Coolsculpting in Norwalk, CT

Freeze Fat and Effects on Losing Weight

Just about everyone has stubborn pockets of fat, those jiggly areas of the belly, legs, back, arms and buttocks that simply refuse to respond to dieting and exercise, no matter how hard you try. Getting rid of difficult-to-treat fat deposits used to mean enduring costly and invasive liposuction procedures. But now, there’s a much less invasive way to remove stubborn fat pockets. CoolSculpting, like its name implies, uses targeted bursts of cold energy to eliminate stubborn pockets of fat once and for all.

When it comes to gaining weight, most of us tend to think we’re “putting on fat,” increasing the number of fat cells in our bodies in response to the amount of food we eat. But are we really growing new a bunch of new fat cells in response to overeating? The answer, surprisingly, is no.

Getting Fat

Fat cells are the “storage cells” of the body, holding extra stores of fat that can be metabolized as needed to support metabolize and supply energy on a regular and ongoing basis between meals. And to be really efficient at storage, they need to be flexible and able to expand so they can retain and release fat in response to the body’s changing needs. The fact is, at some point during our teen years, we’ve “grown” just about as many fat cells as we’ll ever have.

When we gain weight, we’re not adding more fat cells – the cells we have are simply getting larger – and heavier. While fat cells can shrink in response to weight loss from diet and exercise, they don’t disappear entirely. That means that as long as we have all those fat cells, they always have the potential to expand.

Fear No mirror


Freeze Fat Cells with Coolsculpting®

Like liposuction, Coolsculpting® is designed to eliminate fat cells once and for all so they can’t “plump up” in the future. But unlike liposuction, Coolsculpting® isn’t invasive – that is, it doesn’t require surgical incisions or anesthesia, which means recovery is much faster and there are far fewer risks compared to liposuction procedures. Coolsculpting® works to freeze fat, targeting fat cells with very cold energy and making the cells brittle so they eventually break apart. Once the cells break down, the tiny bits and fragments can be absorbed by other cells in the body and disposed of via the body’s natural waste system. That’s one of the key differences between Coolsculpting® and weight loss: While losing weight can help fat cells become smaller, the cells still remain and can become larger and more pronounced with future weight gain; with Coolsculpting®, the fat cells are gone for good.

Does that mean Coolsculpting® can help me lose weight?

No, Coolsculpting® is not designed for weight loss, and it’s not a substitute for diet, exercise and overall healthy living. Instead, by permanently removing fat cells in areas that are resistant to diet and exercise, Coolsculpting® can help you look slimmer and more toned.

Also, it’s important to understand that while Coolsculpting® is designed to freeze fat in specific hard-to-treat areas, it’s not intended to remove all the fat cells within the treatment zone. Some fat cells are necessary to enable your body to use specific types of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. Coolsculpting® treatment typically removes about 20 percent to 25 percent of fat cells in the target area so you look slimmer while still supporting good health and proper body function.

Is Coolsculpting® a good choice for everyone?

Coolsculpting® can be a great way for both women and men to look slimmer, sleeker and more toned, and since Coolsculpting® doesn’t use surgery to achieve its effects, it can be appropriate even for patients for whom more invasive procedures like liposuction are not recommended. Still, that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for every patient. The best way to know if Coolsculpting® might be a good choice for you is to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Kirwan to discuss your treatment objectives and to have a general exam and assessment. Get started on your slimmer, sleeker body. 

How does CoolSculpting work?

CoolSculpting uses a special handheld device to transmit cold energy right to the fat cells, freezing them and breaking down the fat cell walls so the contents can be easily and safely removed by your body’s natural “waste disposal” system. The energy is delivered through your skin with no need for incisions or anesthesia, leaving the tissue surrounding the fatty deposits unaffected. Plus, each treatment session can be customized specifically for your needs for optimal results.

What does Coolsculpting cost?

Many clients ask these 2 questions “How many treatments will I need” and “How much is that going to cost me”? Those don’t seem like very complicated questions and there should be a straight forward answer, right?

We explain it like this:

Most practices only have one machine they can use during your “session” but one machine can really only do ½ of a “cycle” of the treatment (one side or one area) at a time. The difference in our practice is that we have the capability of employing 2 machines at the same time. In doing so, your treatment length is significantly reduced.
We also enhance the procedure by replacing a typical hand massage with a Z-Wave Massage. This results in 20-30% more fat reduction than a typical hand massage will produce after your CoolSculpting treatment. A course of Z-Wave Massage after the CoolSculpting treatment may also enhance the final result.

Many patients see improvements after just one session in our office. We price based on the number of cycles which you will need and a cycle starts at $650. Discounts apply to multiple areas. However, every individual’s results are different, thus their treatment is equally as varied. It is possible that to reach your goals, you may benefit from additional treatments to achieve the results you’re looking for. During your free CoolSculpting consultation, we’ll review your needs and your goals so we can provide a more accurate treatment plan and personalized quotation to achieve those objectives.