To have CoolSculpting on my back and flanks, will I be able to just lay on my sides?

Most of the time, when a patient is being treated to the back and/or flanks with CoolSculpting, the patient can be placed in a sitting position.  These areas normally do not need to have the patient be flat on the stomach.  

Thank you for your question.  When doing CoolSculpting treatment on your aback and flanks, we are able to treat you while you sit upright or on your side if it hurts when laying on your stomach. 

Our priority is keeping the patient comfortable during the Coolsculpting treatment as it is very important not to move around too much during the procedure.  Many times we have patients sit on the bed with their feet on the floor or a stool.  We prop pillows and bolsters around them to assist.  We are fortunate to have two Coolsculpting machines in our practice so you could get both areas treated in less than 2 hours!

For treatment of flanks there are various positions.  You can treat flanks sitting, laying on your side or sitting on your side.  Each treatment can be tailored so that you can be as comfortable as possible during the treatment.  You should ask your provider what position they recommend for your treatment area.

You do not have to lay on your stomach for the treatments. You can lay on your side or sit up. In my office we use a special soft table and various pillows in order to make our patients as comfortable as possible.
Good luck.

No worries! My patients prefer to be sitting when we treat their backs and flanks, and we just place pillows to provide support and cushioning. We actually want patients to be comfortable during their treatments since if they move, they can pull the device from their skin and ruin the cycle. The other good news, is that each cycle of treatment lasts only 35 minutes so it isn't long before you are able to change your position and move. Best wishes, Mary Beth Mudd

Hello mangusbl:
Obviously, it is imporant to be comfortable during a CoolSculpting treatment, even more so because if you move during treatment the applicator can pop off. In our practice we use cushions to lie on, pillow of various shapes and contours, and plush blankets to make patients comfortable. With coffee, tea or water and iPad or iPhone and music the time passes quickly. You should be able to find a comfortable position, most likely leaning with your back and head elevated but not sitting up, perhaps with some pillows propping up your back and the applicator. There is absolutely no reason to have to lay on your stomach.
I might suggest you find a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for your treatment, who plots the placement of your applicators. This is always important, but especially so in the areas you plan to treat. CoolSculpting, when performed properly, is truly a sculpting of the silhouette, and experience matters. My practice was chosen to be one of nine dermatologists and one plastic surgeon to introduce the procedure in 2009 in New York City.
I hope this is reassuring!
Sheryl Clark MD FAAD
The Center for Aesthetic and Preventative Dermatology
Our mission is to provide a wholistic patient education, and use our expertise, empathy, and excellence to provide a premier patient experience.

In my office we treat flanks and back sitting in comfortable massage chair facing a TV.  Patients can read, talk on their phone or nap on a pillow comfortably.

You could be positioned when you're sitting and be cushioned with pillows to treat the back and flanks. You do not have to lay on your stomach. If this is still a concern for you then please follow up with the CoolSculpting specialist that will be taking care of you.