Is it safe?

Cryolipolysis is safe for all skin types, with no reported changes in skin pigmentation, and it is safe for repeated application.

Who are the best candidates?

The best candidates are people who are close or within their ideal weight range who exercise regularly and eat healthily but have noticeable fat bulges on their torso.

Which areas can be treated?

All of the following areas can be treated:

• Upper abdomen
• Lower abdomen
• Inner thighs
• Outer thighs
• Arms (Bingo Wings)
• Back fat (including bra fat)
• Hips
• Flanks
• Bottoms
• Male chest (‘moobs’)
• Backs of thighs (to accentuate how much your bottom sticks out, like Kim Kardashian)
• Sides of knees

How does it work?

Cryolipolysis (sometimes referred to under the trade name of “Cool Sculpting”) technology uses controlled cooling to target and kill fat cells whilst leaving other body cells undamaged. In the weeks to follow, these fat cells are naturally eliminated from our body via a process called apoptosis. Once the fat cells have been killed, they are gone for good.

How many treatments will I need?

It varies from person to person. Some people get great results from just one treatment. Others choose to have two or more.

How much does it cost?

Prices start at just £200 per treatment area, with 50% discount offered on subsequent treatments – even if to a different area. Following a free consultation I will be able to work out a tailored treatment plan for you.

Reference: Cryolipolysis for noninvasive body contouring: clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction

Some people are happy with just one treatment, although the standard advice is that 1-3 treatments will be needed on most body areas. It really depends on how much fat you have to begin with, how well your body responds and what result you will be happy with. There is no waiting period for treatments to a different area; people normally wait at least 4-6 weeks before re-treatment to the same area, but it can be retreated more frequently if so desired.

Having a second treatment (to the same area) at the 4-6 weeks point is recommended because that is when the body is in its maximum inflammatory phase, so you hit the ground running with the second treatment whilst extending the life of the first treatment thus amplifying the results.

You can expect to lose, on average, about 20%-40% of the fat that is sucked into the handles on the machine, per treatment. Please bear in mind that this is an average figure and people respond differently, with some losing more than this and some losing less. 

One of the most common treatments I perform for men is freezing of male breast tissue,more commonly known as “moobs“. Fat Freezing is a great, non invasive way of reducing fat in the male breast area which is often unresponsive to diet and exercise.

Nick Ferrari, the LBC Radio Presenter, recently had the procedure done – not with me, sadly, but at a clinic in London, and he said: “After two sessions, the problem I had endured for decades was radically altered — I’ve lost two to three inches around my chest.”

You can read the full article here.

Note that female breast tissue is not suitable for Fat Freezing.

The aftercare for Fat Freezing is straightforward. There are no restrictions afterwards – you can get a hot bath, go to the gym or sit in a sauna. There is no downtime.

For best results, the advice is:

• Eat healthily
• Take regular exercise
• Massage the treated areas (once a day for the first two weeks – I would suggest in the bath or shower using the soap / shower gel as a massage medium)
• Drink plenty so that your wee is pale yellow or lighter in colour.

Common side effects with Fat Freezing tend to be minimal, certainly when compared with surgical liposuction, and in most cases of no concern at all. Typical side effects can include:

• Numbness or swelling of the treated area
• Redness, sometimes with bruising. The bruising is caused by the vacuum action of the cups and varies from person to person and area to area, but is usually minimal.
• Tingling or pins and needles – can occur transiently as the skin warms up again after treatment.
• Bloating.

Less common side effects can include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramping

More serious side effects:

• Ice burns / frostbite. These can occur if the antifreeze pads are incorrectly positioned or of poor quality, or if the temperature of the machine is taken too low. It is usually an operator error. Should you suffer from ice burns, typified by blistering in the affected area, you should seek medical advice. If treated properly, they will heal quickly.
• Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia – an extremely rare side effect which can lead to an increase in fat in the treated area. Zeltiq, the owner of the Coolsculpting brand, quote the risk as being one in four thousand.

The majority of people can be treated without issue. However, if you suffer from certain conditions, treatment is contraindicated. We will go through this at your consultation prior to treatment. As an example, I may not be able to treat people who suffer from:

• Cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria or cold uticaria.
• Cancer who are actively being treated for it (cancer in the past is not a contraindication)
• Liver or kidney problems
• Serious heart or lung conditions
• Uncontrolled high or low blood pressure
• Serious diseases of the immune system
• Serious cardiovascular problems
• Uncontrolled diabetes (type 2 diabetes is usually ok)
• Hernias in the area to be treated
• Keloid scarring in the area to be treated

My guarantee is that I will carry out the treatment is a safe and professional manner. I cannot guarantee the results because I have no control over how your body will respond to the treatment, or whether you will follow the aftercare guidelines. My experience is that on occasions people can be very poor judges of their own responses to treatment, no matter what the treatment, if it is a result that takes a while to develop. You see yourself every day, and may be oblivious to the small daily changes. When the current results are compared to the before photos, differences can become more apparent.