A group of researchers noted that children sometimes develop cheek dimples after they ate frozen treats like popsicles.

Obviously, the children suffered no long term problems. The researchers studied this and found, fat cells in the children’s cheeks were being destroyed by freezing.

They looked into this more to see if the process could be managed, directed and used as a cosmetic medical procedure. Their work led to the Cryolipolysis® process. It’s now marketed CoolSculpting

The process is similar to what happened to the children, except there are no extra calories from a popsicle involved. Directed and controlled cooling with a CoolSculpting machine actually freezes fat cells near the surface of the skin.

 The freezing process destroys the fat cell. Over the course of several weeks to two months, the body’s natural processes eliminate the destroyed cells and the fat they contained.

 The surrounding skin is not damaged long term. Sometimes there is redness for a day or two similar to a mild sunburn.

 The process works because the fat cells freeze at a higher temperature than skin cells. In other words, what destroys a fat cell merely cools a skin cell. No long term skin damage will result.

Unlike a lot of other cosmetic medical procedures, CoolSculpting is not invasive, doesn’t require drugs or injections and the majority of the time no pain medicine is needed.

 The treatment process takes about an hour. Many people read, check email or nap during the procedure. Very few people find it so uncomfortable that they need a mild analgesic. Most people don’t take anything, not even Tylenol.

 “Love handles” in particular respond very well to this treatment, but it can be used on the hips, buttocks, thighs, chest and back.

Zara Harutyunyan, D.O.M., R.N. - Zara obtained her doctorates in Armenia and is currently progressing towards getting her license evaluated in the United States. Zara is an aesthetic specialist and has been active in the cosmetic industry since 2006 and pays extreme attention to her patients’ needs to ensure a comfortable experience and flawless results.