FAQs 

IS THE COOLSCULPTING® TREATMENT RIGHT FOR ME?

CoolSculpting® is a fat-reduction treatment for men and women who want to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat in certain areas of their body (see FDA cleared areas for treatment). CoolSculpting® is NOT a weight loss procedure. CoolSculpting® is a nonsurgical alternative that has little to no downtime.

To see if CoolSculpting® is right for you, take our Am I a Candidate quiz and make an appointment with a provider near you for a one-on-one consultation.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

That all depends on what areas you treat and how many treatments you have. Many patients choose to do CoolSculpting® on multiple areas to reach their ideal end result. Typically, CoolSculpting® will cost anywhere between $2,000-$4,000 for a personalized treatment plan.

When you meet with a CoolSculpting® consultant, they will work with you to find a personalized treatment that fits your body and your budget. In fact, many CoolSculpting® providers offer flexible payment plans to help you get the results you want without having to pay the full cost up front.

For more information on the cost of CoolSculpting® treatments, click here.

CAN COOLSCULPTING® REDUCE FAT ON EVERY PART OF MY BODY?

CoolSculpting® is FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges in the submental (under the chin) and submandibular (under the jawline) areas, thigh, abdomen and flank, along with bra fat, back fat, underneath the buttocks (also known as banana roll) and upper arm. It is also FDA-cleared to affect the appearance of lax tissue with submental area treatments.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY COOLSCULPTING® TREATMENT?

The applicator will be placed on the treatment area and there will be a slight sucking sensation as it adheres to your body, followed by that signature cooling effect. During the procedure you may experience sensations of pulling, tugging, mild pinching, intense cold, tingling, stinging, aching, and cramping at the treatment site. These sensations subside as the area becomes numb. Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment.

See additional Important Safety Information below.

After the applicator is detached, your provider will do a brief massage on the area to break up the treated fat cells and enhance the fat reduction. That’s it!

To learn more about what happens during a CoolSculpting® treatment, read our What To Expect page!

HOW LONG DOES A TREATMENT TAKE?

Each CoolSculpting® treatment is different, so it depends on which areas of the body and how many of them you plan on doing. Depending on the area, treatment can be done in as little as 35 minutes. The CoolSmooth applicator is discontinued, however some practices may still use it. If you opt to do multiple treatments in a session, expect to spend more time. Some providers have multiple CoolSculpting® machines, allowing patients to do multiple treatment areas at once, reducing the amount of time spent in-office.

Hear what real patients had to say about their CoolSculpting® experience, here.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS DO I NEED?

While you will see up to a 20-25% fat reduction in the treated area after a single treatment, it depends on the person and the area being treated. Your provider will work with you to determine if additional treatments are necessary to reach your desired goal.

WHEN WILL I SEE RESULTS?

You’ll start to see changes as soon as 1-3 months post-treatment. Final results may take 6 months or more.

See the fat-reduction results up close with our Before & After gallery. Check out the results of real patients to see how CoolSculpting® helped shape their bodies after several weeks.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FROZEN FAT CELLS?WHERE DOES THE FAT GO?

CoolSculpting® uses cryolipolysis, which is just a technical way to say fat-freezing. When fat cells freeze, they die and are then naturally eliminated through the body’s natural process. Don’t worry: This process happens so gradually, you won’t necessarily notice a difference in your day-to-day life.

Read more about the science of cryolipolysis here.

IS THE COOLSCULPTING® TREATMENT SAFE?

CoolSculpting® has been cleared by the FDA to effectively treat nine different areas of the body (see the FDA cleared areas below). Clinical trials have demonstrated CoolSculpting® to be safe and effective in reducing fat in certain areas.

WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE COOLSCULPTING®?

The CoolSculpting® treatment is not for everyone. You should not have it done if you suffer from cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinin disease, or paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria. The CoolSculpting® procedure is not a weight loss treatment. As with any medical procedure, ask your physician if CoolSculpting® is right for you.

See additional Important Safety Information below.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS AFTER A TREATMENT?

Following the procedure, typical side effects include temporary redness, swelling, blanching, bruising, firmness, tingling, stinging, tenderness, cramping, aching, itching, or skin sensitivity, and sensation of fullness in the back of the throat after submental or submandibular area treatment. Rare side effects may also occur. Paradoxical hyperplasia (visibly enlarged tissue volume in the treated area) may develop two to five months after treatment and requires surgical intervention for correction. As with any medical procedure, ask your physician if CoolSculpting® is right for you.

See additional Important Safety Information below.

CAN I GAIN WEIGHT AFTER A COOLSCULPTING® TREATMENT?

The CoolSculpting® treatment helps eliminate stubborn pockets of fat. But, since CoolSculpting® is not a weight loss treatment, it is possible to gain weight post-treatment if you don’t keep up your healthy habits. This kind of weight gain will most likely happen evenly throughout your body, not just in treatment areas.

Learn more about the difference between fat loss and weight loss here.

WILL MY HEALTH INSURANCE COVER A COOLSCULPTING® TREATMENT?

Because CoolSculpting® is a voluntary cosmetic treatment, it is not normally covered by insurance providers and FSA companies. Check directly with your insurer to learn what is covered under your plan benefits. Alternately, you can also check with your CoolSculpting® provider to see if they offer financing options. You may search for a CoolSculpting® provider in your area, here.

WHERE DOES THE FAT GO?

Once the fat cells are destroyed, the body recognizes that they are no longer needed and a gradual process occurs where the fat cells and fat material are cleared away. The fat cells are degraded by enzymes, while the actual fat is transported through the lymphatic system, and converted to energy – just like the fat that you eat. Your body is already fully equipped to handle this natural elimination process. You will notice a gradual reduction in fat deposits, with initial improvements apparent at 3-4 weeks  and final results at 3 months.

HOW MUCH REDUCTION IN FAT CAN I EXPECT?

We are the only provider in the 8-state Western Region with 4 Coolsculpting devices. Our protocols, specifically developed for treatments with multiple machines, allow us to provide you with the most effective results, in the shortest amount of time, at the best possible price. The results are simply amazing and are often equivalent to liposuction – without downtime. We have seen 3 – 4-inch reductions in fat.

COMBINATION TREATMENTS: For even faster elimination of fat material and truly outstanding results we also offer packages of CoolSculpting combined with Ultrasound Cavitation (the only other non-surgical technology that also eliminates fat cells) and Radiofrequency Skin Tightening & Body Contouring. Please ask us about these innovative combinations during your consultation.

Coolsculpting makes it possible to truly sculpt problem areas such as Flanks or ‘Love handles’,  Abdomen, Inner Thighs, Upper Arms, ‘Muffin Tops’, ‘Bra Bulges’ and ‘Saddlebags’.

WILL I NOTICED OTHER CHANGES TO MY HEALTH?

We are currently conducting an in-depth study demonstrating how Coolsculpting can improve pre-diabetic markers in overweight individuals by simply removing excess subcutaneous fat.

This particular type of fat is not just ‘dead’ tissue. Recent studies have shown that fat (subcutaneous or visceral) is actually an alternate endocrine organ. It is responsible for raising inflammatory markers, producing negative Estrogens, and generating many pre-diabetic markers.

We are happy to report that by simply reducing the volume of subcutaneous fat via Coolsculpting, our patients have reported decreased joint pain and general inflammation, as well as reduced intake of blood pressure medications and Metformin. In women we see improved Estrogen ratios and often need to adjust hormone dosages due to reduced Estrone production.