Can CoolSculpting remove my dog ears from abdominoplasty done 10 years ago?

Question

Background: I had abdominoplasty 10 years ago. I’m 62, and before RA I was very fit. Now, I still mountain bike on my good days, just slowed down. During RA flare ups, I’m still active, just very slow. About healing: I broke my arm 2 years ago. The fracture healed in 2.5 months. My doc said Enbrel and Diclofenac Sod tremendously slowed healing of the fracture. Am I a good candidate for coolsculpting?

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question. CoolSculpting is for fat reduction and will not improve the appearance of dog ears after surgery which is usually a skin issue. The best treatment for dog ears is surgical scar revision. Best wishes.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Ultimately, an examination of you would be needed to determine if you might be a good candidate for CoolSculpting or not.  Normally when dog ears form after closure of a wound, this is an issue of excess skin and not fat.  So, I think it is unlikely that CoolSculpting would make any difference to dog ears on your abdominoplasty scar.  It may be possible to improve the dog ears with a minor scar revision procedure.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

For best results with Coolsculpting, I recommend a combination approach. I recommend adding radiofrequency treatments like Vanquish, Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra for skin tightening and with Z wave/Cellutone for skin smoothing. Dont' let distance dissuade you, see an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Himansu Shah, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. It is difficult to answer your question without examining you. In general Coolsculpting helps to freeze the fat and as a result it reduces the amount of fat. It does not have any impact on your skin as it is not a skin tightening device. It is best to consult a board certified plastic surgeon to determine if you would benefit from excision or any other alternatives. Good luck.

Adam David Lowenstein, MD, FACS · Answer

It's going to be hard to evaluate your situation without a personal exam, and I recommend that you see a real plastic surgeon who is experienced in abdominoplasty as well as CoolSculpting so they know what they are looking at.  If your dog-ear is skin, then CoolSculpting is unlikely to help.  If you have fat there that is causing a bit of protrusion, then CoolSculpting can be a great answer!Best wishes, Dr. L

Can CoolSculpting remove my dog ears from abdominoplasty done 10 years ago?

Answers (5)