CoolSculpting by Zeltiq® that is…I admit I was hesitant when I first heard that you could freeze away fat. As a huge fan of the medical condition called “popsicle panniclitis” as a medical student (this is when kids lose the fat in their cheeks from sucking on too many popsicles during the summer), I was intrigued when I heard the science behind the device was based on the same principle. 
Fat freezes at a warmer temperature than skin. Freezing the fat causes the cells to die, break down and then be resorbed by the body. If you use the right temperature, only the fat will freeze. Surrounding tissue such as vessels, nerves, and skin require much colder temperatures to be damaged so they are completely unaffected. Simple idea, great science (it was developed by scientists at Mass General/Harvard), but how can this be made into a machine that can get rid of your muffin top, love handles, back fat, and any other unwanted pooch?
Although the FDA approved it, this just means that it won’t hurt you, not that it is effective in what it says it does. So, as any good dermatologist, I reviewed the studies and the medical literature. Sounded legitimate. Then the real test- I decided to have the procedure done. Using myself as a guinea-pig (such self-sacrifice) I had my own post-2-baby belly sucked into the machine and frozen. I dragged my P.A. Christina with me for moral support and hand holding, just in case. Thankfully, I only needed her to entertain me since I forgot to bring a book. Other than that, it really was surprisingly simple and virtually painless. No hand-holding or anesthesia needed. I left 1 hour later, and then went home and ran, played with my kids, and had an otherwise normal evening. A few weeks later, I was shocked when my husband mentioned that he was positive it was working. He then begged me to buy a machine because he wanted to have it done. My staff agreed that the changes were noticeable, so I purchased a machine to offer this amazing treatment to my patients. Now, we are proud to offer CoolSculpting by Zeltiq® at our Miami dermatology practice.
Zeltiq is not liposuction. But, it also does not require the surgery, pain, anesthesia, risks, and downtime of liposuction. Average results are 20-25% improvement with each treatment, and the results are permanent as long as a patient maintains his or her weight with diet and exercise. 
This treatment, unfortunately, is not for obese patients, and is not a weight-loss procedure. Ideal candidates are relatively fit, but have some modest size fat bulges that are not easily reduced with exercise and diet. During the procedure, a non-invasive applicator delivers precisely controlled cooling to the treatment area to specifically target underlying fat, leaving surface skin tissue unaffected. Procedures last about one to two hours, and patients can return to normal activities immediately. Additional procedures for more pronounced effects can be done if desired.
After having done hundreds of procedures in our office, I can say with absolute confidence, this device works. I have now also treated, in addition to my patients, my husband and my office staff. I didn’t know my husband had a six-pack under there…if I could just get him to stop checking out his results in the mirror. Call our Miami dermatology office at (305) 864-9574 for more information or for a free consultation to see if you are a candidate. Check out these before and after pictures from patients we've treated with CoolSculpting by Zeltiq®, and for more information.
