DIY CoolSculpting: Is It Possible?
Everyone loves a DIY project now and then. After all, there is something fulfilling about finishing a project on your own, and saving money is a huge bonus.
You’ve seen photos of CoolSculpting results and want to know if you can get the same results at home.
The internet is full of information on DIY CoolSculpting, but you’ve got questions:
Does DIY Coolsculpting work?
What are the methods of DIY CoolSculpting?
Is DIY CoolSculpting safe?
We’ll answer these questions and more.
In the end, you’ll understand why DIY CoolSculpting is ineffective and dangerous and why you should seek out a professional for CoolSculpting treatments.
Table of Contents
Can You DIY CoolSculpting?
Internet trends abound reporting that DIY CoolSculpting is possible. But trends can’t always be trusted, and when it comes to DIY CoolSculpting trends, you just shouldn’t follow them.
DIY CoolSculpting is extremely unsafe as witnessed by doctors and hospitals reporting a rise in thermal-related injuries.
Besides the danger posed by DIY CoolSculpting, it simply doesn’t work.
It is impossible to freeze your fat at home.
Below, we’ll discuss how CoolSculpting works to better understand why DIY efforts fully miss the mark.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting, formally known as cryolipolysis, is a non-invasive, FDA- approved, fat-loss procedure that “freezes” your fat using controlled cooling.
Unlike the DIY variety, CoolSculpting treatments with trained professionals are both effective and safe.
Freezing fat? How does it actually work?
CoolSculpting is used to eliminate fat from trouble spots like the ...
Abdomen
Flanks
Upper arm; or
Inner thigh
… by “freezing” fat tissues without damaging the surrounding tissue.
During a CoolSculpting treatment, the section of the part of the body being treated is suctioned using a special applicator. This step in the process is crucial because it keeps the fat cells close to the skin’s surface.
The device then applies cold, but not freezing, temperatures to your skin (at about 4 degrees Celsius or 39 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature is closely monitored throughout the procedure, and your fat cells get cold enough to trigger fat cell death.
After a few weeks, the dead fat cells work their way out of the body through the lymphatic system and are excreted as natural waste.
CoolSculpting can deliver outstanding results.
Permanent or long-lasting outcomes can be maintained with as few as one to two treatments followed by proper diet and exercise.
How Does DIY CoolSculpting Work?
Several DIY CoolSculpting techniques are circulating the internet including:
DIY CoolSculpting with ice; and
DIY CoolSculpting machines
In reality, no DIY Coolsculpting methods actually work. More than that, they can also be dangerous.
Below we’ll discuss these two DIY methods and why they aren’t effective.
DIY CoolSculpting With Ice
Because cryolipolysis is associated with cold temperatures, many DIY CoolSculpting methods involve ice.
Some methods involve applying ice packs, ice bags, or ice water to the desired area to freeze the fat cells.
What actually happens with these methods is:
You risk getting frostbite on the skin.
You are likely to damage nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues.
The temperature warms up rapidly with no effect on the fat cells.
Here’s why:
You could possibly get cold enough temperatures using ice on your skin to kill a few fat cells, but at the required temperature, frostbite to the skin or damage to tissues is very likely.
On the other hand, if you try this DIY technique with ice bags or ice packs, the warm-up rate is so fast that the freezing effect is eliminated.
For CoolSculpting to be effective, a precise balance in temperature must be maintained, making it impossible to accomplish at home.
At Barnett Dermatology, Dr. Barnett is equipped with the tools and expertise to deliver exceptional CoolSculpting results in a safe and comfortable environment.
At Home CoolSculpting Machines
DIY at-home CoolSculpting machines are also another fad you can find advertised on the internet.
These types of DIY machines are merely imitations of the patented CoolSculpting machine that is the only researched and FDA-approved technology. Don’t be fooled by the copycats’ claims to produce the same results as the original.
In most cases, these at-home machines are ineffective and also come with many risks like:
Burns
Blisters; and
Scarring
After gauging the risk of at-home CoolSculpting machines, seek out a CoolSculpting trained medical professional like Dr. Barnett to ensure safe and successful results.
Are There Limitations to At Home DIY CoolSculpting?
Yes — the limitations to DIY CoolSculpting are obvious.
Below we’ll consider some of the most common limitations that accompany at-home CoolSculpting techniques:
Lack of suction necessary
Inconsistent cooling
Inadequate applicators
Limitation #1: DIY CoolSculpting Lacks Suction
At-home machines and other methods lack the suction necessary for optimal CoolSculpting results.
When the skin is exposed to cold temperatures, the fat cells naturally recede into the body.
Suction pulls the fat cells to the surface so that the cooling penetrates the fat cells. In addition, the vacuum device also allows for a 360-degree cooling of the fat cells for quicker results.
Without the proper suction to pull the fat cells to the surface, any attempts to freeze the fat cells will be counterproductive.
Limitation #2: DIY CoolSculpting Provides Inconsistent Cooling
In actuality, CoolSculpting does not freeze fat. Rather, CoolSculpting cools the fat by lowering the heat in the cell. This is done by a precise, measured, cooling technique.
Because the cooling needs to be so accurate and maintained for a period of time, at-home DIY CoolSculpting methods simply can’t deliver the kind of cooling required.
There just isn’t a way to get an ice pack cool enough or keep it cool enough to do what is necessary for the optimal cooling of fat cells.
Limitation #3: DIY CoolSculpting Requires Specific Applicators
CoolSculpting machines operated by medical professionals come with specific body contouring applicators. These applicators mold around particular parts of the body and provide a precise fit.
At-home machines do not come with these same applicators and therefore can’t provide the custom contouring as those CoolSculpting devices used in medical offices.
3 Reasons Why You Should Not Choose DIY CoolSculpting
DIY CoolSculpting gimmicks just don’t work. On top of that, they can also be harmful.
Let’s look at three specific reasons why DIY CoolSculpting isn’t a good idea.
#1: Negative Results Due to DIY CoolSculpting Lack of Suction
Without the proper vacuum mechanism to suction the skin, there’s no way to position the fat cells where they need to be to receive the appropriate cooling.
Not only will you be disappointed with the final fat loss results, but you may also put yourself at risk of significant tissue damage.
It just isn’t worth the risk.
If you desire fat loss with non-invasive procedures, Dr. Barnett and her team are equipped and ready to deliver the results you are looking for.
As a board-certified physician by the American Board of Dermatology, Dr. Barnett possesses particular expertise in dermatologic and cosmetic procedures.
#2: DIY Methods, Such as Ice Packs, Won’t Freeze Fat Away
No matter how you try DIY CoolSculpting, with …
Ice packs
Ice bags; or
Ice water
… they can’t provide the kind of cooling precision and duration necessary to freeze fat cells effectively.
Ice packs warm up when placed on the body, making it impossible to stay cool long enough to penetrate the fat cells.
In the end, DIY CoolSculpting won’t freeze your fat, but it can freeze your skin.
#3: DIY CoolSculpting Is Dangerous
Even if DIY CoolSculpting was effective, the danger involved should be enough to turn your attention away from at-home techniques.
Frostbite and other burns are common injuries associated with ice packs directly on the skin. When this happens, you may likely need to see a medical professional for treatment, and unfortunately, the damage to skin and tissues may be permanent.
Other types of side effects of DIY CoolSculpting include:
Numbness
Cold
Pain
Tissue damage
You can avoid the DIY CoolSculpting aftermath by consulting a professional trained in CoolSculpting techniques.
Along with expert training, a professional will have access to CoolSculpting machines equipped with built-in safety mechanisms like:
Gel pads that protect the skin from the extreme cold; and
Temperature gauge mechanisms that shut off the machine if the temperature leaves the ideal range
Safe Alternatives to DIY CoolSculpting to Reduce Fat
By far, CoolSculpting is the most popular non-invasive fat removal treatment around. But other types of fat reduction procedures are available.
Some other non-invasive alternatives include:
Laser lipolysis
Radiofrequency
Ultrasound therapy
Low-level laser therapy
Laser liposuction is also an option, but it is more invasive and requires a longer healing time.
Diet and exercise are the most natural methods of reducing fat.
The following tips can help to reduce fat naturally as well as maintain CoolSculpting results:
Eat a high protein/low carb diet.
Add more fiber to your diet.
Drink healthier beverages.
Consider probiotics.
Eat less processed foods.
Lift weights.
Add cardio to your exercise routine.
Get more sleep.
Choose A Reputable Dermatologist Like Barnett Dermatology for Your CoolSculpting Needs
The risks of DIY CoolSculpting are just too high and will be utterly ineffective in the end.
If you’d like to eliminate that troublesome fat that you just can't get rid of, you need a professional — a dermatologist with experience and a stellar reputation.
Choose a dermatologist who has received special training and certification with CoolSculpting technology. Coolsculpting procedures should only happen in a medical office with a licensed professional.
When considering CoolSculpting, you’ll benefit by choosing a dermatological professional who has vast CoolSculpting experience and is revered in their field — someone like Dr. Channing Barnett.
Why Barnett Dermatology?
Dr. Barnett and the team at Barnett Dermatology come with the experience and professionalism you desire.
Board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, Dr. Barnett has been practicing since 2009 and possesses expertise in dermatologic and cosmetic surgery. In addition, she has studied with distinguished dermatologists throughout the U.S. and Europe to learn from the most reputable and innovative physicians in the field.
Dr. Barnett has extensive CoolSculpting knowledge and experience as well as top-notch equipment to provide her patients with desired results. Treatments are safe and are performed in a professional and comfortable environment.
Along with CoolSculpting, the team at Barnett Dermatology also provide the following services:
Botox and filler injections
Mohs surgery
Aesthetician treatments
Laser procedures
Skincare education
Contact Barnett Dermatology to schedule an appointment today.
