Getting rid of excess weight is hard, and it can be especially difficult to lose in certain places which are less affected by diet and exercise, like love handles, bra bulges, and under the chin. So, could cryolipolysis, also known as fat freezing, be the solution to these problem areas?

I suppose that depends on who you ask, but regardless of your feelings on the procedure, there are some things you should know. For starters, the treatment is non-surgical and works by using special cooling paddles that suction your skin and the fat, much like a vacuum would. The procedure takes about two hours while crystallizing the fat cells on the targeted area (which can be anywhere from tummy to thighs), and during the treatment, patients will feel only mild discomfort. It is not painful, although some individuals will experience numbness for a period of time after the procedure.

As for how this works? UCLA professor and plastic surgeon Jason Roostaeian, MD, told Vogue,
“Fat is more temperature-sensitive than your skin. It goes through the cell death process before your skin does.” Once the fat cells have been destroyed, they are broken down by the body and removed from the body by the liver, Medical News Today notes.

The procedure, which gets rid of these unwanted bulges of fat, is considered to be a safe procedure, and it is FDA approved. That said, it is of the utmost importance to choose a reputable clinic to have the procedure, as the risk of side effects often depend on the individual administering the procedure. This procedure is not for someone looking for an alternative to diet and exercise, and should only be used for mild approvements (thus it’s not really an alternative to liposuction).

It may take a few appointments before the patient sees the desired results, but, according to Vogue, there will eventually be a 25 percent reduction of fat cells in that area. Some individuals start to see results soon after the procedure, but it is meant to take between 1 to 4 months for the full results. Although it should be noted (per The Sun) that results vary from person to person, and some may only see results after months.

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