Dr. Daniel Taheri Explains the Science Behind CoolSculpting

Dr. Daniel Taheri, founder and Chief Medical Director of LA Laser and Skin Center, is partnering with the makers of CoolSculpting to share the science behind the first and only FDA approved fat reduction treatment that uses cold to eliminate fat. The dedicated staff at Dr. Taheri’s award winning dermatology practice is concerned that people are choosing more painful and less effective fat reduction treatments in a rush to find a quick fix before bikini season.

“There’s a lot of misrepresentation out there. So many procedures claim to do things that they can’t really achieve, but there’s a proven science behind CoolSculpting,” reveals Marco Suisco, a CoolSculpting specialist from LA Laser and Skin Center. Unlike the abundant heat based fat reduction treatments available on the market, CoolSculpting gently and effectively targets fat cells with patented freezing technology, permanently reducing the number of fat cells in treated areas by 20% to 25%. CoolSculpting is a slimming solution for thighs, flanks, buttocks, calves, and arms as well as the abdomen and back. The basic science behind CoolSculpting is simple: Fat is frozen, the fat cells die, and then the body eliminates the dead cells. “Sometimes when we explain the treatment in a really simple way, it almost sounds too good to be true. That’s why we want to share the science behind CoolSculpting, so patients can make informed decisions before they fall for the summer fads that probably won’t work,” says Julia Kilpatrick, a CoolSculpting technician who partners with Dr. Taheri to educate patients. Here’s every fatty fact detailed by the experts at LA Laser and Skin Center.

The anatomy of human fat is like stacking dolls, each element housing a smaller piece. CoolSculpting treats subcutaneous fat, found just under the surface of the skin. Subcutaneous fat contains unique cells called adipocytes, the secret to human fat retention. Most cells safely shelter their functioning components in the center of the cell, but adipocytes carry all the important parts in the cell membrane on the exterior of the cell. It’s akin to humans storing their internal organs within their skin. This special cell structure leaves plenty of space for adipocytes to fill with fat cells. Just like stacking dolls, human pudge is basically a big layer of fat, with a smaller container made of fat inside, holding even tinier droplets of fat. It takes a lot to eliminate these stacked layers. During weight loss through diet and exercise, the body shrinks adipocytes to a smaller size, but they are not eliminated. On the other hand, during fat elimination procedures, adipocytes are killed in an entirely different bodily process.   Traditional fat elimination procedures use various forms of heat to destroy adipocytes, achieving cell death through a traumatic explosion that prompts an injury reaction from the body. When the cells explode, they spill most of their fat content into deeper layers of body tissue, redistributing fat cells before the body has time to break down and eliminate them. In this way, much of the targeted fat that a patient hopes to lose through heat induced fat elimination is actually just moved around and not destroyed. Everything is different with CoolSculpting, because it uses cold instead of heat.  

The scientific term for CoolSculpting is cryolipolysis, the technique of freezing fat cells to achieve cell death. When cryolipolysis begins, fat cells become crystalized and send out distress signals, triggering the body to begin a cascade of reactions that destroy each cell piece by piece. It’s a controlled suicide called apoptosis. Apoptosis occurs organically in the body every day as various types of cells complete their life cycle, so CoolSculpting simply jump starts and magnifies the natural operation. During apoptosis, the crystalized fat cells gradually shut down over two to three days until they are completely dead. As this shut down occurs, the cells send out signals again, prompting the next step of cryolipolysis: clearing dead fat cells from the body. This is when the physically slimming results of CoolSculpting begin to take shape. 

The body processes and clears dead fat cells through a system called phagocytosis. Larger cells engulf the dead fat cells and then slowly dissolve their components into usable parts which are then positioned throughout the body. Think of it as a totaled car with a few good pieces that can still be salvaged. While it takes only a few days for the cells to die, it can take up to three months for a significant amount of dead cells to be completely eliminated through phagocytosis. CoolSculpting may be healthier and more natural than heat based treatments, but it does take time. “We’ve seen a lot of negativity surrounding CoolSculpting because patients weren’t properly informed by their providers about the time frame for results. We know it takes more time than other procedures. There are plenty of surgical options out there with almost immediate results, but they are a lot more painful and are more likely to have side effects or complications. They also require a lot of after care. And of course, they’re more expensive,” explains the CoolSculpting specialist at LA Laser and Skin Center. “Those options are great for some patients, but CoolSculpting is the best option for nonsurgical fat reduction. People are always worried about trying the newest technology, but the science behind CoolSculpting is clear and definitive. It works, and it works safely.”

Dr. Taheri and LA Laser and Skin Center offer CoolSculpting in offices throughout California, including Modesto, Murrieta, Valencia, and Westwood as well as Henderson, Nevada. If you’re interested in making an appointment for CoolSculpting and want to learn more about LA Laser and Skin Center’s world class staff of board certified dermatologists, aestheticians, registered nurses, and patient care specialists, call 1-800-501-3376.