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Took a Step Back-concerned About Other Issues Now - Pittsburgh, PA

  • Not Worth It
  • Cost: $1,500
  • Pittsburgh, PA

6'7" 230lbs age 48. Had it done in November 2012...

  • 11 Mar 2013

6'7" 230lbs age 48. Had it done in November 2012 and not only is there no positive difference it seems worse. The area is more condensed and feels firmer. My concern it that the procedure made a change that will now be bad for me down the road. And I don't mean just visually. If the process is legit why would it fail for some and does the reason for that failure mean longer term issues? The company that did it has refunded my $.

It has now been almost 5 months and I am convinced...

  • 16 Apr 2013
It has now been almost 5 months and I am convinced things are worse. And I have actually lost weight in the past month. The treatment definitely made the area tougher and changed the shape by pulling the area in to a smaller space top to bottom. It is like the area retained the shape made during the procedure. Not good.

I want to add that someone needs to do a study (or...

  • 16 Apr 2013
I want to add that someone needs to do a study (or if they have done there needs to be disclosure) on why this procedure fails, what happens to you physically and if there is a negative impact to your health or ability to lose that weight. My concern is that when the procedure fails it changes more than just how you look. That something now prohibits the area from being reduced through diet etc.

Update

  • 5 Oct 2013
It has been a while so I figured I would post the outcome. I was refunded my money because the Coolsculpt made things worse. I was told I was one of the few who developed hyperplasia. Zeltiq paid for me to have lipo to fix it. Now many months later the area literally looks like it did before the Coolsculpt. My opinion is that it may very well work for others. Not me. I also believe Zeltiq did try to make things right. At least to a point. Personally given what I have had to go through they should keep trying to make it right until I look like what they said Coolsculpt would do. I don't expect a six pack. Had my original issue look noticeably or obviously better that would have been fine

After Lipo that was supposed to fix the problem caused by CoolSculpting - Failed

  • 7 Dec 2013
It has now been about 5 months since the Lipo to correct the damage cause by CoolSculpting. Zeltiq paid for the Lipo and did refund my money for the CoolSculpting. But you can clearly see the Lipo was useless and I am back to the damaged condition I was after CoolSculpting. The procedure not making a difference is one thing. But doing this is just wrong. Zeltiq should do whatever it takes to fix this.

Worse after Lipo

  • 7 Dec 2013
Looking at the shots again it seems pretty clear I am worse after the Lipo.
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Comments (42)

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I read your issues with the Coolsculpting. Your are among the many. Here is the website for the FDA to report your problem with the unit itself. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm?action=consumer.reporting1 Hopefully you will take the time to report. Things won't change unless they are made to change.
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I to have hada bad outcome ams am concerned why the company is not stopping the procedure un5il thry figure it out. They have agreed to pay for my surgery to remove the hard tissue as well. I was told by them that some people have had to get a tummy tuck, some people lipo works. My doctor said the tissue is so dense he is not sure lipo will work. They know there is a problem ams they act like there are only 20 or so people in the world with this result but you can find a 100 or more on this site alone so it's bigger than they are admittimg.
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I am going to see about trying lipo again. Seemed to me that they didn't go after most of the material in the first shot. Will discuss this with the doctor.
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I had coolsculpting in July of 2013 and on my 2 month followup had lost 3" in my midriff area and was so excited I went ahead and did my lower abs the same day. I had zero positive results on lower abs, and despite maintaining a high level of exercise and a reasonable diet, within another 2 months, the midriff area was worse than before. I was really disappointed when the practitioner told me at first the Zeltiq rep told them the treatment was one and done when they first got the equipment but later said many people needed repeat treatments. I feel cheated and ripped off. On top of it, I had excruciating pain for two weeks after the treatments.
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I think CoolSculpt is a dud. And for them to keep repeating that what many of us have gone through as rare and anomolous is sounding more and more false. Perhaps a letter to the FDA is in order.
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Ive had excellent results and from looking at other reviews, there are many others that have had great results. Outside of the issue outlined in this post, it's possible that many others are disappointed because the changes are not dramatic, but very subtle. More honest marketing of expectations from zeltiq would probably be a demand from users and doctors as well.
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My understanding is that destroying fat cells (OR removing fat cells via any type of liposuction) is NOT good for long-term health or long-term aesthetics. Have you read the NY Times article, "The Belly Finds What The Thighs Lose?" That article is just a place to start, but it might give you some idea. Destroying fat seems like a very strange thing to do. Fat is part of our necessary biology.
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I'm glad you had good results. I can't speak for the others, but my result wasn't subtle...it was dramatic, but in the wrong direction. My treated area is definitely much larger than before the treatment and this result was confirmed by CoolSculpt employees themselves. From what I have read, a not small number of other people have had the same result, and for CoolSculpt to claim otherwise is just false.
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I had this treatment fon my lower abs about 25 days ago and as you said it has become worse than what it used to be... I used to be able to pull my tummy in and it would look alright but now i can't even do that, and it obviously looks like it's sticking out, it neve looked like that before. I follow a healthy diet and I have a perfect weight for my height. Now I hate looking at myself when I wear tight clothes. I go to the gym three times a week and workout about 2.5 each time, I used to sweat in that area but now it doesnt anymore. Coolsculpting has only gathered all the fat more dense around the area that i wanted to look flatter and has really sculpted my belly to look bigger. I wish I could at least look like before this treatment. I didnt even get reimbursed...
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My issue was diagnosed as Hyperplasia. I got a refund and they tried Lipo (on them) to fix it. After several months of the Lipo done it appears to me I am slightly worse off than before I began. But it is way better after the Lipo.
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I looked up hyperplasia and one of the reasons listed is "chronic inflammatory response". Since Coolsculpt relies on inflammation for the removal of the fat cells, I wonder if that could be your main reason. It's very unfortunate that you had a bad experience.
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How are you doing now, imispgh? Have you gotten any answers as to why the procedure didn't work for you?

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Hyperplasia
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My stomach area is now MUCH WORSE 4+ months after the procedure. It is like a large rubber bumper has been inserted under the skin. I suffered a lot of post-procedure pain and am VERY unhappy with all aspects of this treatment.
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Can you post a current pic?
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I don't have a picture, but the medi-spa diagnosed my condition as hyperplasia as well. The Zeltig company people saw me in person at the clinic and conceded that there was a problem. I was given 6 subsequent other treatments (Cool Venus, which is hot as hell, and another type as well). My stomach is definitely much worse. They set me a follow appt for 2 months after my last treatment. That appointment will be in 2 weeks. They said if I'm not better, they will do lipo. I'm completely NOT happy with CoolSculpt and it actually deformed me. After the subsequent treatments, my stomach is not so rubbery, but is spongy and fatty and I don't fit into my clothes. I can highly recommend AGAINST this procedure.
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At my follow up appointment, the girl pretty much said, "Yep! You need lipo!" I have a consultation appt with the actual plastic surgeon in 3 weeks. My stomach is just awful: it's a large, inflated, soft, saggy bag just hanging there on my front. I have to always wear Spanx and I want to cry when I see myself naked. I think there are a LOT of patients out there with poor results.
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And I thought I was the only one with an entirly new wardrobe of Spanx. Your sounds just like mine. I am getting lipo next month as well.
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My concern is there is a reason the procedures fail and that reason is either not being looked in to or purposefully being ignored. I am concerned the same reason that drives the procedure failure also results in one now unable to diet and exercise their way out of the issue. If the process is to change or damage the fat cells so the body absorbs them and the process somehow fails - is it not then possible the fat cells are changed in a way the body cannot burn the cells either? Someone needs to look in to why this fails and the potential or even known side effects.
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The only remedy for you now is to have the lower ab fat removed with a liposuction treatment. It can be done rather quickly and safely with either Smartlipo or Powerlipo, taking about 1 1/2 hours and no downtime. Hope this helps
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How can you suggest that this woman needs liposuction treatment? Have you examined her? Are you aware that liposuction has similar disfiguring outcomes? Not only that, there IS downtime, NO surgical procedure is considered SAFE. There are many risks to this procedure and I am guessing you work for a lipo facility.
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Sorry, the OP is a man, but my comment here is the same.
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Let me first say that I was really only trying to help lend a solution that would help this patient as he's obviously troubled by this outcome. In 7 years, we've performed thousands of awake lipo procedures, Smart & Powerlipo in particular, with no downtime from work or family--the risk factors you're referring to are true with traditional liposuction. If he chooses, he can get this fixed pretty quickly and wouldn't have disfiguring results. From the pictures I can see that he's got what's considered a small amount of fat to take, I'm sure that someone could help him in his home town. Don't shoot the messenger! We've helped guys with much more than he's got, so there is hope for him and I wanted him to know that. He can drive to and from the procedure, have a local numbing to the area and get the excess fat removed-it's that simple-I know, I've had it done myself, worked the rest of the day, and then went home and took care of 7 kids-homework and dinner! Know, sir, that there is a solution to your problem and I hope this helps!
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It has been a while so I figured I would post the outcome. I was refunded my money because the Coolsculpt made things worse. I was told I was one of the few who developed hyperplasia. Zeltiq paid for me to have lipo to fix it. Now many months later the area literally looks like it did before the Coolsculpt. My opinion is that it may very well work for others. Not me. I also believe Zeltiq did try to make things right. At least to a point. Personally given what I have had to go through they should keep trying to make it right until I look like what they said Coolsculpt would do. I don't expect a six pack. Had my original issue look noticeably or obviously better that would have been fine
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All told, sounds like good news, Im glad to hear it's better now as I was wondering how the company would react. I agree with you that they could've done a little extra on the fat removal for you, and am surprised they didn't while they had you on the table. Is it ok to ask you what type of lipo? Traditional, Smartlipo?
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