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Created page with "It seems like everyone wants to be leaner. Losing body fat is big business and one of the latest approaches is CoolSculpting ®, also..."
[[File:Weightloss.jpg|right|thumb|300px|It seems like everyone wants to be leaner.]]
Losing body fat is big business and one of the latest approaches is CoolSculpting ®, also called Cryolipolysis®. The word 'Cryolipolysis' literally means "cold fat loss", and CoolSculpting works by chilling the skin so that the underlying fat cells are reduced. I've found that a similar effect can be produced at home for almost no cost.
=CoolSculpting=
CoolSculpting uses an FDA approved device to chill the skin for up to an hour<ref name="CyroMeta"/>, with a session lasting one to three hours<ref name="CSFaq"/>, producing a reduction in the fat thickness in the treated area. Animal and human studies have shown a reduction in fat thickness between 20% and 80% over 3 months following treatment<ref name="ClNelson"/>. The device sucks the skin and underlying fat into a cup<ref name="CryroNerves"/>. More than one treatment can be used, but the results of the second treatment are not as dramatic as the first<ref name="CryroChin"/>. CoolSculpting is considered an alternative to liposuction, which is the most common type of plastic surgery.
=How does CoolSculpting work?=
[[File:CoolSculpting device.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The CoolSculpting device.]]
The device removes heat from the skin at a constant rate, rather than chilling to a particular temperature. While the underlying mechanism is unclear<ref name="ClNelson"/>, the current theory is that chilling fat tissues to just below freezing triggers inflammation of the fat cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panniculitis Panniculitis]) and then triggers natural cell death in the fat cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoptosis apoptosis]). The inflammation starts 3 days after treatment, peaking at 30 days, with some residual inflammation seen after 90 days and the number of fat cells declining over the 90 day period<ref name="CsPig"/>.
=CoolSculpting and Cryosurgery=
Cryosurgery uses cold to kill off tissue, such as tumors. Typically cryosurgery uses far lower temperatures (-20c/-4f to -40c/-40f) and kills off the living cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrosis necrosis]) <ref name="CryosurgeryTemp"/>. By comparison CoolSculpting uses temperatures that do not immediately kill off the fat cells, but rather trigger the natural process of cell death. (Cell damage is caused by temperatures below -10c/14f and CoolSculpting drops the temperature to around -1c/31f.)
=Side effects of CoolSculpting=
There have been no serious side effects reported so far<ref name="ClNelson"/>. The skin being treated goes red, with some bruising and numbness. I suspect that the bruising may be because the CoolSculpting device sucks<ref name="CsSuction"/><ref name="CryroNerves"/> the fat against the cooling device. These problems normally resolve within a week. Studies have shown no changes in blood lipid levels or liver function<ref name="CyroMeta"/>. The numbness is not associated with nerve damage<ref name="CryroNerves"/>.
=Spot Reduction in Fat Thickness=
CoolSculpting reduces the fat thickness in the limited area that is treated rather than producing overall weight loss<ref name="ClNelson"/>. CoolSculpting does not seem to be effective in obese people, though it may simply be harder to observe the effects<ref name="ClNelson"/>.
=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. The levels of fat on my legs are noticeably lower than other parts of my body, which might be the result of regular icing. There is evidence that applying ice to the skin produces an inflammation response in just a few minutes<ref name="CyroMeta"/>, so this approach seems viable.
==Testing DIY CoolSculpting==
So I undertook a simple experiment and applied a bag of ice to the right side of my abdomen for 1-3 hours a day for two weeks. I generally did this in the evenings, applying the ice while watching TV or reading. While the ice is initially uncomfortable and cold, this sensation disappears in a couple of minutes. It also seems that after the first few times the ice is applied, the discomfort is far less.
==Results of DIY CoolSculpting==
At the end of the two weeks the fat thickness on the right side was noticeably thinner than the left side. The difference seemed to increase in the week following termination of the icing. At this point I started icing the left side to regain symmetry.
=References=
<references>
<ref name="CSFaq">CoolSculpting - Patient FAQs http://www.coolsculpting.com/heres-the-skinny/patient-faq/ </ref>
<ref name="ClNelson">CoolSculpting for reduction of excess a... [Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20123423 </ref>
<ref name="CryosurgeryTemp">All About Cryosurgery http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/All-About </ref>
<ref name="CsPig">CoolSculpting for noninvasive fat cell destruc... [Dermatol Surg. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614940 </ref>
<ref name="CsSuction">CoolSculpting http://www.newmanmdplasticsurgery.com/CoolSculpting.html </ref>
<ref name="CyroMeta">CoolSculpting for subcutaneous fat layer red... [Lasers Surg Med. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20014262 </ref>
<ref name="CryroNerves">Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Volume 33, Number 4 - SpringerLink http://www.springerlink.com/content/3h17qp3gk314ut17/ </ref>
<ref name="CryroChin">Non-invasive CoolSculpting for body contouri... [Lasers Surg Med. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22334296 </ref>
</references>
Losing body fat is big business and one of the latest approaches is CoolSculpting ®, also called Cryolipolysis®. The word 'Cryolipolysis' literally means "cold fat loss", and CoolSculpting works by chilling the skin so that the underlying fat cells are reduced. I've found that a similar effect can be produced at home for almost no cost.
=CoolSculpting=
CoolSculpting uses an FDA approved device to chill the skin for up to an hour<ref name="CyroMeta"/>, with a session lasting one to three hours<ref name="CSFaq"/>, producing a reduction in the fat thickness in the treated area. Animal and human studies have shown a reduction in fat thickness between 20% and 80% over 3 months following treatment<ref name="ClNelson"/>. The device sucks the skin and underlying fat into a cup<ref name="CryroNerves"/>. More than one treatment can be used, but the results of the second treatment are not as dramatic as the first<ref name="CryroChin"/>. CoolSculpting is considered an alternative to liposuction, which is the most common type of plastic surgery.
=How does CoolSculpting work?=
[[File:CoolSculpting device.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The CoolSculpting device.]]
The device removes heat from the skin at a constant rate, rather than chilling to a particular temperature. While the underlying mechanism is unclear<ref name="ClNelson"/>, the current theory is that chilling fat tissues to just below freezing triggers inflammation of the fat cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panniculitis Panniculitis]) and then triggers natural cell death in the fat cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoptosis apoptosis]). The inflammation starts 3 days after treatment, peaking at 30 days, with some residual inflammation seen after 90 days and the number of fat cells declining over the 90 day period<ref name="CsPig"/>.
=CoolSculpting and Cryosurgery=
Cryosurgery uses cold to kill off tissue, such as tumors. Typically cryosurgery uses far lower temperatures (-20c/-4f to -40c/-40f) and kills off the living cells ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrosis necrosis]) <ref name="CryosurgeryTemp"/>. By comparison CoolSculpting uses temperatures that do not immediately kill off the fat cells, but rather trigger the natural process of cell death. (Cell damage is caused by temperatures below -10c/14f and CoolSculpting drops the temperature to around -1c/31f.)
=Side effects of CoolSculpting=
There have been no serious side effects reported so far<ref name="ClNelson"/>. The skin being treated goes red, with some bruising and numbness. I suspect that the bruising may be because the CoolSculpting device sucks<ref name="CsSuction"/><ref name="CryroNerves"/> the fat against the cooling device. These problems normally resolve within a week. Studies have shown no changes in blood lipid levels or liver function<ref name="CyroMeta"/>. The numbness is not associated with nerve damage<ref name="CryroNerves"/>.
=Spot Reduction in Fat Thickness=
CoolSculpting reduces the fat thickness in the limited area that is treated rather than producing overall weight loss<ref name="ClNelson"/>. CoolSculpting does not seem to be effective in obese people, though it may simply be harder to observe the effects<ref name="ClNelson"/>.
=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. The levels of fat on my legs are noticeably lower than other parts of my body, which might be the result of regular icing. There is evidence that applying ice to the skin produces an inflammation response in just a few minutes<ref name="CyroMeta"/>, so this approach seems viable.
==Testing DIY CoolSculpting==
So I undertook a simple experiment and applied a bag of ice to the right side of my abdomen for 1-3 hours a day for two weeks. I generally did this in the evenings, applying the ice while watching TV or reading. While the ice is initially uncomfortable and cold, this sensation disappears in a couple of minutes. It also seems that after the first few times the ice is applied, the discomfort is far less.
==Results of DIY CoolSculpting==
At the end of the two weeks the fat thickness on the right side was noticeably thinner than the left side. The difference seemed to increase in the week following termination of the icing. At this point I started icing the left side to regain symmetry.
=References=
<references>
<ref name="CSFaq">CoolSculpting - Patient FAQs http://www.coolsculpting.com/heres-the-skinny/patient-faq/ </ref>
<ref name="ClNelson">CoolSculpting for reduction of excess a... [Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20123423 </ref>
<ref name="CryosurgeryTemp">All About Cryosurgery http://hassam.hubpages.com/hub/All-About </ref>
<ref name="CsPig">CoolSculpting for noninvasive fat cell destruc... [Dermatol Surg. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614940 </ref>
<ref name="CsSuction">CoolSculpting http://www.newmanmdplasticsurgery.com/CoolSculpting.html </ref>
<ref name="CyroMeta">CoolSculpting for subcutaneous fat layer red... [Lasers Surg Med. 2009] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20014262 </ref>
<ref name="CryroNerves">Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Volume 33, Number 4 - SpringerLink http://www.springerlink.com/content/3h17qp3gk314ut17/ </ref>
<ref name="CryroChin">Non-invasive CoolSculpting for body contouri... [Lasers Surg Med. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22334296 </ref>
</references>
