This Fat-Freezing Procedure Will Make Your Stomach Look Like a Stick of Butter [PHOTOS]

Makenzie on 18 Jun 2012 at 6:00pm

Imagine you've just paid $1,500 for a procedure to get rid of excess fat, and you look down and see this:

CoolSculpting pooch

That's the site that greets people who have just had the fat-freezing treatment CoolSculpting. This after effect is often described as a "stick of butter" under the skin -- it happens because during the procedure a section of fat and skin is sucked into a vacuum, where it remains for roughly an hour as the fat cells are cooled and killed.

Here's what the device looks like attached to the body, as documented by RealSelf community member Adrie209:

CoolSculpting treatment

The"stick of butter" also appears on the love handles:

coolsculpting zeltiq

zeltiq coolsculpting fat reduction

Though it looks a little grotesque, there's no need to fret. Your CoolSculpting provider will massage the area and it dissipates quickly.

It "went down in 5 seconds," says Franci329 (above).

For more about CoolSculpting, check out:

Photo credits: RealSelf.com / RealSelf community members ravenandtim; adrie209; Nick2641; Franci329

Comments (12)

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jdt1004 6 Dec 2012

This was the worst investment I've ever made. I had my treatment done in Marina Del Rey and paid about $1600 and have seen NO results in a year and a half. They told me after my first treatment that I would need to have more treatments done, which would cost and additional $1600 per treatment. I was also told that it was painless which was a complete LIE. I was sore and tender in the treatment areas for five days. The only pain I can compare to it is child birth! They also told me that if I applied for the finance option it would be 0% interest, what they failed to tell me was that it was 0% for 3 months. I felt completely taken advantage of! I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau and whenever I hear some one talking about it I speak up. I wouldn't want any one else to go through this terrible experience.

kayers43 28 Jun 2012

don't understand what happens to the fat cells. if they go into the blood stream, they can give you a fat emboli which can be deadly. if they don't go into the blood stream, how do they get to the point of evacuation, i.e. bowel movement? if you're killing the fat cells then where are the necrotic cells? I'm always curious why procedures like this are not more clearly explained in terms that a person can make an intelligent decision.....we're suppose to be our own and best advocate...help us out!
for themselves.....we are our own and best

blondiexpink 28 Jun 2012

Franci- I've had Coolsculpting to my stomach twice (going for visit 3 soon) and inner thighs once, which I will be getting done again soon too. It absolutely works, but it's no miracle cure. As the experts say, you only lose 20-25% of the fat each time, so after 2 treatments, you lose 40-50% of the initial fat. I eat very well and exercise, but I no longer gain an extra few pounds after a weekend of indulging like I did before. My stomach remains flat and my thighs are still smaller than before, and I absolutely accredit this to Coolsculpting. I LOVE the treatment, but as it's for "sculpting" trouble spots, not for weight loss.

franci329 28 Jun 2012

That's great! I'm glad you had success with it.

kayers43 20 Jun 2012

what's to stop some of this fat getting into the blood stream as a fat emboli?

Makenzie 21 Jun 2012

Kayers -

Since I'm not a medical expert, I can't answer that. However, it might be a good one to pose to our doctor community! You can go here to submit a new question: http://www.realself.com/question/create

Andy Castillo 19 Jun 2012

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blondiexpink 19 Jun 2012

After informing my technician I was a bit squeamish, she told me not to look at my stomach when the applicator was removed- smart idea! It goes down right away when they massage the area, but if you don't think you can stomach the "stick of butter," don't look!

sugunakar 18 Jun 2012

If it goes down in 5 seconds I would not hesitate to get it done

franci329 28 Jun 2012

don't waste your money

Makenzie 28 Jun 2012

Franci - I just read your comments on your review about it not working out for you. :/ I'm sorry to hear you didn't see results in the end. I know it's really frustrating to spend that kind of money and be disappointed. Did you have more than one treatment?

franci329 7 Dec 2012

Mackenzie, I had 1 treatment but I was also told that's all I would need. Still today I see no difference and I would not pay for anymore treatments. Thanks