Why does my stomach look and feel fatter after the second treatment of CoolSculpting?

Question

1st treatment on Oct 3, 2017 was 2 big V-shape on lower abdomen & each arm. 2nd treatment on Nov15 on arms and upside down Vshape on abdomen. It's now 2 1/2 months after the second treatment and I'm feeling much bigger like my stomach is still swollen/bloated, like all the fat gathered up in that area. Also, I'm getting fat on my sides like I've never had before. What's going on? Seems like my body has gotten worse!

John Tang, MD · Answer

I am a little confused if you did do the Coolsculpting.  If it was done and you are bigger than you started, then I would consider the following:I would check the weight to make sure that there could have been extra weight gain that could explain the added fat.If you feel bloated I would check our digestion/diet to rule out internal issues causing the bloating which can cause the stomach to become bigger.If the 2 above are not the reasons then I would consider PAH - paroxysmal abdominal hyperplasia - a condition that has been linked with Coolsculpting.  It is rare but can happen and there are published case reports.  I have only seen 1 in my practice in over 5 years but it can happen.  If this did happen, you will need to go to the place you had your Coolsculpting done and report it.  The Coolsculpting company will provide support in many ways if indeed this is the case.

Hung William Song, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for asking this question. It is not clear from your question whether you had CoolSculpting or V-Shape. These are two different technologies. There are two possibilities: One is that you simply gained weight and since these non-invasive treatments do not remove all the fat, the remaining fat may have increased in size due to weight gain. The other possibility is a rare side effect of CoolSculpting called Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH). After a CoolSculpting treatment, the fat cells, instead of being destroyed, actually increase in size. I am not aware of any reported cases of PAH with V-Shape but it is definitely a real phenomenon with CoolSculpting. In fact I was one of the people that this happened to. The best way to treat this is with power assisted liposuction. Vaser or Tickle Lipo are the best techniques. I use the Tickle Lipo to treat these on patients who come to me for this condition. Since I couldn't do lipo on myself, I used a new non-invasive treatment called Sculpsure. After two rounds of Sculpsure, I was able to successfully treat my PAH. You should return to the practice where you were treated to see if any of these options are available to you or find a practice that has experience in treating PAH to correct this.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is not clear whether you had Coolscuplting or V-Shape as these are two different technologies. However, there are two possibilities of the effects you are experiencing. First, the remaining fat you have may have increased in size due to weight gain and second is a rare side effect of Coolsculpting called Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH). I recommend having a follow up with your treating physician for an evaluation and treatment. Best of Luck!

Why does my stomach look and feel fatter after the second treatment of CoolSculpting?

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Why does my stomach look and feel fatter after the second treatment of CoolSculpting?

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Everything you need to know about CoolSculpting

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