You can literally freeze off fat cells. Here's how CoolSculpting works.

• CoolSculpting is a cosmetic procedure that reduces the appearance of fat by freezing off fat cells.
• Each treatment costs between $650-$800 and you may need several sessions to get results.
• The procedure is typically painless and takes about 35 minutes per session.

CoolSculpting is a non-invasive way to reduce stubborn fat in certain areas of the body without diet and exercise. Sounds too good to be true? Well, there actually is some science to back this idea.

The procedure that CoolSculpting uses is called cryolipolysis. And according to a 2015 review of 19 studies, cryolipolysis led to a mean fat reduction of 19.55%. It's important to note, however, that the type of fat reduced in these studies was subcutaneous fat, and not the more dangerous type of visceral fat.

Moreover, CoolSculpting is not a weight-loss treatment:

"You cannot CoolSculpt your way to an ideal body or dress size," says Sara Hogan, MD, health sciences clinical instructor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Division of Dermatology. "It is most effective for patients with stable weight who have stubborn areas of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise."

Here's what you need to know about the process of CoolSculpting and who is eligible for the procedure.

What is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a branded cosmetic treatment that uses cryolipolysis, a procedure that targets fat cells by exposing them to cold temperatures ranging between 30.2 to 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the treatment, the dead fat cells get broken down by certain enzymes and then are digested by macrophages (a type of white blood cell) over the course of a few months, resulting in noticeable changes in the appearance of body fat.

"Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive procedure that is safe, causes little discomfort and requires almost no [recovery time]," says Hogan.

What parts of the body cryolipolysis is cleared for use:

• Under the chin
• Upper arms
• Abdomen
• Upper and lower back
• Hip
• Inner and outer thighs
• Underneath the buttocks

You may see about 20% to 25% fat reduction in the targeted area after one session, but the medical professional will determine whether you need more follow-up sessions. "For most patients, two to three treatment sessions are required for results to be appreciable," says Hogan.

The procedure only reduces fat, not cellulite or substantial amounts of weight, and results can be permanent, but only if your weight remains the same after the procedure, which may require you to consistently maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

How much does CoolSculpting cost?

The price of CoolSculpting depends on the areas you treat and the number of treatments you sign up for. It varies per practice, but the cost ranges from $650 to $800 and above per area and about $2000 to $4000 for a personalized treatment plan.

Keep in mind that CoolSculpting won't prevent you from gaining weight. The treated fat cells are permanently dead, but the fat cells that remain can still enlarge if you gain weight, says Hogan.

How does CoolSculpting work?

Though it's not an invasive procedure, coolsculpting should still be performed under the supervision of a board-certified physician, says Hogan.

Here's how a CoolSculpting appointment generally goes:

1. The health professional will assess the fatty deposit in the targeted area and trace it with a skin-marking pencil.
2. The skin is cleansed to remove any body lotions or skin oil. Then a gel pad will be placed on the area, followed by the applicator. You may experience a sucking sensation and a cooling effect as the machine starts to freeze fat cells with a temperature of 30.2 to 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. There may be feelings of mild pinching, tugging, and tingling at the area being treated, which may fade when the area becomes numb in about five to 10 minutes.
4. When the time is up, the health professional will detach the applicator and briefly massage the targeted area for about two to three minutes.
5. After the procedure, you may experience temporary side effects like tenderness, skin sensitivity, redness, itching, or bruising that resolves after two weeks.
6. Visible changes can develop after just one treatment. You'll first feel that your clothing is looser and see noticeable results on the treated area after one to three months, but the final results can take six months or so to appear.

The duration of the procedure varies per area, but it takes at least 35 minutes. In some practices, they may have more than one CoolSculpting machine, which allows them to treat more than one area at a time.

Who is eligible for CoolSculpting?

To see if you're a candidate for the CoolSculpting procedure, you can take a handy five-question quiz at their official website. It's safe for people of all skin types, but certain health conditions make you ineligible such as:

• Cryoglobulinemia, a disease where abnormal proteins in the blood called cryoglobulins tend to clump together at cold temperatures, which affects blood circulation. The incidence of cryoglobulinemia is approximately 1 in 100,000 people.
• Cold agglutinin disease, a condition where antibodies - proteins that identify foreign substances in the body - attach to red blood cells when the blood is exposed to cold temperatures, which causes the red blood cells to be destroyed. It affects about 1 in 300,000 people globally.
• Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, a rare blood disorder where Donath-Landsteiner antibodies target red blood cells when exposed to cold temperatures. The estimated cases are 0.4 per 100,000 people.

Additionally, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, this treatment might not be right for you. If you have skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, you may be required to treat the rash before proceeding with CoolSculptng in an affected area. As with any kind of procedure, it's important to check with your primary care provider to ensure your eligibility.

Insider's takeaway

CoolSculpting is a relatively painless cosmetic procedure that can reduce stubborn fat from different areas of the body. It uses a procedure called cryolipolysis, which applies cold temperatures to the skin to kill fat cells, and may result in about 20% to 25% fat reduction in a targeted area.

A session typically lasts 35 minutes or longer, but you can treat more than one area at a time. Talk to your primary care provider beforehand to ensure that you're a safe candidate for CoolSculpting.

Some people prefer CoolSculpting compared to other fat reduction procedures, such as liposuction, because it doesn't require surgical incision or anesthesia, downtime, or compression garments.

How to lose stubborn belly fat, keep it off, and when you can expect to see resultsHow to lose weight and keep it off with the right diet and mindsetHow to measure your body fat percentage - and what's considered healthyHow often should you strength train to build muscle and avoid injury