Category: CoolSculpting at Germain Dermatology

4 Post-CoolSculpting® Fashion Tips: What to Wear After

CoolSculpting® can freeze away fat from almost anywhere on the body—generally provided that there’s enough excess bulk to grab onto. While the results take anywhere from weeks to months to be seen, you can lose up to 20 to 25 percent of the volume in a specific area. Finally minimizing that stubborn fat on your thighs, or belly, or double chin can be a major confidence boost. Naturally, you’ll be ready to show off your slimmer, more shapely form as soon as you can. Check out these fun outfit ideas for Germain Dermatology patients who have had this fat freezing treatment at their Charleston practice—or anyone else who can’t wait to go shopping after CoolSculpting®.

Wear Clothes That Flatter

You generally don’t lose much overall body weight with CoolSculpting® and clothing sizes won’t usually go down, but this method of body contouring is great for making fat disappear from isolated problem areas. The end result may be more balanced proportions and a more toned, youthful appearance.

Your overall body type may look slightly different once your results are visible. After CoolSculpting®, you can toss out baggy clothes and opt for tighter options, such as belted dresses that accentuate your smaller waist, slim-fitting shirts for a flatter abdomen, or skinny jeans to highlight your thigh gap.

Try More Revealing Shirts

Instead of constantly hiding your arms in long sleeves, you can now flaunt them in sleeveless tops, thin straps, or tight sleeves after having CoolSculpting® to reduce back fat or upper arm fat.

Be Adventurous with Colors

As we all know, black makes you look slimmer. Many people who feel self conscious about their body wear darker, neutral, or more drab tones. Now that you’ve slimmed down that one trouble zone, try lighter shades like white, pastels, or patterns to bring attention to your frame.

Have Your Old Clothes Altered

There’s no reason to get rid of all your old favorites. You can have particular pieces professionally altered to fit your new frame. It’s the best of both worlds!

Discuss all the details of your fat-freezing treatment with the team at CoolSculpting® Charleston. Our experienced providers are available to answer any questions you may have and help you look amazing just in time for warmer weather. Call us at 1-844-SC-CHILL or write to us today.

Post-Holiday CoolSculpting®

The colder winter months are the time when many people prefer to have cosmetic treatments, because “stay-home days”—perfect for anyone looking to have a little post-session down time—are built in to the weather. Coincidentally, it’s also the part of the year when we celebrate by indulging in elaborate feasts, alcohol, and sugary snacks. Now is the chance to cut yourself some slack, veg on the couch, and finally relax after a long, busy year. Sadly, all of this sometimes culminates in a dreaded holiday weight gain and “box-set skin”—not to mention the residual stress from searching for presents for everyone on your list.

Anyone looking to lose some of this excess winter fat can contact Germain Dermatology in Charleston, known for CoolSculpting® (and helping patients to de-stress).

Want to look great for the New Year? Get going on your resolutions with the popular non-invasive fat-reduction method. This is the ideal choice for anyone who has committed to making some changes in 2020, since a visible sign of progress—such as a smaller waistline—can provide motivation to keep moving toward other, less-tangible lifestyle achievements. Some patients find that the little “push” they get from CoolSculpting® serves as a catalyst to overhaul their diet, their activity levels, and even their long-term goals. The ultimate result is not just a slimmer-looking body, but healthier living and a more confident outlook.

CoolSculpting® is a scientifically backed treatment that relies on cooling technology to get rid of fat cells. As the weeks and months pass after a session, the treated area gradually takes on a leaner appearance. The process triggers the body to metabolize fat cells from areas where you don’t want them, like the thighs, stomach, under the chin, back, bra areas, under the butt, upper arms, or on the waist or flanks. A single treatment session is a fast, convenient method of sending fat packing from trouble zones, though multiple sessions are often recommended in order to reduce volume down to desired amounts.

Starting these treatments in the winter also has another advantage: By the time warm weather returns, you’ll be ready to show off your new contours in more summer-appropriate outfits.

Have questions or concerns about the CoolSculpting® procedure? Germain Dermatology is here to help you get started. Talk to the Charleston-area team today by calling 1-844-SC-CHILL or filling out a contact form.

Who Are the Best Candidates for CoolSculpting®?

CoolSculpting® is a unique body contouring method that can help restore confidence in your appearance and contribute towards a slimmer waist, flatter stomach, sculpted legs, or other body goals you’ve set for yourself. But how do you know if the procedure is right for you? A full consultation with a qualified provider can help you make the final decision. Germain Dermatology is home to our certified, highly experienced CoolSculpting® specialists. When it comes to CoolSculpting® in Charleston, SC, we uphold to ensure each patient receives the best possible care.

That means every patient works directly with our CoolSculpting® specialists to develop a customized treatment plan and discuss realistic expectations.

If you are clinically overweight or more than 30 pounds from your goal weight, CoolSculpting may not be the best choice for you. It is intended to reduce small pockets, resistant pockets of fat, rather than large volumes. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, it’s not a weight loss solution. It’s also not an alternative to healthy eating and exercise.

The treatment works best for people who are in good overall shape, with just a few small bulges of pinchable fat, perhaps due to aging, pregnancy, or weight fluctuations. CoolSculpting® is good for addressing bra fat, belly fat, love handles, double chin, thigh fat, arms, and knees.

Skin quality should also be considered. If you’re hoping to improve the appearance of moderate to severely lax or excess skin, CoolSculpting® may not be the most beneficial treatment.

The CoolSculpting® applicator allows fat cells to be cooled in a precise, controlled manner, while leaving surrounding skin, tissue, and muscle unscathed. This frozen fat is flushed out for good through the lymphatic system in the following months. Adding to that, there are a number of other perks to CoolSculpting®. There is little to no downtime involved, the treatment is virtually painless, and there are fewer risks associated with CoolSculpting® when compared to traditional fat reduction surgeries like liposuction.

Germain Dermatology has administered more than 5,000 CoolSculpting® treatments to date, earning the title of No. 1 practice in South Carolina from manufacturer Zeltiq. To find out more about CoolSculpting® in the Charleston area, call 1-844-SC-CHILL to reach us directly or request a consultation online.

Summertime CoolSculpting®

Summer is still in full swing, which (hopefully!) means pool parties, barbecues, exotic vacations, and long days at the beach. In this time of fun and excitement, the last thing most of us want to be feeling is self-conscious about our body shape. Chances are, when most people picture the perfect bathing suit body, they don’t think of thick arms, love handles, and pot bellies, yet most of us will admit to having at least one area of our body we wouldn’t mind slimming down.

Looking your most beach-ready is often more than simply being skinny. A symmetrical, proportional frame with fat in the “right” places is often viewed as an enviable form. Beauty magazines and fitness experts offer plenty of tips for getting that much desired, toned, slender physique with balanced proportions. But as most people who have tried to get into shape can attest, cutting down on sugary snacks and hitting the gym won’t necessarily take fat away from tricky areas, like a double chin or muffin top.

If working out and dieting aren’t zapping that one persistent deposit of fat, CoolSculpting® can help. The secret to this treatment’s success lies in its method of directly destroying fat cells, which are the root of the surplus volume issue. Weight loss practices shrink fat cells by burning calories, but these fat cells continue to store lipids and can expand again if weight is gained back. With CoolSculpting®, the device physically causes the cells themselves to break down, leaving nothing behind to potentially expand in the future. Cells crystallized via CoolSculpting® are then eliminated from the body through natural metabolic processes.

For women looking to show off skin invisible under more layers during colder months, CoolSculpting® can address stubborn bra fat, saddlebags around the inner and outer thighs, “banana fold” beneath the buttocks, love handles, and belly fat. Men, whose problem areas tend to be located around the stomach where fat is stored most abundantly, can slim down their torso for a more chiselled physique.

Remember, since the fat-destruction process is gradual, results take time. That means there’s no time like the present to get started.

Germain Dermatology is here to assist women and men in Charleston with any CoolSculpting-related questions. If you’re interested in booking an appointment, send a message or call 1-844-SC-CHILL for more details.

The Basics of Fat: Development, Distribution, and Types

Men and women in the Charleston area seeking CoolSculpting® treatments can rely on Germain Dermatology for personalized care throughout each step of the process. As you may be aware, CoolSculpting® is a fat-reduction method designed to target and kill fat cells. It does this by reducing temperatures in targeted tissue to crystalize excess deposits of unwanted fat and mark these temperature-sensitive cells for elimination without affecting the surrounding skin and tissue.

Fat—its excess, loss, and appearance—has been the subject of societal fascination for decades, especially as the health risks associated with obesity have become better known. While CoolSculpting® and related treatments are not intended to impact weight or health, the number of people who use cosmetic techniques to change the contours of their body has risen steadily in recent years.

But what, really, are fat cells and what is their function in the human body?

In the third trimester of pregnancy, a fetus begins to acquire fat cells. These contribute to the chubby, rounded look of babies and early childhood. Throughout puberty, each person gains a set number of fat cells, and the way these are stored and distributed varies from person to person. Once in place, a person’s fat distribution doesn’t change much during adulthood.

Cells containing fat, otherwise known as adipocytes, are connective tissues that are found under the skin, on top of the kidneys, in the liver, around the heart, and elsewhere. They are highly active cells that control the body’s energy balance, support the immune system, regulate metabolism by releasing certain hormones, and act as a cushioning layer. Each cell is a small sphere that mostly consists of triglycerides—a type of lipid.

Fat in the body can be categorized into four main types: brown, white, subcutaneous, and visceral. Brown fat “burns” calories and white fat droplets to create heat when it is exposed to cold. White fat is more abundant and serves as the body’s largest fuel reserve, supporting internal and physical activities. An excess of deep visceral fat, which wraps around the internal organs, is associated with health risks. Subcutaneous fat is located directly beneath the skin and used to determine overall body fat.

CoolSculpting® targets the subcutaneous fat, where changes in volume are especially visible.

Have questions or concerns about fat and CoolSculpting® in Charleston? Find out more about your cosmetic options and work with a provider to develop a customized treatment plan. Call Germain Dermatology at 1-844-SC-CHILL or fill out a contact form online.

Freezing Fat Away: What to Expect from CoolSculpting®

Every person has some degree of superficial fat, but we all store fat differently. Many people have discovered that frequent exercise and dieting that leads to overall weight loss may still not reduce resistant bulges of fat in specific areas, such as under the chin or on the flanks or abdomen. This may be explained by the fact that regardless of body type, we establish a set number of fat cells during our childhood and teenage years. These numbers stabilize in adulthood. When adults gain or lose weight, the fat cells are not changing in number, but are expanding or shrinking in volume.

Destroying fat cells, as with the cold from a CoolSculpting® treatment, actually changes the numbers, however.

Studies have shown that adipocytes (fat cells) are more sensitive to temperature changes than the surrounding muscle, skin, and more. The CoolSculpting® applicator impacts all of this tissue, but only the fat cells are irreparably damaged. The cooldown that kills the fat cells is followed by an additional massage that intensifies the process. Throughout this treatment, patients can read, take a nap, or even answer emails. Once it’s done, patients can return to their usual activities.

Before any of this, however, a member of the Germain Dermatology team will help you determine whether or not you are a good candidate for CoolSculpting® during a one-on-one consultation. This is also when you will work together to pinpoint problem areas and develop a personalized treatment plan that caters to your individual needs.

A non-invasive alternative to surgical fat-reduction techniques, CoolSculpting® offers many benefits: It is convenient, helps clothes fit better on patients, and is fast, safe, and effective.

Initial results typically appear within six to eight weeks, with the most dramatic changes visible within two to six months. Depending on your ideal outcome, multiple sessions are likely required to get the most out of this treatment.

Learn more about CoolSculpting® in the Charleston area, or arrange a consultation by contacting Germain Dermatology directly. Send a message online or call 1-844-SC-CHILL.

After CoolSculpting®: How Can I Maintain My Results?

CoolSculpting® candidates at our Charleston-area practice often come in ready to lose their excess, unwanted fat. They’ve read the information, met the health criteria for the treatment, had their questions answered to their satisfaction, and are prepared to enjoy the results of nonsurgical, cold-based fat reduction.

But then what?

Fat cells are processed by the body in the weeks and months after a session, leading to results that unfold gradually, but noticeably, but that’s not what we’re talking about. This post is about the long haul. In other words, it involves making lifestyle choices to ensure the new, slimmer contours are there to stay.

Even though the broken-down fat cells are incapable of returning to their former size (given the fact that they’re basically physically kicked out of the body), there are other fat cells to be found from virtually head to toe. If given the chance, these fat cells can grow in size—as always.

This is why regular exercise and a diet based on moderation are critically important after a CoolSculpting® session. An abundance of calories can lead to new bulges in new places, changing the overall look of the body—and drawing attention away from the areas that were recently reduced.

At CoolSculpting® Charleston, we strongly encourage all of our patients to develop healthy habits before their fat-reduction session. This makes it easier to continue those habits after the fat is gone. That said, we have also found that many of our patients find inspiration in their new, slimmer look. A flatter belly can actually be motivating to continue a life marked by healthy eating and regular activity!

Find out more about what you can do before—and after—a CoolSculpting® treatment to maximize your results in Summerville and Mt. Pleasant. Call 843-881-4440 or send a message online.

Is All Fat the Same?

When we hear the word “fat,” our thoughts may turn to an image of a big belly, love handles, thick thighs, or a double chin. Those are all the result of collections of large fat cells, to be sure, but fat is more than a dreaded creator of rolls and bulges. There are actual two types of body fat classifications. Charleston, SC’s Germain Dermatology works to educate patients on the differences between the two—in addition to slimming down the areas where the less-desirable kind is known to gather.

About 90 percent of all body fat should be what is known as subcutaneous fat, found just beneath the skin. This is the fat that provides contours and roundness in the face and elsewhere. It can diminish over time, leading to a hollow, aged look on the face, where sunken cheeks are not typically seen as desirable.

Too much subcutaneous fat can provide too much roundness, however. Subcutaneous fat is pinchable and can gather on the abdomen, upper arms and legs, sides, back, and neck, as well as beneath the buttocks.

Fortunately, subcutaneous fat is susceptible to cold temperatures, which is how CoolSculpting® works to reduce the number of fat cells in a treatment area.

The remaining 10 percent of a person’s fat is visceral, which is found deeper in the body and typically works to surround and protect internal organs. Though it may be less of a cosmetic concern overall, it can still contribute to a large, bulging belly—as well as several serious health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Exercise and diet are ideal strategies for taming visceral fat, especially since these fat cells are far too deep in the body to be impacted by the cold from a CoolSculpting® treatment.

To learn more about body fat classifications and what CoolSculpting® can do, contact CoolSculpting Charleston at Germain Dermatology by calling 1-844-SC-CHILL or sending a message online.

Determining the Cost of CoolSculpting®

How much does CoolSculpting® cost? South Carolina’s Germain Dermatology team hears this question. Men and women facing stubborn pockets of fat typically want to know how much fat they can lose, how long it will take, will it hurt, when they will see results, and how much it will cost.

Money is definitely a factor to consider when planning for a CoolSculpting® session. The nonsurgical procedure is appealing precisely for the fact that it does not involve anesthetics, incisions, sutures, or any of the costs associated with those elements.

That said, money is also something best discussed during a private consultation.

This is because every patient’s treatment plan will be unique, with costs determined by the specific areas to be treated and the number of treatments required.

For anyone considering what to do about diet-resistant fat anywhere on the body, the Germain Dermatology team encourages learning more and reaching out. Once specifics are established, a clearer picture of cost will emerge.

Since insurance does not cover the elective fat-reduction procedure, Germain Dermatology works to ensure several payment options are available. In addition to accepting all major credit cards, checks, and cash, financing is available through a program known as GreenSky, which offers loans.

Learn more about CoolSculpting® and its costs by calling Germain Dermatology at 1-844-SC-CHILL or sending a message online.

CoolSculpting® for Arms! NOW AVAILABLE ~ Germain Dermatology

Coolsculpting For Arms

As the newest member of the CoolAdvantage™ family of applicators, the CoolAdvantage Petite™ comes with two interchangeable contours designed to uniquely treat the upper arm area in just 35 minutes.

According to statistics provided by CoolSculpting® manufacturer Zeltiq, there are 29 million people in the U.S. interested in CoolSculpting®, with more than 14 million expressing concern about unwanted arm fat, making arms the third-most popular area for consideration of non-invasive fat reduction.

“The upper arm fat area used to be a challenge to treat and all too often, there weren’t options that were non-invasive. We’ve had many patients who won’t wear sleeveless shirts or dresses because they want to hide their arms. With the new FDA-cleared CoolSculpting® applicator at our office, it’s a non-invasive solution to treat that stubborn arm fat.” said Marguerite Germain, MD, FACS, founder of Germain Dermatology.

Germain Dermatology is proud to be the first practice in the Southeast and only practice in Charleston to have the newest CoolSculpting® applicator that has been FDA-cleared for upper arms, making it the only non-invasive fat removal technology cleared by the FDA to address this body area.

Germain Dermatology will host a CoolSculpting® event on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. to showcase this new applicator with a live demonstration and free consultation at their office at 612 Seacoast Parkway. Guests should RSVP by calling 1-844-SC-CHILL.