The 411 on the "Coolaser" Skin Treatment Celebs Swear By

January 17, 2018 by Catherine Conelly

Jenna Dewan Tatum came out singing the praises of Coolaser, and naturally, everyone wants to know what it is, what it does, and how to get it. Much love to JDT (her skin is a force to be reckoned with), but this laser treatment was also popular long before Tatum got on board. In fact, it basically has its own Instagram account, and celebrities have been crediting their flawless skin to it for quite some time.

I reached out to Laura Dyer, who's renowned for her work in clinical and aesthetic skin care, to go deeper.

So what is it? In short, it's a skin-resurfacing treatment that uses a fractional laser. I reached out to Laura Dyer, a physician's assistant and clinician who's renowned for her work in clinical and aesthetic skin care, to go deeper. It just so happens that's exactly what a fractional laser does.

Unlike nonlaser treatments such as a chemical peel or microdermabrasion, a fractional laser targets the deeper layers your skin, essentially encouraging it to create new skin. "It's actually poking tons of tiny little microscopic holes into the tissues, which allows for a much faster healing time [than traditional laser treatments]," says Dyer. It can treat everything from acne scars, stretch marks, and birth marks to brown spots and wrinkles.

However, start Googling derms near you who offer Coolaser and you'll be bummed to discover that it's only available at one office in the country. It's safe to say that its exclusivity probably lends to its popularity. Luckily, Dyer let me in on a little secret. Coolaser isn't the only fractional laser treatment out there. "Every single dermatologist and most plastic surgeons have one in their office," she says. When you pay for Coolaser specifically, you're paying for the name. It's all branding.

Just ask your dermatologist about Fraxel or mention a fractional CO2 laser treatment, and they'll be able to hook you up — though "hooking you up" is probably the wrong term, considering it will still run you between $1,000 and $1,500 per treatment. Still interested? Here's how the treatment typically works.

Numbing cream is the first step. "The laser itself, whether it's Fraxel or Coolaser, they all hurt," says Dyer. Remember, they go pretty deep. Once the laser starts to work its magic, numbing cream in full effect, you're looking at about an hour-long treatment process. "It feels warm. It can feel prickly — like a pretty major sunburn during the treatment — and then you may feel like you have a minor sunburn for one to two hours after the treatment."

It can work wonders for heavy scarring, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues like brown spots. However, you will be rocking a pink face for a couple days and it can take anywhere between two to five days of social downtime before you're back to normal. There's redness. There's peeling. And it's best to avoid makeup. You'll want at least five days off work — sometimes more, sometimes less — depending on the level of treatment. So put your feet up, queue up your latest Netflix favorite, and get ready to binge.

Avoiding sun exposure is a must. In fact, Dyer says to continue avoiding the sun for four weeks after the initial five days of recovery. For that reason, wintertime is generally the best time to schedule your visit. You may see some residual pinkness in the weeks following the treatment, but for the most part, "totally worth it" will probably be at the top of your vocab list.

We Tried CoolSculpting to See If the Weight-Loss Treatment Actually Works

By BestProducts.com Aug 26, 2017

Three of us put the popular fat-freezing treatment to the test. Check out what we have to say about it! *Please consult with your doctor beforehand as CoolSculpting may not be for everyone. It's recommended for, but not limited to, candidates within 30 pounds of their ideal weight.

‘Laura Dyer made me feel totally comfortable.’

CoolSculpting is the fat-freezing treatment that everyone from your next-door neighbor to the Kardashians use to eliminate extra bulge. A fat-freezing (nonsurgical!) treatment sounds way too good to be true, right? Well, we went to test it out for ourselves to see if there's really something to what's being called "Hollywood's best kept secret." Spoiler alert: We went back for more.

Here's how it works: You'll have a consultation with your CoolSculpting technician and decide which areas you want to work on. The FDA approved CoolSculpting in 2010, and ever since, the technology has become more readily available across dermatology centers, doctors' offices, and medical spas nationwide. We consulted with Laura Dyer, MSHS, PA-C, at Dr. Amy Wechsler's office in the Upper East Side of Manhattan for our treatments.

You'll usually want to get more than one session done in the long run because each session can freeze up to 25% of the fat cells in a given area. All three of us who tried it had two sessions of CoolSculpting visits. Basically, your technician will set you up in a room with a machine best fitted for your target area. You'll have a gel-like substance applied to your skin before the machine is attached for a specific amount of time (around 30 minutes) or until your technician removes it. The machine literally targets and freezes fat cells, which your body will then eliminate as waste over time — but you won't get frostbite since it only affects your fat cells. It works like magic! And yes — you do feel your fat freezing at first!

“Did I mention I was able to work during the entire procedure?”

You'll start to see results two to three weeks after the first treatment, but your body will continue to flush out those unwanted fat cells for up to six months. One more thing: Most patients do get more than one area done at a time, and they usually go back for more than one CoolSculpting treatment. Start saving, because It'll likely run you around $2,000 to $4,000 to effectively treat one or two areas. Technically, you can try CoolSculpting for closer to $700 — that should get you a one-hour session with a small applicator. But it's best to be aware of the cost range before going in for a consultation, because the most effective treatment plan for your body might run steeper than you'd like. For example, a tiny area (like your chin!) might need two sessions to attain desired fat loss, but each session would be around $700 to $1,000 out of pocket, depending on where you go.

So, now are you wondering what it's really like to get this slimming procedure done? Read on to find out what happened when we put it to the test!

Patrick:

Spoiler: I'm a rookie at all of this. The only procedure I ever had done was getting my wisdom teeth out when I was 21. Basically, I was thinking that CoolSculpting was going to be like major surgery and I was nervous (a "baby," most would say). To be honest, I didn't really need a ton of fat gone, but as I'm getting up there in age (where I have to run an extra 10 miles to burn off the weekend's normal festivities) I could certainly use a bit of help in the tune-up department. As soon as I got there, Laura Dyer made me feel totally comfortable. Plus, the office looked like something uber-cool (like on Nip/Tuck), so my nerves totally disappeared and I was ready to tackle this CoolSculpting head-on.

I got my "tune-up" on my stomach area. Each section only took 35 minutes and was, legit, no big deal. The first five to eight minutes were pretty cold as the machine did its magic, but it was bearable. It almost felt like when you get into a pool or the ocean before the water is warm and it kind of takes your breath away for a second. Did I mention I'm a baby? After those initial few minutes, my stomach went numb and I felt nothing. Laura checked on me a bunch of times because I think she felt bad for me. Did I mention I was able to work during the entire procedure? They had a charger for my phone (or your laptop if you need it!) and I could just lay back and catch up on my endless emails.

These Are Literally the Coolest Beauty Products and Treatments to Try Right Now

July 3, 2017 by Megan McIntyre

CoolSculpting

One of the buzziest (and most popular) professional cold treatments is this so-called "fat freezer," performed at dermatologists' offices. It uses freezing temperatures to single out fat cells and crystallize them, killing the cell. Yes, killing. As in, no more fat cell.

While CoolSculpting isn't the only treatment for fat reduction, it is the only one to freeze the cells instead of heating them. "All the cells in our body have a temperature threshold," says Laura Dyer, MSHS, PA-C at Dr. Amy Wechsler Dermatology in Manhattan. "With heat, in order to get to an efficacious temp it is usually quite painful because it is not only very hot, but it's a little less consistent."

CoolSculpting, on the other hand, uses a temperature slightly higher than what water freezes at, so it just targets the actual fat cells and not the water-based cells surrounding it. This means less bruising, swelling, and pain.

As fat-freezing guinea pigs, we can personally attest to that statement. Recently Zeltiq, the maker of CoolSculpting, upped its game by tweaking some of its applicators to make the temperature one degree Celsius cooler. Dyer notes that this allows the treatment to be 25 minutes shorter and could even boost the results of some clients' treatments.

Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting

By Victoria Moorhouse May 14, 2017 @ 4:00 pm

Everything You Need to Know About CoolSculpting

The inner thighs and lower abdomen are two of the most difficult places to tone, even when a strict diet and exercise routine is being followed to the T. But a nonsurgical procedure, CoolSculpting, is gaining steam and making headlines left and right for being the answer to this common complaint by literally freezing off fat cells in tricky areas. Curious? We went to the pros to find out everything you need to know about this treatment, from how fast you’ll see results to what it really does to your body to risks, and everything in-between.

What Is CoolSculpting?

According to Dr. Heidi Waldorf is the Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, it’s the number one noninvasive body sculpting treatment in the entire world. "There have been over 4 million treatment cycles, 75 published papers, and over 5000 study patients,” she notes. “That is more in every category than any other noninvasive body contouring device.” Basically, the treatment, which is done using a FDA-cleared CoolSculpting device, uses cold to permanently destroy fat cells in a particular area, and no sedation is needed unlike liposuction. Each treatment, our pro explains, reduces fat about 20 percent.

What Does the Treatment Consist Of?

Dr. Waldorf says it begins with taking photographs and measurements of the desired area. "An applicator attached to the CoolSculpting device is attached to the area of the unwanted fat. The applicator is chosen based on the size, shape, and pinchability of the fat," she explains. "Most applicators have a degree of suction, more in the original versions and less in the newer. The applicator for the outer thighs, which is also commonly used on the flanks is flat without suction. The applicator is chosen and applied so there is no space between its surface and the skin surface, that way at the same time as the cold is applied, there is a feedback to the device of the temperature. So it is constantly adjusted automatically."

Another interesting fact? There's no downtime.

She says the treatment usually takes about 35 minutes, with the exception of the "Coolsmooth" for the outer thighs, and that takes 75 minutes. When the fat is frozen, Dr. Waldorf says it's then crystalized. "...when the applicator is removed, the area is either manually massaged or treated with radiowaves, the Zimmer ZWave Pro, to break up the crystals. We use the Zwave in my office rather than manual massage to reduce swelling and speed resorption of the fat. The damaged fat cells are gradually reabsorbed and excreted. There is no effect on the level of fat in the blood," she notes.

When Do You See Results?

Our pros tell us that patients begin to see results within a month, but it takes about three months to see the full results.

How Long Does It Last?

According to Laura Dyer, MSHS, PA-C at the office of Dr. Amy Wechsler, the results are extremely long-lasting. "The interesting thing about our fat cells is that after puberty, the stem cell capabilities that allowed fat cells to reproduce turn off. Therefore, the number of fat cells you have at age 18 is typically the number of fat cells you die with," she says. "Over the course of your life, as you gain or lose weight, those fat cells either expand or contract—the number of them never changes. Once your fat cells are exposed to CoolSculpting, 20-25 percent of them solidify, freeze, and then die during the course of the treatment. It takes your body about three months to fully dispose of the treated fat cells but once they are gone, they are gone for good and will not return."

Who Is the Ideal Patient?

If you can pinch an inch of fat, Dr. Waldorf says you are a canidate. "The ideal patient is close to the weight he or she wants, but has bulges of fat that won’t go away with exercise or diet," she further explains. "It can be used for double chin, upper arms, inner and outer thighs, knees, bra bulges, back fat, flanks and waist, and abdomen. Even patients who are in the process of losing weight or who just want to change their shape can be treated." However, it can not be used over an open hernia and it is not used for intraabdominal fat.

What Are the Risks?

Like all treatments, there are things to be aware of. Dyer says that the most common risks are temporary and resolve within a few weeks. Some include redness after the treatment, mild swelling, bruising, tenderness, numbness or a dull sensation for about 1-2 weeks after. Some sensitivity or tingling around the area is also common. However, you should always talk to your doctor to see if it's appropriate for you. 

Who Provides the Treatment?

According to Dyer, the requirements change based on what state you're in, but you can use the treatment's locator tool to find certified and safe CoolSculpting practices. 

What Are the Costs?

This depends greatly on where you're getting it down and now many cycles you need. "It typically starts around $750 per cycle or $1500/area. An area, for example, would be both flanks or both thighs," Dyer says.

Doctors’ Tips for Getting Red-Carpet-Ready from New York

Eight East Coast solutions for when you have so much to do and so little time

by SunHee Grinnell February 14, 2017 10:09 am

Doctors’ Tips: Getting Red-Carpet-Ready from New York

We asked the following cosmetic-dermatology gurus based in New York what one could do as a quick fix, with zero downtime and 10 days left to the Oscars. Here’s what they had to say:

Dr. Amy Wechsler, M.D. —Dr. Amy Wechsler Dermatology, at 3 East 69th Street

Clear + Brilliant is the go-to treatment to get your skin red-carpet-ready. It leaves your skin glowing and illuminated while plumping fine lines and wrinkles, and also evens out skin tone and texture with zero downtime.

“Volbella (by Allergan, the makers of Botox) is the newest (injectable) treatment to achieve the ultimate, natural-looking, fuller lips that will make your pout camera-ready, which everyone is now craving.”

— Laura Dyer, MSHS, PA-C —Dr. Amy Wechsler Dermatology, at 3 East 69th Street

Dr. Gervaise Gerstner, M.D. —Gervaise Gertsner, M.D. Dermatology, at 730 Park Avenue

Micro Channelling/Micro Needling stimulates the release of epidermal growth factors while infusing stem-cell serum into the skin, resulting in the softening of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars. Recommended two days prior to Oscar; then, one day prior, try Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum for face. Gently press into skin to nourish the dermis.