The Path to a Fitter You: Fat Freezing vs Fat Melting – How to Choose

Regular exercises, a great sleeping schedule, and a well-balanced diet – this is how you can stay healthy and be in amazing shape.

But, unfortunately, a lot of us have these few areas on our body that we are never happy with. And no matter how many hours we spend in the gym, the fat on our arms, tummy, or knees continues to annoy us on a daily basis.

Don’t worry! You have other options… freeze or melt that stubborn fat.

Welcome to the cutting-edge world of non-invasive fat reduction.

 

Non-Invasive Fat Reduction – What Is That?

Non-invasive body contouring is one of the fastest-growing areas of aesthetic medicine. Fat freezing (cryolipolysis) and fat melting (radiofrequency and laser) are among the leading techniques in this area.

The main traits that all non-invasive methods have in common are no permanent or serious adverse effects.

In a nutshell, you’ll be able to reduce your local fat tissue by a few centimetres without any major risks as the techniques don’t include any surgical manipulations.

 

Fat Freezing: from A to Z

Description

During cryolipolysis, fat cells are destroyed by cooling.

Usually, the stubborn fatty bulges that you can’t banish with diets or exercises are tackled. For example, around the thighs, under the chin, bra, and back fat.

The fat cells in your body get damaged by extremely cold temperatures. In a few weeks, the organism starts to absorb the destroyed cells, and this leads to fat reduction.

 

Only trained specialists should perform this procedure.

A clear gel pad is going to be applied to the target area (it acts like a barrier between the machine and your skin). After that, the specialist applies the CoolSculpting applicator that sucks your skin in.

In a few minutes, the area will be numbed by the cold, so you will stop feeling any tingling or mild pinching. The overall time of the treatment will depend on what areas need to be addressed; some procedures can be completed in as little as 35 minutes.

 

Pros

• Fat freezing is an easy and convenient procedure. It involves no needles or incisions, and you can get it done during your lunch break (literally).
• You can choose to treat different areas. In fact, fat freezing will help reduce stubborn fat across 13 different areas!
• The procedure is not painful. That’s not to say you won’t feel something (sucking sensations, tingling, etc.), but it’s not pain.
• There is no recovery time. You can get back to normal life right after leaving your specialist.
• The results will be long-lasting. The cold temperatures destroy the fat cells, as a result, they will get permanently removed from your body. If you stick to a healthy lifestyle, you might never have to deal with fat in the targeted areas ever again.

 

Cons

• If you are clinically obese or if you have a BMI of over 30, this method may not be best suitable for you. Fat freezing can help you achieve a more toned and slim body, but it can’t remove large fat deposits across the whole body.
• CoolSculpting does not bring instant results. Patients will be able to notice the first changes in roughly 4-6 weeks, and the body can continue to get rid of the damaged fat cells for up to 6 months.
• Some patients might experience a few side effects. Redness, swelling and numbness, for example, can last for a few hours or a couple of days, while bruising that develops in 2% of the patients can last for up to a few weeks.
• A more serious side-effect is paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. This occurs in less than 1% of the patients. Linda Evangelista is, perhaps, the most famous ‘victim’ of PAH.There is a tiny chance that the fat bulge is going to get bigger after the procedure. It turns into a firm formation that looks like a stick of butter. Even though PAH is not life-threatening, it is an unpleasant condition that can be removed by liposuction in 6-9 months.

 

Fat Melting: from A to Z

Description

During radiofrequency lipolysis and laser lipolysis, the fat is removed by heating.

The applicator is moved on the skin, and it can deliver fat-burning energy to precise depths without sucking the skin in.

Radiofrequency and laser can be used on plenty of areas with stubborn fat. This method also showed great results in reducing cellulite and improving the overall skin appearance.

 

Pros

Fat melting has pretty much the same pros as fat freezing. However, this procedure can offer a few additional benefits:

• In general, the procedures involving heat are quite pleasant and feel a bit more comfortable than cryolipolysis.
• Radiofrequency treatment can be used to break down fat in your face. This method will not only slim the face, but also reduce the wrinkles, and improve facial skin laxity.
• The procedure boosts collagen and elastin production. After a few sessions, the targeted area will become a lot slimmer and will have tighter and smoother skin.

 

Cons

• If the procedure is performed by an uncertified specialist, it is possible to get burned.
• The most common side effects of fat melting include swelling, redness, and tingling that can last for a couple of hours or a few days.
• Just like with fat freezing, fat melting is not suitable for people with a very high amount of body fat.
• The final results can take up to 12 weeks.
• There is no conclusive evidence that radiofrequency exposure increases cancer risk in humans. However, RF radiation is classified as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ by the WHO.

 

Fat Freezing vs Fat Melting – Which One Should You Choose?

Both fat melting and fat freezing are non-invasive body contouring procedures that use extreme temperatures to get rid of the fat cells.

The treatments are both effective alternatives to surgical intervention. Moreover, these procedures do not possess the same risks as liposuction.

Even though fat freezing and fat melting will both help you get rid of the most stubborn fat, some might choose to opt for the latter treatment as, in general, it is more pleasant and comes with such a lovely bonus as skin tightening.