CoolSculpting in Grand Rapids, Michigan

You and your team of CoolSculpting providers will first select the area or areas to be treated. Our CoolSculpting specialist will position the device on the selected area of the body, then draw the bulge up between two cooling panels. You will feel a firm pull and pressure—enough to ensure the selected tissue will be cooled most efficiently.

During the treatment session, the applicator’s sensors will constantly be monitoring the tissue between the panels, making automatic temperature adjustments as necessary to provide uniform results. Typically, an hour or so later, depending on your needs, you will be able to go home, out to dinner, to your child’s soccer game, or back to work. In the following weeks, natural processes will take the dead cells from the area, leading to a noticeable reduction.*

Each CoolSculpting treatment is intended to result in a noticeable reduction of fat in the treated area. After being frozen, the fat cells enter what is known as an apoptotic death sequence, which unfolds over weeks or months. The method is a gentle one, with inflammatory cells breaking the fat cells down, then sending the lipids to be processed by the body’s efficient lymphatic system. As the lipids leave, the thick fat layer thins accordingly. A medical study has shown that since this is a gradual process, with fat being slowly broken down, the loose lipids don’t negatively impact the blood or harm the liver.

After the initial treatment is complete, you can attain further reductions with additional appointments, resulting in even more fat loss.* Some patients, though, find that one treatment fully addresses their goals. Two sequential treatments at three-to six-month intervals are recommended. Unlike traditional liposuction surgery, CoolSculpting is non-invasive, with no needles, no incisions, no need for anesthesia or pain medications, and no recovery time! During your consultation for CoolSculpting at our Grand Rapids office, our highly skilled medical team will discuss and design a plan that suits you best. We are currently studying and following patients with VECTRA 3-D imaging to specifically determine actual volume loss of fat with this technology.

View patient before & after pictures to see actual results

Though CoolSculpting reduces fat in an area, it may be only one piece of your slimming-down puzzle. If you're seeking a truly sleek look, you should also talk to the Bengtson Center team about ZWave, which uses radial shockwaves to maximize results and tighten skin. The non-invasive ZWave can be applied as a standalone procedure, but it's particularly effective when paired with the fat-reduction power of CoolSculpting. The Bengtson Center is the only practice in the Midwest that offers this powerful procedure.

A massage has been shown to further encourage the breakdown of unwanted fat cells after a round of cryolipolysis. Think of ZWave's shockwave as a powered-up version of that post-treatment massage. As the energy travels through tissue, it collapses bubbles found throughout the fat structures, ultimately destabilizing them. The radial energy also improves blood flow and stimulates the formation of new collagen, both of which give skin a more youthful glow and elasticity, as well as reduce the appearance of stretch marks and more. Weak connective tissue is strengthened, firming up skin that was formerly loose and flabby. Like cryolipolysis, it can be used all over the body, including the abdomen, buttocks, arms, and thighs. If you're struggling with cellulite, know that ZWave can also have a positive impact on the problem by breaking apart the connective strands that pull your skin down into undesirable dimples. The Bengtson Center team is committed to pursuing the highest level of technology possible, pairing cutting-edge treatments and advanced techniques to deliver top-quality results.

CoolSculpting is a very safe procedure. There have been no reported cases of skin injury to date. A common side effect is temporary numbness. Since this is quite common, a clinical study was conducted and showed that the nerves were not injured. Numbness goes away after a reasonable period of time. Since this procedure releases fat into the body, some people have questioned whether this fat load in the blood and lymphatic system could cause harm. Again, extensive clinical research has shown that this is no concern. Your body is perfectly capable of handling the slow, steady release of fat, just as it does when we eat a meal. Occasionally some patients experience short-term tingling or mild pain, but this typically resolves in a few weeks.

The better question might be who is not a good candidate! If you are obese, gaining weight, not in control of your weight, or pregnant, this is not appropriate for you at this time. A lifestyle change is needed. The best candidates are within 25 or so pounds of their ideal body weight and have isolated bulges of fat. The lower belly and flanks are perfect examples. The nature of the device does not allow treatment of large areas without considerable time and expense.

No supplements or pills are required, and you do not have to adopt new diet and exercise habits. Many patients feel more motivated to take care of themselves after the CoolSculpting treatment. It's as though they get a second lease on their body and want to start anew by taking even better care of themselves.

When you have your CoolSculpting treatment, the affected fat cells are physically removed. As long as you maintain your weight with your normal diet and exercise, your long-term results should remain stable and you have your body back. This is similar to liposuction, which also physically removes fat cells from the body.

Liposuction offers near-immediate, dramatic results, considering that the unwanted fat is suctioned out of a target area in the span of a single session. The results from CoolSculpting are definitely noticeable, but the change won't immediately stand out in stark contrast to your former figure. The cryolipolysis-based fat reduction is more gradual, but comes with few post-treatment healing requirements. Liposuction, on the other hand, may frequently be followed by antibiotics, compression garments, drainage tubes, and other items typically necessary for recovery after surgery. During your consultation for CoolSculpting Grand Rapids plastic surgeon, Dr. Brad Bengtson, can speak with you to determine which fat reduction method would best suit your individual goals, anatomy, and lifestyle.