CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved, non-surgical cosmetic treatment for fat cell reduction and body contouring. This innovative fat-freezing technique has gained worldwide popularity because it is safe, non-invasive, and delivers permanent results.
This article explains how CoolSculpting works and describes expected results, side effects, aftercare tips, and cost.
What Is CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is a cosmetic procedure based on cryolipolysis, a method of breaking down fat deposits using cold temperatures.
In the 1970s, scientists noticed that fat is more susceptible to cold injury than the surrounding tissue. This discovery led to the development of cryolipolysis, a fat-freezing technique that kills fat cells and triggers the body’s inflammatory response, which removes them.
The FDA approved CoolSculpting in 2010 after clinical trials confirmed its safety in controlled conditions. The studies also showed an average fat reduction of 20% to 25% after 1-3 treatments over several months.
How Does CoolSculpting Work?
CoolSculpting uses a hand-held vacuum device to freeze and permanently destroy fat cells. Excess fat is placed between two cooling panels that lower the temperature to 39 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In the weeks following the treatment, the lymphatic system processes the frozen fat cells and eliminates them as waste.
CoolSculpting can be used on different body parts (e.g., thighs, belly, lower back) or reduce the appearance of cellulite on legs, buttocks, and arms.
The procedure is performed in a clinic or a medical spa. It is quick, simple, and requires no downtime.
Who Is a Good Candidate for CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting targets stubborn fat areas that can’t be eliminated through diet or physical activity. Individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle, follow a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and are within 30 pounds of their target weight can use CoolSculpting to eliminate smaller fat deposits.
Your provider will develop a personalized treatment plan based on your desired body contouring goals. They will also inform you about the medical conditions that disqualify you from getting the treatment.
Note: Patients who prefer cosmetic injectables to fat freezing can try Kybella, an alternative solution to CoolScupting. Find out how Kybella differs from CoolSculpting and which treatment suits you better.
CoolSculpting Target Areas
CoolSculpting is FDA-approved for fat reduction in nine areas:
- Thighs
- Abdomen
- Love handles (flanks)
- Bra fat
- Upper and lower back fat
- Under the buttocks (banana rolls)
- Upper arms
- Under the jaw
- Under the chin (“double chin”)
Note: Find out if CoolSculpting can help you eliminate cellulite.
What Can You Expect During the CoolSculpting Procedure?
After getting approval for the procedure, your medical practitioner will mark the treatment area(s) with a skin-marking pencil. You may choose to treat one or more areas during a single session. If treated with a CoolSculpting® Elite machine, you can target two areas in one session with dual applicators.
The medical practitioner applies a gel pad on the marked treatment area, which acts as a barrier between the skin and the cooling applicator.
The medical practitioner uses the cooling applicator to suck the fat bulge into the device, which may tingle or hurt a little. The patient may also feel an uncomfortable cold sensation. After 5-10 minutes, the treatment area becomes numb, and the patient may feel minimal discomfort.
Most CoolSculpting practitioners include a post-treatment massage. Massaging the treated area for two to five minutes after the procedure enhances the treatment’s efficacy, contributes to further fat reduction, and warms the body. One treatment lasts 35 to 75 minutes, depending on the treatment area. Most patients need two or more treatment sessions to achieve the desired body contouring goals. You can schedule follow-up sessions in six to eight weeks.
Note: Learn more about how to prepare for the CoolSculpting treatment.
Does CoolSculpting Hurt?
CoolSculpting is FDA-approved and safe for most healthy adults if administered by medical professionals with experience handling the device. The provider constantly monitors the temperature on the device and moderates the temperature as needed. The temperature needs to be cold enough to quickly freeze the fat cells but above freezing so it doesn’t hurt the skin, nerves, surrounding tissues, and muscles.
During the procedure, you may experience the following sensations:
- Stinging
- Tingling
- Pinching
- Pulling
- Tugging
- Intense cold
- Aching
- Cramping
Note: Find out more details in our article Does CoolSculpting Hurt and learn how can you relieve the pain.
CoolSculpting Results
CoolSculpting patients can expect to see the results within 1 to 3 months after their first session. The full effects appear after three to six months, as it takes the body up to six months to flush out the frozen fat cells.
A single CoolSculpting treatment results in a 20-25% fat reduction in the treated area. Patients may receive additional treatments in the following months for further fat reduction. Most patients require one to three sessions to achieve the desired outcome.
How Many Pounds Can You Lose with CoolSculpting?
You can lose two to five pounds once the body metabolizes and eliminates frozen fat cells. Note that CoolSculpting is not a weight loss procedure as it targets only specific body areas with pinchable fat deposits.
How Many Sizes Do You Lose with CoolSculpting?
Treating multiple or large areas can reduce stubborn pockets of fat and help you drop one or two pant or dress sizes. The slimming effect is most prominent if you use CoolSculpting to treat the back, abdomen, thighs, or love handles.
Does CoolSculpting Leave Saggy Skin?
Sagginess does not typically occur after CoolSculpting but usually accompanies rapid or significant weight loss in patients. CoolSculpting helps you reduce fat bulges gradually, allowing the skin to adapt slowly and retain its natural firmness and elasticity.
How Long Do CoolSculpting Results Last?
CoolSculpting permanently eliminates frozen fat cells, and the fat doesn’t come back in the treated area. However, if the patient eats more calories than they expend, fat will accumulate in the surrounding and other areas.
Note: Learn more about how long CoolSculpting lasts in our article.
CoolSculpting Aftercare
Adhere to the following CoolSculpting aftercare guidelines to maximize results, minimize potential complications, and support the body’s natural fat-elimination process:
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to relieve soreness and skin sensitivity.
- Wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and bloating.
- Apply warm compresses to reduce pain, tenderness, and cramping.
- Massage the treated areas to stimulate the lymphatic system.
- Stay hydrated to speed up the flushing out of dead fat cells.
- Adopt a healthy diet to maintain a healthy BMI.
- Stay active to speed up the body’s natural healing process.
- Avoid drinking alcohol to reduce the risk of bruising.
- Take over-the-counter acetaminophen-based painkillers such as Tylenol to alleviate pain.
- Avoid taking NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen and naproxen) for pain relief as these might disrupt the body’s inflammatory response and fat elimination.
- Schedule follow-up appointments to monitor the condition and book touch-up sessions.
What are the Downsides of CoolSculpting?
Most patients tolerate CoolSculpting well and only report feeling discomfort, cold, and numbness during the procedure rather than pain. The side effects typically resolve within a few weeks.
According to the manufacturer, these side effects may occur after the procedure:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Redness
- Blanching
- Firmness
- Tingling
- Stinging
- Cramping
- Itching
- Tenderness
- Aching
- Skin sensitivity
- Sensation of fullness in the back of the throat
Severe side effects are rare and may include a visible enlargement in the treated area two to five months after the treatment. This condition, known as paradoxical adipose hyperplasia, occurs in 1 to 10 out of 10,000 treatments and may require a surgical intervention.
Why Does My Stomach Looks Bigger After CoolSculpting?
Wearing a compression garment can help relieve the swelling and bloating you may experience in the treated areas.
Unusual enlargement or hardening of treated areas after a CoolSculpting session could be a sign of paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), a rare complication characterized by overgrowth of fatty (adipose) tissue. PAH may occur eight to twenty-four weeks after the procedure and usually requires surgery to reverse completely.
Should Anyone Avoid CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is not a weight-loss treatment and is not designed to help obese people lose weight but rather to help average-weight people get rid of stubborn fat deposits.
Do not book a CoolSculpting treatment if you suffer from:
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Cold urticaria
- Cold agglutinin disease
- Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
Tell your practitioner if you have the following:
- Recent surgery
- Hernia
- Varicose veins
- Dermatitis
- Other cutaneous lesions
- Chronic pain
- Anxiety
- Bleeding disorders
- Allergy to isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, fructose, or glycerin
How Much Does CoolSculpting Cost?
The average cost of CoolSculpting is $3,200. At Vibrant Skin Bar, one CoolSculpting session costs $900. However, you may need more than one session if the treatment area is large, such as the thighs, abdomen, and back.
Patients who want to reduce fat under the chin or bra fat may need only one session, while treating the inner and outer thighs go up to $3,600.
Find a more detailed breakdown of prices in our article on how much CoolSculpting costs.
Conclusion
CoolSculpting removes stubborn fat deposits and contours the body. It is a popular alternative to liposuction—the riskier surgical method for removing fat. Although not considered a weight-loss treatment, CoolSculpting will leave you several inches trimmer. The fat removed by the procedure will not return with proper diet and exercise.
Contact our Vibrant Skin Bar staff to learn more about CoolSculpting and find out if you are the right candidate for the treatment.
