is absorbed from the intestines after a meal. 

Rather than storing it, why not burn it? By eating fewer carbs and being active every day, your body will look for its second choice for energy after carbs: fat molecules. The fat released from the dead fat cells will be used for energy.

But please note that a low carb diet and exercise aren't necessary for CoolSculpting to work.

Call (905) 726-1126 to book your consultation with a CoolSculpting expert!

We require 5 business days notice for cancellation of your consultation or treatment, in order to fill the appointment time.
If sufficient notice is not given, the full value of the treatment to be done may be charged, with the minimum charge being $200 (two hundred dollars). The fee for missed CoolSculpting treatments is higher than our usual fee, because most sessions are booked for 90 minutes or more.