If you have any interest in abdominal sculpting (and don’t we all?), then you’ve probably heard of the innovative “fat freezing” procedure known as CoolSculpting. CoolSculpting has become an incredibly popular way to remove unwanted fat since being approved by the FDA in 2010, and for good reason: This procedure is relatively painless, safe, convenient, and highly effective. CoolSculpting has been shown to remove about 25% of the fat from targeted areas, and once this fat is gone, it will never come back. Fat cells do not regenerate once they have been destroyed (though the body will sometimes produce new fat cells after significant weight gain, i.e., a gain of 30 pounds or more). Best of all, CoolSculpting accomplishes all of this without any incisions being made in the patient’s skin. As such, there is no risk of infection after having this procedure, no need for sutures, and no recovery period; the patient simply leaves the doctor’s office and returns to his or her normal routine.
However, while we all know that CoolSculpting can banish stubborn belly fat, few people realize quite how versatile fat freezing really is. In recent years, the FDA has expanded its approval of CoolSculpting, permitting cosmetic professionals to use it on multiple areas of the body. In addition to treating fat on the abdomen, CoolSculpting can be used to slim the back, flanks, thighs, arms, and even the area under the chin. Indeed, while we hear a lot about injectable treatments and liposuction for the removal of submental fat, CoolSculpting is actually the first nonsurgical treatment approved by the FDA for use in this area.
Why Choose CoolSculpting to Treat a Double Chin?
Most patients who exhibit a distinct double chin are actually facing two separate issues: First and foremost, they have a significant deposit of submental fat. It’s important to understand that this does not always occur because the patient is overweight. Some people who are a healthy weight, or even quite slim, have a deposit of submental fat owing to genetic factors. Unfortunately, over time, the weight of this fat deposit places stress on the skin. As such, most patients over the age of 35 also have a degree of skin laxity below the chin. This can worsen the appearance of a double chin and make the patient look much older and pounds heavier than he or she actually is.
CoolSculpting is unique in the fact that it tackles both of the issues described above. In addition to destroying fat cells via the use of extreme cold energy (don’t worry—the CoolSculpting applicator has been designed to keep your skin comfortably warm and safe), CoolSculpting also causes the skin to gradually become tighter. This makes it a star in the world of submental fat treatments; liposuction and injectable fat removal treatments target only fat cells, without treating skin laxity. They are therefore most suitable for use in younger patients who still have excellent skin flexibility, whereas CoolSculpting is ideal for use in patients of all ages.
While researchers are still investigating the origins of CoolSculpting’s skin firming effect, it is believed that CoolSculpting also destroys some of the collagen in treated areas. This sounds like a bad thing, given the fact that collagen is responsible for keeping our skin tight and supple, but it actually isn’t: Destroying the old collagen causes the body to initiate its healing response and produce a surge of fresh collagen in treated areas. This effectively “jump starts” the collagen production system, compensating for some of the age-related collagen loss in the affected area. As a result, the skin becomes firmer and the patient’s double chin shrinks more than it would if just fat removal had been performed.
The evidence for this double impact on submental cosmetic issues is far from just being anecdotal. According to an 18-week clinical study of patients undergoing treatment for a double chin, CoolSculpting was shown to reduce skin laxity in more than three quarters (77%) of the volunteers studied. This is, of course, in addition to the treatment providing a visible reduction in the patients’ amount of submental fat.
When it comes to double chin removal, CoolSculpting is cosmetic medicine’s best-kept secret. By targeting both loose skin and fat cells, CoolSculpting produces a gradual (results manifest over about two months) but profound change in the appearance of the chin. If you want to feel better and photograph better, this proven double chin treatment could therefore be just the thing you’re looking for.
