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[[File:CoolSculpting device.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The commercial CoolSculpting® device.]] {{DISPLAYTITLE: CoolSculpting and DIY CoolSculpting (Cryolipolysis)}} __NOTOC__
CoolSculpting uses cold to reduce fat and it can be effective as long as you know the limitations; a similar effect can be achieved cheaply at home. This approach is marketed as CoolSculpting® or Cryolipolysis®. It works by chilling the skin, causing the underlying fat cells to naturally die off. This reduces the thickness of fat in the area treated, though the actual reduction is quite small. Typically, a single treatment will result in the loss of about 1.4oz/40g of fat and 7mm of thickness two months after treatment. While commercial CoolSculpting requires expensive equipment, I've found that a similar effect can be produced at home for almost no cost. See [[#DIY CoolSculpting| the section on DIY CoolSculpting]] for details.
=What is CoolSculpting?=
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=DIY CoolSculpting=
Having reviewed the evidence for the commercial CoolSculpting, I wondered if it would be possible to replicate the effects by simply applying ice to the skin. An early animal study of Cryolipolysis showed Cryolipolysis showed a reduction in the fat levels from 10 minutes' exposure to temperatures of -1c/31f, though not as great a loss as colder temperatures<ref name="Manstein-2008"/>. A more recent study of humans using commercial CoolSculpting showed the skin surface temperature dropped steadily during the 60-minute treatment until it was at an average of 12c/54f<ref name="Sasaki-2014"/>. There is evidence that applying ice to the skin produces an inflammation response in just a few minutes<ref name="Avram-2009"/>, so this approach seems viable. There are clearly risks to Cryolipolysis, but for me I decided they were acceptable.
==Frostbite Risks==
I use only ice cubes in a bag, which will result in a mixture of ice and water. This mixture will be around freezing point. '''Never use gel packs''' as these are cold enough to cause skin damage. I'd recommend using the [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP6P6R8 plastic bags designed for making ice cubes], as these form a nice thin layer of ice. You'll need to replace them periodically as they melt completely. '''Do not use large blocks of ice''', as the ice itself can be cold enough to damage the skin. Remember, the goal is a mixture of ice and water. You may need to put a thin layer of material between your skin and the bag of ice cubes until they have melted a little; see [[Cryotherapy]] for details.
