CRYOLIPOLYSIS
presentation
Cryolipolysis uses cold to eliminate, without surgery, fat located in a patient’s hips, love handles, arms, thighs, and more.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have shown that cooling fat cells known as adipocytes to a temperature of less than 7°C triggers a phenomenon that gradually leads to their destruction.
Who is cryolipolysis for ?
This treatment is mainly intended for patients who are not overweight and who present one or more localized fat zones that are resistant to dieting efforts. Cryolipolysis may also be used alongside liposuction, or to perfect specific areas of the body.
Dr. Richard Diacakis, plastic surgeon in Paris, practices this technique with the help of an assistant who will accompany you throughout the procedure to ensure that your session goes smoothly. Patients who are pregnant, hypersensitive to cold (who are subject to Raynaud’s syndrome or cryoglobulinemia) or who have abdominal hernias should not undergo cryolipolysis.
Cryolipolysis Sessions
This technique combines vacuum suction of the fat using a specific tool known as a “Cryode” with cooling of fat cells. This causes crystallization of the lipids contained in the adipocytes and blocks the evolution of the targeted cells without damaging adjacent tissues. The adipocytes will begin to melt – this is called “apoptosis” – and cause the body to slowly eliminate their contents. Skin easily adapts to the resulting physiological changes.
Before a Cryolipolysis Session
Dr. Diacakis will receive you at his office for a preoperative consultation during which you will together define the areas to be treated. Dr. Diacakis will take photographs and measurements prior to the first session.
Cryolipolysis Procedure
Cryolipolysis sessions take place in the doctor’s office. Patients usually require three sessions of 45 to 90 minutes each. Your doctor will apply a protective gel to the area to protect it from cold. We then aspirate the area to achieve controlled cooling in the defined area. No anaesthesia is required for this procedure, as the coldness of the liposuction quickly numbs the area. Patients will feel a pinch, followed by a strong sensation of cold. Patients may experience a slight tingling, though this disappears as the treated area becomes numb. At the end of the session, Dr. Diacakis performs a light, ten minute massage.
After a Cryolipolysis Session
Patients may feel a slight sensation of distension and cold from the beginning of the treatment. You may also feel a sense of numbness for a few moments. Skin may appear red for a few days. More rarely, patients may experience slight bruising, though this will disappear in a matter of days.
This treatment requires no effort on the part of the patient or specialist. It is painless and does not require patients to suspend professional activities.
Cryolipolysis Results
The effects of this procedure become visible after four weeks and more pronounced in the following weeks, as cold-damaged fat cells are naturally eliminated by the liver and the lymphatic system. The body will continue to dispose of fat cells for four to six months after the treatment.
Cryolipolysis can remove 30% to 45% of fat per session. Some patients may need just one session to achieve desired results, while others will require several sessions.
Results are long-lasting provided that patients adhere to a balanced diet and physical activity.
Cryolipolysis Session Costs
The cost of a cryolipolysis consultation with Dr. Diacakis is 100 euros. The cost of a cryolipolysis session will be defined in consultation as it depends, among other things, on the number of sessions required and the area or areas to be treated.
