The desire for a beautifully shaped silhouette is widespread. This reflects not only the current diet and fitness trend, but also the great demand for body sculpting treatments. Above all, liposuction is a very popular procedure to make unwanted fat deposits disappear, but there are now other methods in aesthetic medicine to get the desired figure. For example, a non-invasive treatment in the form of cold application (cryolipolysis) is particularly suitable for local fat deposits. The silhouette can be treated with targeted application of cold and without surgical intervention so that fat deposits in various parts of the body can be reduced. The exposure to cold damages the fat cells, causing them to die off and gradually break down – neither the skin or the surrounding tissue are damaged in the process.
How does cryolipolysis work?
The term cryolipolysis comes from the Greek: “kryos” means cold or ice. It is a relatively new procedure that was developed by scientists at the renowned Harvard Medical School in the USA that makes use of fat cells’ sensitivity to cold, which has been proven in various clinical studies. This is because they are more sensitive to cold than other cell types.
In the context of cryolipolysis, Dr. Matiasek uses morphologically shaped cold applicators, which draw the fatty tissue into the applicator by means of a vacuum and cool it down to temperatures below freezing point for about 45-50 minutes without damaging the skin. In response to the cold, the blood supply to the fat cells decreases, causing the blood vessels to constrict. Experts also assume that the cold-induced crystallization in the fat cells leads to cell death. After a cryolipolysis treatment, an inflammatory reaction occurs that lasts up to a month after the treatment and leads to a decrease in fat deposits.
Dr. Matiasek prefers to work with CRISTAL Pro®, a modern and innovative cryolipolysis device from ICE AESTHETIC®, with temperatures as low as -12 ° C. The special thing about CRISTAL Pro® is that the treatment of local fat deposits all over the body – including the chin area – can be carried out simultaneously with four applicators thanks to the 2-zone control. The device has a total of eight applicators that adapt perfectly to the contours of the body and have a patented cooling system, which allows the entire treatment area to be cooled at an even and constant temperature. CRISTAL Pro® also has an integrated high-performance cooling system that significantly shortens treatment time.
What can cryolipolysis treat?
Cryolipolysis is basically suitable for subcutaneous fat deposits all over the body. The ICE AESTHETIC® cryolipolysis devices have eight different applicators that allow treatments on the body as well as on the face. In this way, patients can be offered a wide range of treatments as part of cryolipolysis. The ICE AESTHETIC® cryolipolysis devices also enable parallel treatment; in this way a particularly harmonious result can be achieved.
Most often, Dr. Matiasek treats the following body areas with a cold application:
- Upper and lower abdomen
- Hips
- Thighs (inside and outside)
- Male breasts (gynecomastia)
- Back area
- Upper arms
- Calves / knees
- Buttocks
- Chin
Who is cryolipolysis suitable for?
Cryolipolysis is a gentle procedure for contouring the silhouette and is suitable for local fat deposits that do not disappear even with exercise or a change in diet. Since cryolipolysis is limited in its effect, the treatment is particularly recommended for people of normal weight or slightly overweight who are disturbed by subcutaneous fat deposits. If you are very overweight, liposuction is the method of choice. In principle, cryolipolysis is suitable for both men and women.
Although cryolipolysis is a gentle and non-invasive treatment, there are still some aspects that speak against the use of cold. This applies, for example, to certain diseases such as hepatitis C or peripheral circulatory disorders as well as to regular medication. As already mentioned, being very overweight speaks against cryolipolysis treatment. The same applies to pregnancy, sensitivity to cold or cold allergies, sensitivity disorders as well as large scars, eczema and psoriasis in the treatment area. In order to be able to guarantee the safety of the treatment, Dr. Matiasek has a detailed consultation with all of his patients.
What do I have to consider before the cryolipolysis treatment?
So that cryolipolysis can be individually adapted to you and your needs, every treatment is accompanied by a personal consultation. In this you will be informed about all important aspects of cryolipolysis and about the best possible pre- and post-operative care. This includes, among other things, avoiding taking blood-thinning medication for a few days before treatment – this will minimize the risk of bruising. If you take medication regularly, you should not stop taking it yourself, but always act in consultation with your doctor. On the day of the cryolipolysis treatment, you should wear comfortable clothing so that the treated areas are not constricted and irritated afterwards.
How does the cryolipolysis treatment work?
At the beginning of the cold application, the treatment area is cleaned and marked. One advantage of cryolipolysis is that it is performed on an outpatient basis and no anesthesia is necessary, as the procedure is considered painless. If desired, there is of course the possibility of applying a local anesthetic in advance. Then the cooling applicator, which sucks in the tissue using a vacuum and cools it to temperatures of down to -12 ° C for around 45-50 minutes, is placed on your skin. However, there is also the option of using a special plate applicator that treats the relevant area over a large area without a vacuum. Finally, there is a manual massage that loosens up the treatment area.
Depending on the individual circumstances, CRISTAL Pro® cryolipolysis can be combined with CRISTAL Skin® skin tightening. With this gentle body-forming process, body and facial contours are gently tightened and signs of aging are significantly reduced. The subcutaneous tissue is heated in a targeted manner, which leads to shrinking of the collagen fibers. The connective tissue is strengthened and the skin is visibly smoother.
What do I have to consider after a cryolipolysis treatment?
Since cryolipolysis is a non-invasive treatment that involves no or only local anesthesia and only works from the outside, you do not have to expect any downtime. You can go about your everyday life immediately afterwards and even sport is possible without any problems. As a rule, patients are advised to refrain from going to the sauna or undertake extensive sunbathing for some time after cryolipolysis. However, this depends, among other things, on your skin type, which is why a physical examination is carried out as part of the consultation in order to be able to point out special behavioral measures.
What are the risks and complications of cryolipolysis?
Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive treatment and is considered to be very low-risk. The cryolipolysis devices from ICE AESTHETIC®, which Dr. Matiasek uses in his practice also have an integrated security system to ensure that the process is as safe as possible. Certain side effects can never be completely ruled out, even with cryolipolysis. However, these are temporary side effects that are not dangerous, such as bruising, redness, slight swelling or occasional hardening in the tissue. In addition, after application of the cold, numbness and sensitivity to touch of the treated skin can occur. These side effects usually go away by themselves after two weeks at the latest and are not worth considering.
Professional application is particularly important for cryolipolysis. If you contact someone who does not have the appropriate expertise or experience, the skin may be burned with blistering or a visible transition between cooled and non-cooled tissue may occur. Since Dr. Matiasek uses high-quality, CE-certified medical devices in his practice and has many years of experience in the field of aesthetic medicine, such side effects have not occurred in his patients for a long time.
When are the results of the cryolipolysis treatment visible?
When you can start to see the results of the cryolipolysis treatment depends on your physical starting position and your individual metabolic activity. Usually the final result of cryolipolysis can be seen after two to four months. The effect of cold treatment is permanent: the treated fat cells no longer viable due to the cold, are excreted naturally from the body and cannot regenerate. Please note, however, that after weight gain there may be an increased expansion of remaining fat cells and, accordingly, a renewed appearance of fat deposits. Dr. Matiasek can check the success of a cryolipolysis treatment with the ultrasound system of the CRISTAL Pro®, as it enables precise measurements before and after the treatment.
In order to achieve the best possible result, Dr. Matiasek gives his patients a total of one to three treatments with an interval of four to eight weeks. Depending on the individual initial findings and the desired result, he will be happy to advise you on how many applications make sense in your case.
Do you suffer from unwanted local fat deposits and are you thinking about having them removed? Dr. Matiasek looks forward to welcoming you to his practice for a joint consultation and advising you on all aspects of refrigeration applications!
