Two of the most prominent methods of non-invasive fat removal procedures are bulk heating and bulk cooling. These two concepts work to eliminate fat cells through manipulating body temperatures in a safe and controlled environment. Both bulk heating and bulk cooling are used to replace invasive fat loss surgeries such as liposuction. While non-invasive fat loss procedures are still less effective than traditional surgeries, they provide dramatic results for many patients without the long, difficult, and painful recoveries.
So how exactly do bulk heating and bulk cooling procedures work for fat removal? Are there substantial differences between the two? Today, we will answer these questions and more.
What is Bulk Heating?
There are three key ways to kill fat cells in the human body without doing collateral damage:
- Heating the fat cells to the point that fat cells rupture and die.
- Cooling the fat cells to the point that they crystalize into frozen cells and die.
- Destroying fat cells using chemical treatments such as deoxycholic acid.
Bulk heating can use lasers, radio frequencies, light, and other methods to heat selected sites on the body to target fat cells. Many bulk heating non-invasive fat loss procedures include a body cooling treatment to counteract the discomfort of the heating process. One of the advantages of these types of fat loss procedures is that fat cells are destroyed evenly throughout the targeted area, leading to the appearance of natural fat loss.
The key to the efficacy of bulk heating is that fat cells are more volatile than surrounding tissue. This means that fat cells can be safely destroyed by heating procedures without causing issues to surrounding muscle tissue, bones, and any internal organs. Many bulk heating procedures are FDA approved.
What is Bulk Cooling?
Similar to bulk heating, bulk cooling works by targeting areas of the body and changing the temperature to eliminate unwanted fat cells. Bulk cooling procedures can utilize cold lasers or cryolipolysis technology to safely lower the body temperature to essentially freeze away fat cells. The temperature of the affected areas is carefully controlled to kill fat cells without harming the surrounding tissue. Cold procedures often also utilize suction technology to intentionally manipulate the skin to evenly distribute cold treatments.
Bulk cooling was the original non-invasive fat removal option, and for good reason. Its benefits include a highly comfortable experience, years of proven efficacy and safety, and easy recoveries. Fat cells are safely flushed from the body in the coming weeks and months, with full results often experienced in about six (6) months.
Non-Invasive Fat Removal Solutions Share Many Similarities
No matter whether we are talking about heating, cooling, lasers, or cryotherapy, the concepts of non-invasive fat removal procedures remain quite similar. Here are some of the ways in which both bulk heating and bulk cooling technologies achieve similar goals:
- Non-invasive fat removal solutions do not require anesthesia. One of the greatest benefits of both of these methods is the comfort and ease which is afforded to the patients.
- Bulk heating and bulk cooling do not require incisions, excisions, needles, or any other tools which would leave scarring. Non-invasive fat loss will not leave any marks, scars, or long term physical changes other than fat loss.
- Non-invasive procedures are all outpatient. As soon as a cold sculpting or bulk heating patients wraps up their treatment, they should be able to comfortably walk straight out of their appointment and go on their way.
- Fat loss procedures can be as targeted or inclusive as the patient desires. While different procedures follow different protocols, most are able to be used on different body parts/areas at the discretion of doctors and patients.
Common Non-Invasive Fat Loss Methods
CoolSculpting
Perhaps the most well known bulk cooling fat loss solution on the market, CoolSculpting was cleared by the FDA to remove fat in nearly all major areas. CoolSculpting uses cryo-freezing technology to crystalize fat cells that can later be naturally excreted from the body. Treatment costs average between $650-800 per treated area.
Vanquish
Vanquish utilizes radio frequencies to execute bulk heating for safe fat loss. In an FDA approved process, targeted areas are heated to about 45 degrees Celsius to essentially melt away fat cells without damaging the surrounding areas. Vanquish bulk heating fat loss procedures average $2,000 per full treatment.
SculpSure
The granddaddy of them all, SculpSure was the first bulk heating or bulk cooling procedure to gain FDA approval for fat loss. Using light technology, SculpSure controls body temperature in a similar manner to Vanquish. This causes the fat cells to rupture, where they will be safely passed from the body. SculpSure treatments typically run from anywhere between $1,200 and $1,800.
SCALE 2020 Focuses on Laser Technology and Non-Invasive Fat Loss
To learn more about cutting edge fat loss technology using surgical procedures, non-invasive procedures, laser tech, and much more, join us from July 22-25, 2020 for our annual Music City Scale Conference! SCALE is the premier multidisciplinary meeting for aesthetic medicine, surgery and dermatology in the United States. Join other industry professionals to discuss industry trends, emerging technologies, and much more.
What started as a small gathering amongst colleagues 14 years ago has turned into the biggest party of the year within the field of aesthetic dermatology. Join us alongside hundreds of attendees and industry vendors to find out what you’ve been missing!
