Diet and exercise are excellent for overall health, but they cannot tell your body where to lose fat. CoolSculpting targets the specific areas where fat tends to collect and resist, and permanently eliminates those fat cells through a process called cryolipolysis, or controlled cooling. CoolSculpting is not a weight loss treatment. It’s a body-contouring tool designed for people who are close to their goals and looking to address specific, localized deposits that have not responded to exercise.

What to Expect During Your Treatment

At Element Dermatology, CoolSculpting consultations and treatments are overseen by Dr. Barry LaBine, a board-certified dermatologist with almost two decades of CoolSculpting experience. Here's what you can expect from your appointment:

  • Your Consultation: We assess the areas you want to address, your overall goals, and whether CoolSculpting is genuinely the right tool for what you're trying to achieve. We'll tell you honestly if it isn't. If it is, we'll build a specific treatment plan before you leave.
  • The Treatment: A gel pad is applied to protect the skin, and the CoolSculpting applicator is positioned over the target deposit. You'll feel intense cold followed by numbness as the area is treated. Most patients read or work on their phone during the session. Each cycle takes 35 to 60 minutes and multiple areas can be treated in a single visit.
  • Results and Follow-Up: Results develop gradually over two to three months as the body processes and eliminates the destroyed fat cells. A single treatment typically reduces fat in the treated area by 20 to 25%. The eliminated fat cells don't return, though new fat can accumulate if significant weight is gained.

CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis to freeze and permanently destroy fat cells in targeted areas because fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperatures than the surrounding skin and tissue. When cooled to a precise temperature, fat cells crystallize and are gradually broken down and eliminated by the body's natural processes over the following weeks and months. 

A Note on Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia

Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) is a rare but recognized side effect of CoolSculpting in which the treated fat tissue enlarges rather than reduces in the months following treatment. It's estimated to occur in less than 1% of treatment cycles and is more commonly reported in men. PAH is not dangerous, but it does require additional treatment (generally surgical liposuction) to correct.
Dr. LaBine believes patients deserve to understand this risk before proceeding. If you have questions about PAH or whether CoolSculpting is the right fit for your situation, that conversation happens at your consultation, before any treatment is planned. 

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Frequently Asked Questions About CoolSculpting

How does CoolSculpting work?

CoolSculpting uses a process called cryolipolysis to freeze and permanently destroy fat cells in targeted areas. Fat cells are more sensitive to cold than the surrounding skin and tissue. When cooled to a precise temperature, the fat cells crystallize, die, and are gradually eliminated by the body's natural processes over the following weeks and months. The destroyed fat cells do not regenerate, so results in the treated area are permanent as long as weight remains stable.

Is CoolSculpting a weight loss treatment?

No, and it’s important to be clear about this. CoolSculpting is a body-contouring treatment, not a weight-loss solution. It’s designed for people who are near their goal weight and looking to address specific, localized fat deposits that have not responded to diet and exercise. It’s not appropriate for patients looking to lose a significant amount of weight, and it won’t produce the same results as meaningful weight loss.

Which areas can be treated with CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting can treat the abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs, under the chin, upper arms, bra line, and under the buttocks. The right areas for your treatment plan will depend on your goals and anatomy, which we assess during your consultation. Multiple areas can often be treated in a single visit.

How does CoolSculpting work alongside GLP-1 medications?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are effective for overall weight loss, but like diet and exercise, they cannot direct where the body loses fat. Many patients who have reached their weight-loss goals with a GLP-1 find that certain stubborn deposits remain. CoolSculpting is a natural complement to address localized areas once overall weight-loss goals have been met. We recommend completing your active weight-loss phase before pursuing CoolSculpting so that your results reflect a stable body composition.

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