In this age of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, being seen by many has become the new normal. Consequently, people are more conscious about their physical appearance. A big part of this is about having a particular physique.
This new lifestyle has compelled people to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly. But while this has helped many hit their fitness goals, others are not as lucky. Some cannot get rid of the last few stubborn pounds. One good news for them is the emergence of new technology: fat freezing.
This new technique is fastly becoming the go-to solution for achieving the desired physique as it offers many benefits. But before we get to this, let us take a closer look at what it is.
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What is Fat Freezing?
Also known as cryolipolysis, fat freezing is a non-invasive procedure to help get rid of fat under the skin. As the name implies, it uses cold temperature to eliminate or reduce localised fat deposits that diet and exercise could not.
Fat freezing is based on previous studies which showed that fat cells are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than other cells. The fat cells are injured in the process, eventually dying and getting removed by the body’s immune system.
For each cycle of the procedure, an estimated 25% fat reduction is expected. However, it is essential to note that this technique is not recommended for significantly overweight or obese people. It is designed to focus on certain parts of the body only and not for drastic weight loss.
Which Areas of the Body Are Suited for Fat Freezing?
In most treatment centres, the technique can target many parts of the body, from the knees all the way to the chin. This includes the upper and lower abdomen, the sides of the body, the love handles, upper back, and inner & outer thighs. Some machines are even capable of targeting four areas simultaneously.
What Are the Benefits?
Perhaps the biggest draw of fat freezing is that it is non-invasive. It is a safer option compared to liposuction, which involves cutting, stitching, and administering anesthesia. Although people may experience minor side effects such as bruising or skin sensitivity, they are usually resolved within a few weeks.
Aside from being a safer alternative, fat freezing is also more convenient. It is done as an outpatient procedure, and each session lasts for about an hour. You can return to work within the day or the next day at the most. There is virtually no downtime to worry about. In addition, most people need only a few sessions done every two weeks. After a few weeks, significant results can be noticed.
Liposuction, on the other hand, may take a few months before the full results are achieved. You also need more time to recover from the procedure.
In terms of efficacy, fat freezing makes more impact. On average, it can eliminate 25% of the fat on any given part of the body. It is possible to lose up to 11 pounds of fat safely with this procedure.
With liposuction, getting rid of this much fat is considered unsafe. And some studies show that people who get liposuction had the same amount of fat one year after the treatment, which means that the fat may have just been redistributed to other areas of the body.