WHAT IS FAT CRYOLIPOLYSIS?

Cryolipolysis or fat freezing is a non-surgical fat reduction treatment that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat that will not shrink through diet and exercise alone. No general/ topical anesthesia or pain medications are required. There is no downtime and you may resume normal exercise and activity immediately.

Results will gradually develop over 2-3 months following your treatment. Areas can be retreated if necessary in the future.

FAT FREEZING SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED ON PEOPLE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

• It should not be performed on areas of skin that are cut or injured, contain

severe varicose veins, dermatitis, or other skin lesions.

• Pregnancy, attempting to become pregnant, and breast-feeding

• Chilblains

• Inflammatory skin disorders

• Skin conditions caused by immune system disorders

• Reduced circulation or skin sensation at the treatment area

• Nerve conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy

• Skin conditions related to the immune system, such as eczema and psoriasis

• Inflammatory skin conditions, such as dermatitis and hives

• A recent injury to the skin area being treated, including scar tissue

• Long-term use of blood thinning medications

• Bleeding conditions that thin the blood

• History of a hernia or a hernia in or near the treatment area

• Active, implanted medical devices, such as pacemakers

• Allergy to propylene glycol or isopropyl alcohol

• Chronic pain conditions

• Severe anxiety disorders

• People who have abnormal cold sensitivity or cold intolerance

• Raynaud’s phenomenon. A rare condition in which cold temperatures can impede blood flow to the fingers and toes.

• Cryoglobulinemia. A type of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) caused by abnormal proteins that become solid or gel-like in the presence of cold temperatures. It is associated with blocked blood vessels and other problems.

• Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. A very rare autoimmune disease in which red blood cells are damaged during exposure to cold.

• Cold urticaria. A rare condition in which the skin develops red, itchy spots (hives) after exposure to cold temperatures.

• Cold agglutinin disease. A rare type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. The condition is often triggered or made worse by cold temperatures.

If you have any of the above listed, please let us know right away as we will have to cancel your treatment.

PRE-TREATMENT PREPARATION

• Stop any medications that thin your blood as bruising in the areas of treatment is possible, only if approved by your treating doctor. If you are unsure about whether your medications are blood thinners, please review this with our providers. Over the counter medications like aspirin, anti-inflammatories and fish oil supplements may also exacerbate bruising and should be discontinued. If you cannot stop the medication, please advise of any blood thinning or skin thinning medications you are taking

• Avoid a heavy meal and fatty foods 1 hour before treatment

• Avoid caffeine 2 hours before treatment

• Avoid any alcohol 24 hours before treatment

• Avoid having any laser treatments on the area 2 weeks before treatment

• Avoid excessive sun exposure 48 hours prior to treatment (we cannot treat skin which has been sunburnt)

• If the skin is red, irritated or broken, we cannot treat until the skin has completely healed

• Remove any piercings in the area to be treated

• Please wear loose fitting clothing, no tight jeans etc

• Our treatments are not suitable for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Our Fat Freezing treatments must be had in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle which includes the consumption of at least 2 litres of water per day to achieve results

• Please ensure you attend your appointment with no patches or bandages covering the treatment area

DAY OF TREATMENT

• Wear comfortable, loose clothing to your appointment.

• Wear inexpensive undergarments and bring an extra pair to wear home as gel pads will be applied with the applicator and will soil any clothing you are wearing during the treatment.

• You may eat prior to arrival but we recommend a light meal as rarely some patients may feel nauseated at the start of the session.

• Prior to your treatment photography, measurements and weight will be taken for comparison on your follow up.

DURING TREATMENT

• The applicators use suction to draw the fat into the device. The vacuum pressure may cause sensations of deep pulling, tugging and pinching in the area being treated. This sensation will subside over the first five to seven minutes of each application and for the remainder of the session should be comfortable.

• Most patients experience very mild sensations; some patients experience more intense sensations at the beginning of each session but the symptoms will subside after the first 10 minutes. • After one hour the treatment for that area is completed and the device is removed.

• Immediately upon removal of the device the tissue will be firm and massage is important to maximize the treatment result. During this 2-5-minute process, it will feel like a deep tissue massage – uncomfortable but bearable.

• Immediately after the procedure the treated area may look or feel stiff, white (or red), bruised or swollen/bloated. You may feel a sense of nausea or dizziness as your body naturally warms and sensation returns to your treatment area. If you are experiencing these symptoms let the provider know and we will help you as necessary.

• In some patients, the skin may ache or sting for a brief period of time as sensation returns to the area. The skin will initially be pink and some evidence of bruising may be immediately visible. The pinkness will subside over the first several hours after treatment. If you have developed bruising it may remain for up to a week following the session.

RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS

You can expect none or some of the following symptoms immediately after the procedure. These symptoms may persist for up to several weeks. Most patients have very mild or no

symptoms at all but, as with any medical procedure, each patient experiences it uniquely. Symptoms always subside over time. The treated area may be red for up to a few hours after the applicator is removed. This is an expected but temporary effect.

• Bruising, swelling and tenderness can occur in the treated area. This typically resolves within a week or two.

• Nausea, tingling, stinging and cramping in the treatment area are possible on treatment day. You may feel a temporary dulling of sensation or itching sensitivity in the treated area.

• Numbness at the site is common, resolving over 1-3 weeks. There typically is minimal recovery time after Fat Freezing. You will be able to return to your normal daily routine immediately after the procedure.

• It is common for the treated area to feel bloated and to look swollen for the first three weeks after Fat Freezing. Compression tights such as yoga pants or Spanx may feel good to wear during this period.

• You may experience a temporary dulling of sensation or itching/tingling/off sensation that can last for several weeks.

• 4 to 10 days post Fat Freezing you may notice more intense sensations than during the first few days. This is due to the inflammatory response your body naturally mounts to remove the dead fat cells.

• Other common side effects but not limited to: deep itching, tingling, numbness, soreness, or tenderness to the touch, mild to moderate pain or aching in the treated area, cramping or muscle spasms, diarrhea, redness, firmness, pinching sensation, swelling, tenderness, bruising, stinging, tingling, skin sensitivity, a feeling of fullness in the throat after treatments involving the neck or chin region

• Pain that starts several days after the treatment and usually resolves when numbness goes away, or after about a month

• Scarring or changes to skin color

• Reduced movement or response of the tongue following procedures involving the neck or chin

• Lower lip muscle weakness following procedures involving the neck or chin

• Reduced saliva production and dry mouth following procedures involving the chin or neck

• Frostbite, or first- and second-degree freeze burns

• Dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, painting, nausea, and flushing

• Hyperpigmentation, or dark skin coloration that often resolves on its own

• Subcutaneous induration, a generalized hardness or specific hard nodules that develop in the treated area and can be painful.

• Abrupt and undesirable changes in fat layering

• A condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia: In some very rare cases, fat cells respond to fat freezing by enlarging rather than dying. This condition is called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH). Researchers are not sure why PAH occurs, but most people who develop the condition are men. While PAH does not cause any

symptoms aside from changing physical appearance. PAH equires corrective liposuction or other surgery to remove the enlarged fat cells.

AFTERCARE

When Do I Expect to See Results? Following the procedure, a gradual reduction in the thickness of the fat layer will take place. You may start to see changes as early as three weeks after Fat Freezing and you will experience the most dramatic results after two to three months. Your body will continue to process the injured fat cells from your body for approximately four months after your procedure.

Please ensure that you adhere to the following:

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours following your treatment. We also recommend that your intake of caffeine and alcohol over the 12 week period is in moderation as both of these toxins dehydrate your body

• Avoid warm/hot temperature environments such as sunbeds, steam rooms, saunas or hot tubs for 24 hours after treatment. You can however, bath or take a shower in luke warm water in the evening following your treatment.

• For 12 weeks following your treatment, you must drink at least 2 litres of water every day. This aids the ‘Flushing Out’ process of via your lymphatic system.

• Avoid the use of anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex for six weeks after the treatment. The inflammatory response in your body is the mechanism which removes the fat cells and inhibiting the body’s ability to mount a response may slow the progress of your result following Fat Freezing.