Does CoolSculpting Really Work?

CoolSculpting has not proven nearly effective as SculpSure. SculpSure takes 25 minutes while CoolSculpting takes 60-90 minutes. CoolSculpting can be painful and leave you with prolonged numbness, while SculpSure is painless and provides a warming feeling for relaxation. SculpSure has consistently beaten CoolSculpting in head-to-head studies providing our staff here at Clevens Center to prefer SculpSure. SculpSure is a non-invasive lipolysis device that
leverages controlled and targeted hyperthermic laser. The technique dives past
your dermis for minimal absorption and then penetrates deeply to destroy
subcutaneous fat.I suggest you consult a board certified facial plastic surgeon
to receive the highest quality knowledge, treatment, care and skill available.

CoolSculpting® is absolutely effective when applied to the right candidate. CoolSculpting works best on targeted areas of unwanted fat, so it’s not appropriate for individuals who want significant, all-over fat loss. Some patients see good results after a single procedure, but for those who require 2 treatments, I recommend waiting a month before considering a second one.

CoolSculpting is a great option for patients who have pinchable fat in the abdomen, arms, inner/outer thighs, flanks, banana roll (under the buttocks), as well as under the chin and "back" fat. Patients need to understand that there is a 25% reduction of fat each time the area is treated---it is not immediately fat reduction as in liposuction. The benefits of CoolSculpting are that it does not require anesthesia, and it has no downtime. The results, while permanent, take longer to see since the fat cells die over a period of 4-6 weeks. We offer consultations for CoolSculpting as well as liposuction to weigh the best options and to find out if you are a candidate for CoolSculpting.

My practice has completed well over a thousand CoolSculpting sessions. I can a say that with very few exceptions, they all loose volume due to the treatment. The amount of fat reduced varies with patients, but I think of the volume reduction to be nearly the size of a stick of butter. So if you can imagine your unwanted fat as multiple butter sticks, you can get an idea of how many sessions you might require. CoolSculpting works best with fit patients who want to loose discrete areas of fat in localized areas. I don't recommend it for obese patients (they won't see it) or generalized fat deposits (where do you stop). Is liposuction more effective, yes! But liposuction has multiple hassles and requires some recovery, not to mention the risks. CoolSculpting has very few risks, and little discomfort. You can eat your lunch during the session, but it might be a little ironic to eat the fat back. We can do additional treatments of the same areas as soon as six weeks but the final result may take three months. 

Thank you for your question! 
The CoolSculpting fat-freezing procedure is the only FDA-cleared, non-surgical, non-invasive fat-reduction procedure  that uses controlled cooling to eliminate stubborn fat cells that are immune to all efforts of diet and exercise.The CoolSculpting treatment uses a method called Cryolipolysis (fat freezing) once the fat is frozen it goes through apoptosis (programmed cell death). Over time, your body will naturally processes the fat and eliminates the dead cells, leaving a more sculpted and contoured treatment area. The best way to know if this is right for you and how many treatments you will need is by setting up a consultation with a CoolSculpting. This process is important because everyone has different desires and concerns for their treatment. Having a consultation will equip you with the knowledge and special treatment plan needed to move forward. 
For more information regarding your question, please see the video below. 
Good luck to you!
Anil Rajani, MD

It is recommended to wait a minimum of 6 weeks in between before re-treating the same area. However, you are able to treat other areas through dual-sculpting. This is where an office has two cool sculpting machines making it faster to treat more than one area at a time. For example, you can treat your flank and abdomen at the same time with dual-sculpting.  This cuts your time in half and only requires you to come back for a possible second treatment after 6 weeks.