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Coolsculpting

Our dermatologists were the first clinicians in Queensland to employ non-surgical fat freezing or cryolipolysis. With over a dozen applicator sizes you can be certain that we will have the perfect fit to remove unwanted fat from almost any area. Popular treatment sites include love handles, abdominal & under chin fat. View our CoolSculpting before and after gallery to see the results.
The most common areas we treat with CoolSculpting are:
  • Abs & Stomach
  • Love handles
  • Chin
  • Arms
  • Bra Fat
  • Men

Our results speak for themselves

Before

After

Body Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 4

CoolSculpting to the arms is highly effective to reduce stubborn fat

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    Before

    After

    Body Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 3

    CoolSculpting to the thigh area improves the profile in one session

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      Before

      After

      Body Treatment Cutis Dermatology Brisbane 12

      CoolSculpting to the abdominal & stomach areas reduces fat by 25% in one session & up to 40% with two sessions

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        Our CoolSculpting Treatments

        CoolSculpting Abs & Stomach
        Best for: Abdominal & stomach fat
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: Sculpted waistlines
        CoolSculpting Love handles
        Best for: Flank fat
        Down time: 0 day
        Comments: No more muffin tops
        CoolSculpting Chin
        Best for: Double chin
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: For chin definition
        CoolSculpting Arms
        Best for: Tuckshop arms
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: Best with skin tightening
        CoolSculpting Bra Fat
        Best for: Back pinched fat
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: Super effective
        CoolSculpting Men
        Best for: Love handles, chins
        Down time: 0 days
        Comments: Slender waistlines
        How does it work?
        Cutis Dermatology offers more non-surgical body contouring options than anywhere else in Brisbane.

        Cryolipolysis or fat freezing is a safe but effective non-surgical alternative to liposuction. It works by permanently destroying fat cells using controlled cooling to reshape the contours of the body. When fat is cooled to subzero temperatures, it causes targeted cell death. The body then naturally processes and flushes these fat cells from the body.

        • NuEra radiofrequency tightening is another body contouring device that employs radio frequency to tighten skin and address body concerns. Radiofrequency can reduce the appearance of cellulite as it helps to tighten skin laxity. It may be used for the face, arms, knees and thighs.
        • Genius RF skin tightening is a powerful device that can be used to tighten skin on the face & body. We use it to help reduce double chins & tighten the lower ⅓ of the face & neck.
        • Clatuu is a non-invasive cooling of fat cells to induce lipolysis without damage to other tissue types. It has different applicators hence for some patients we get a better fit compared to CoolSculpting.
        • Tempsure & Pelleve are relaxing gentle body shapers that deliver radiofrequency energy to help stimulate collagen.
        Targeted Fat Loss
        Are you a candidate for CoolSculpting?

        CoolSculpting gives precise fat loss in key areas to achieve a more sculpted silhouette. This cutting-edge technology preferentially targets specific areas while perfectly preserving the surrounding healthy skin cells. Treatments are quick, effective & safe, with minimal downtime & no surgical scars.

        If you are happy with your overall weight & fitness level, but still have a “muffin-top,” “love-handles,” or back fat that resists your best efforts, CoolSculpting® offers a unique, non-surgical option for correcting what diet & exercise alone cannot. One session can reduce fat by 25%.

        Dermatologists at Cutis were the first clinicians in Queensland to employ non-surgical fat freezing or cryolipolysis.

        FAQs

        What is CoolSculpting?

        CoolSculpting was invented by Harvard dermatologists nearly a decade ago. Since its inception the machine has undergone many changes but still relies on freezing to target stubborn pockets of fat.  

        How does CoolSculpting work?

        CoolSculpting works by freezing fat! When fat is cooled to -5 degrees, it causes apoptosis or fat cell death. Your body clears away the fat material & dead cells away from that area, causing a permanent reduction in the region treated.

        Are the results permanent?

        Yes. Once destroyed fat cells do not come back. The caveat is that if you are in a persistent caloric excess, the remaining fat cells may enlarge, not multiply. CoolSculpting is not a substitute for eating & living healthy. 

        What is the recovery process following fat freezing?

        Coolsculpting® treatments require very little recovery. Some patients may experience mild swelling, bruising, sensitivity, redness, or soreness in the treated area, however they are usually able to resume their regular activities.  Staying well hydrated & giving the treated area a chance to “breathe” in order to speed recovery time. 

        Who is a good candidate for CoolSculpting?

        Ideal patients for CoolSculpting have a stable weight, good skin elasticity, live an healthy  lifestyle but require a helping hand  to reach their body contouring goals. They are physically healthy with realistic expectations. 

        CoolSculpting is not a weight-loss procedure but rather a body sculpting technique that can help to get rid of stubborn fat in key areas of the abdomen, back, limbs & under chin areas. 

        How soon can I expect results from CoolSculpting?

        Results are apparent from 3 weeks after treatment, however optimal results are seen around 4 months after. This process of freezing fat depends on your immune system removing destroyed fat cells over months, leading to a reduction of the subcutaneous fat layer.

        What is the procedure like?

        The CoolSculpt session begins with application of a cool gel to the treatment areas. We then position the applications to target areas of excess fat. 

        The sensation is that of vacuum combined with a deep cooling feeling. Since there is no significant pain associated with CoolSculpting, anaesthesia is not required. You can relax and read or watch your favourite shows while the procedure is performed. Depending on the area, each CoolSculpting session will last between 30 to 55 minutes.

        What is DualSculpting?

        DualSculpting employs CoolSculpting’s fat freezing technology & makes the process faster & more effective with the use of two machines in the one sitting. The DualSculpting applicator removes stubborn fat cells &  at the same time sculpt the areas for a more aesthetically pleasing body shape. 

        Using DualSculpting to remove unwanted fat means you receive twice the benefits of CoolSculpting in half the time. It is ideal for multiple treatment areas. 

        What is the CoolSculpt Mini & where is it used?

        Smaller areas of the body, face & neck areas are treated with the Mini. At Cutis Dermatology, we offer the latest versions of the CoolSculpt Mini for more refined sculpting. Using CoolSculping technology, the Mini can deliver comparable results to liposuction, or limited neck lift surgery. Ask about CoolSculpt mini during your CoolSculpting consultation if you think you would like to target smaller areas. 

        Does CoolSculpting tighten skin or just remove fat?

        We know that controlled heating contracts collagen & hence provides skin tightening, but how does cold achieve this? It is because CoolSculpting provides secondary inflammation that results in neocollagenesis.

        The skin tightening part of Coolsculpting is not as predictable as heat associated energy devices such as HIFU & radiofrequency. Hence why we advocate combination treatments in key areas such as the chin, neck, & lower face. 

        What are other complementary treatments performed alongside CoolSculpting?

        Dermatologists employ skin tightening procedures to further enhance contours by firming up the treated area. The most common combinations we employ include-

        • NuEra radiofrequency treatments
        • Pelleve Tempsure RF 
        • Genius RF microneedling
        • HIFU Ultherapy

        Why do we prefer liposuction over CoolSculpting for treating under chin fat?

        Having performed CoolSculpting for nearly a decade, we prefer neck liposuction over CoolSculpting (& even Kybella). Here’s why-

        • Liposuction in the neck area is far more reliable compared to CoolSculpting. Liposuction physically extracts fat manually. It does not rely on immune mediated clearances. 
        • Liposuction provides more skin tightening & hence additional jawline contouring. We often use RF energy during the liposuction procedure to tighten collagen.
        • Downtime is limited to only 2-3 days following liposuction.

        What are the risks & side effects of CoolSculpting?

        Side effects are minor & rare, however as the go-to specialist clinic in Brisbane, our dermatologists are often consulted when it comes to side effects in Queensland, so we are well versed in dealing with common through to rare complications. 

        Common side effects: temporary discomfort & numbness in the treated area lasting over one week. Shelving (no, not that type of shelving) is thought to be a side effect, but it is a normal variant if your body has abnormal contours. It is because the applicator is designed as ‘best fit’, to allow the most commonly treated body sizes. 

        Not so common: persistent numbness lasting 3 to 6 months & or shooting pains due to nerve damage. Prolonged lumps are seen in 1-2% of cases & can resolve following soft tissue massage & anti-inflammatories. 

        Very rare side effects: include paradoxical hyperplasia. Our clinic has seen 2 cases in Queensland. This side effect means the treated areas gain more fat, rather than shrinking. It is more common than what is reported in the literature. Paradoxical fat production & enlargement can be seen on the abdomen, flanks & back areas. It is rarely seen under the chin. Liposuction is the treatment of choice.

        How does CoolSculpting compare to liposuction?

        Both CoolSculpting & liposuction are effective treatments to remove unwanted fat. Both procedures address fatty deposits that diet and exercise cannot resolve. Liposuction physically removes fat, whilst CoolSculpting relies on your immune system to remove unwanted fat cells that have been targeted with freezing. 

        Advantages of liposuction: faster results, better contouring especially in the neck areas (hence why we prefer neck liposuction to treat unwanted under chin fat).

        Advantages of CoolSculpting: non-invasive, cheaper. No liposuction scars- that is a big bonus. Most patients don’t realise that liposuction involves many incision port holes, ranging from 3 to 16, depending on the areas treated. 

        So, which is better, CoolSculpting or SculpSure?

        We have both devices at Cutis Dermatology but choose not to operate SculptSure as we find that CoolSculpting is much more predictable. For fat reduction, cold is better than heat (SculpSure). Here is the reasoning behind our decision-

        • Preselection vs no selection. CoolSculpting applicators pre-select the amount of fat. If you don’t have much fat, the applicator will not function. If you have too much fat, it’s hard to push it into an applicator. Not so with SculpSure as it relies on sapphire crystal diode lasers that sit on top of the skin’s surface, led together by a strap. This means anyone can be a candidate for SculpSure.

         

         

        • Energy levels make a difference. With Coolsculpting, there is only one setting- very cold. The presents make this a much more predictable treatment in comparison to SculpSure with variable controls. For patients who cannot tolerate the ideal treatment levels, therapists can turn down the heat. This compromises the efficacy.  

        It’s not that SculpSure does not work, as we have had some amazing results, however at Cutis we want the most predictable results for our patients. Hence why we choose CoolSculpting.

        Which is better - Coolsculpting or Clatuu fat freezing?

        We have both devices, & here is our take. It really depends on the applicator size & your body type/fit. How cryolipolysis works is getting the treated area to fit into correct sizes. The more sizes we have, the better the fit. 

        As a guide, we use CoolSculpting in over 90% of cases, but in some patients, the large Clatuu applicator gives a snugger fit. This translates to better results. 

        What does radiofrequency body contouring have to add to the CoolSculpting procedure?

        Cutis Dermatology has the latest in skin tightening devices, including the new Tempsure system & the newer NuEra by Lumenis. We often combine CoolSculpting with skin tightening if we are treating patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, especially in patients over the age of 33. 

        Here is the concept of volume displacement; think of an inflated balloon. If you deflate a balloon, especially one that has been sitting for a week or two, you get crinkles & wrinkles. The same applies to skin. Young adults have good elastic recoil, but collagen decreases by 1% a year in your 20s. For patients who are undergoing fat reduction in key areas such as the neck, arms, back & abdomen, you may also benefit from non-surgical tightening treatments. Be guided by our therapists. 

        Can HIFU melt fat & when do we use this over CoolSculpting?

        So, you have heard that HIFU can melt facial fat & some patients have adverse outcomes from this procedure.

        It is well known among specialists that HIFU can cause collateral damage of facial fat- in fact we do use it to stack pulses at 3.0 to 4.5 mm in a very few select individuals- think very heavy jowls in someone over the age of 60. We use this as non-selective collateral damage to facial fat, much like Kybella or hyper dilute deoxycholic acid introduced by a cannula to treat jowls. In truth, these are high risk procedures- sooner or later you’re going to hit the facial nerve or induced focal fat atrophy. 

        On-label CoolSculpting is infinitely safer than HIFU, especially for under-chin fat. HIFU can be used, we do employ it, however, we prefer safer treatments such as cryolipolysis or liposuction. In the context of laxity with little adiposity, HIFU is then indicated. 

        Who cannot have Coolsculpting?

        We don’t perform this treatment if you have-

        • A bun in the oven.
        • A history of cold urticaria or cryoglobulinemia (see a medical dermatologist for clearance). Some autoimmune conditions are contraindicated. 
        • Weight more than 12 kg of your optimal BMI. Coolsculpting is not a weight loss treatment. 
        • Have unrealistic expectations.

        Why do some cases of CoolSculping not work as well as it should?

        Like any medically approved FDA/TGA treatment, there are successes & failures. The most common reasons of failure include –

        • Wrong applicator selection– mitigated with proper training & experience
        • Poor candidate selection- examples include loose tissue rather than fat.  

        Resistant treatment areas- double chin fat is the most common area. Therefore we prefer liposuction over CoolSculpting & Kybella in this area.

        Can CoolSculpting be addictive?

        Unfortunately, yes. The reason being it is extremely effective. At Cutis Dermatology our average patient undergoes 7.2 treatment cycles. Once you experience the efficacy of CoolSculpting, you will realise how easy body contouring is. 

        Why Cutis Dermatology?

        Our dermatologists were the very first doctors to bring Coolsculpting into Brisbane– back when the distribution was through HiTec lasers & not Allergan. Since then, we have been instrumental in providing training to other clinics. Our specialists also handle the side effects of CoolSculpting including cases of panniculitis & paradoxical hyperplasia.  

        Can CoolSculpting be used on lipomas & fatty deposits?

        In theory, yes, but it’s far better to excise lipomas via a small incision. For CoolSculpting to work, the lipoma or fatty lump must fit in the vacuum seal of an applicator. Even with a good seal you may require 3-5 sessions for best results. Surgery is far more effective & cost effective. 

        Can I use an ice block to melt fat?

        We have heard this before. Yes, the original theory of CoolSculpting was based upon ice-cold induced panniculitis or inflammation of fat secondary to an ice block. Whilst it is a novel idea, holding ice to your skin for an hour has some major drawbacks- like blisters & ice burns. 

        Cryolipolysis is a balance between keeping temperatures cold, but not too cold. CoolSculpting has state of the art algorithms that work out the cooling cycle & integrate this with vacuum. 

        Can CoolSculpting be used to remove facial fat?

        Unfortunately (as of the time of writing in 2002) there is no applicator for the buccal fat. The closest applicator is the CoolMini that is useful for under-chin fat & jawline contouring. 

        The challenges with facial fat freezing include possible collateral damage to deeper structures including nerves & parotid gland. Additionally, facial contouring must be exact- even a small amount of over correction will leave a noticeable depression or divot. 

        What lifestyle factors can help with my CoolSculpting procedure?

        Eating healthy & regular exercise can help reduce weight. If you are genetically blessed, then maintaining a low body fat percentage can reduce love handles, bra fat, inner thigh fat & chin fat. For the normal 98% of people out there, cryolipolysis can be the answer to sculpting these stubborn areas.

        Does CoolSculpting get rid of thigh cellulite?

        Though not marketed as a cellulite treatment, CoolSculpting can, in some patients, reduce the appearance of wavy cellulite. It does so by reducing the amount of fat held below the dermis of skin. This reduction of fat reduces the out pocketing of fat cells, which is one of the causes of cellulite. 

        CoolSculpting can reduce the appearance of cellulite not just on thighs, but also on the buttocks & stomach. 

        What are other treatments used in conjunction with CoolSculpting to reduce cellulite?

        CoolSculpting can reduce the amount of fat & hence can improve the appearance of wavy cellulite. Other treatments for this subtype of cellulite include NuEra & Tempsure radiofrequency treatments. These modalities stimulate collagen to help contain fat in compartments. 

        For larger areas of cellulite, we also use collagen stimulating fillers like PLLA. Focal areas of cellulitis are treated with surgical methods.

        What types of cellulite are not amenable to CoolSculpting?

        Discrete divots are not amenable to CoolSculpting. This form of cellulite (in contrast to wavy cellulite of the inner thighs). Divots are due to bands of connective tissue arising from the deeper layers of skin, attaching to the lower dermal layer of skin. Bands are best treated with surgery, including subcision & Cellfina.

        Why does choosing the right applicator size and shape matter?

        A precisely placed applicator is the difference between OK results, & excellent outcomes. Thigh CoolSculpting should ideally address the step off or bulge in the inner medial thigh. When this is reduced, it improves the contour of the inner thigh, giving definition & separation to the medial thighs. This gap is what we want. 

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