Signs of Good Results With Coolsculpting?

Sometimes the "stick of butter" may not be as dramatic in patients who have less tissue to be drawn into the applicator by the suction. The little red dots you see are temporary bruises due to the suction and should resolve over the next few days or so. Side effects can vary from person to person and are not necessarily indicative of results, and results are usually not apparent for the first month. If you do not see results after 2-3 months, you should consult with the person who provided your treatment.

The stick of butter refers to the elevated and hard skin envelope around the frozen fat cells that thaw after CoolSculpting and become softer again. Not all patients develop this, especially if they have minimal fat. Bruising is variable. You may still develop a good result but you should ask your provider the questions as they know your physical examination.

The information provided in Dr. Shelton's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice.  The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs.

Patient selection is the key to a good coolsculpting treatment. Each patient will heal differently so do not be overly alarmed if you do not see the stick of butter that you expected.

Hi,

It sounds like you are in fairly good shape since you had the small applicator was used for your love handles.  Usually the "stick of butter" results are correlative to the amount of fat that you had.  Usually you see this more with abdominal fat or the large applicator than the smaller applicator.  You will still have a good result since it sounds like you didn't have a lot of fat to start off with.  The pinpoint bruises are normal and can be seen with a higher vacuum to draw the fat into the applicator.  These go away in several days.

 

Warmly,

Dr. Liu

The best predictor for a excellent Coolsculpting result is proper patient selection assessed by the surgeon. The most susceptible fat can be easily identified by your surgeon. Good candidates demonstrate consistently excellent results.

the cooling effect of coolsculpting comes from the cooling pads.  the tissue has to be "drawn up" in to the device to actually sit in proximity to these cooling pads.  the "stick of butter" is what you see if the tissue is well frozen.   Some areas respond with a more pronounced frozen effect than others.  For instance, the amount of tissue draw in the abdomen is typically better than that of the love handles.  As for the other symptoms, I would not make too much of them.  Wait, be patient, and if you are not seeing adequate results in about 8 weeks, talk to your doctor.

If you did not have the "stick of butter" after the applicator was removed it is likely that there was not adequate contact with the applicator, or that at some point the applicator lost contact. There is a way in which a technician can determine the amount of "grab" or suction. This should be monitored during the treatment