Since CoolSculpting Freezes Fat to Kill It, Why Not Just Repeatedly Apply Ice Bags?

The CoolSculpting device has been engineered to provide controlled and precise cooling at a consistent temperature for a period of time necessary to cause a natural death of the fat cells without damaging the surrounded skin, nerves, blood vessels, tissues, etc. This is what makes the treatment so safe. There is no way that this can be accomplished by applying ice bags. Ice bags will cause inconsistent freezing at an inconsistent temperature. This will lead to the same clinical manifestations as frost bite, with damage to the skin and surrounding tissues. Please do not try anything like that.

Thank you for your question! The CoolSculpting device is engineered to provide controlled and accurate cooling at a consistent temperature for a period of time necessary to cause a natural death of the fat cells without damaging the surrounded skin, nerves, blood vessels, tissues, etc. This is what makes the treatment so safe. Do it your self treatments are dangerous and unpredictable and there is no way that this can be accomplished by applying ice bags. 

Definitely a thoughtful question.  Coolsculpting has a very high safety profile.  The reason for this is the applicator has multiple sensors that regulate the temperature on the skin.  Fortunately, fat freezes at a higher temp than skin does.  The coolsculpting device can monitor skin temperature, maintain a consistent temperature for 30-60 min, and can turn off if any damage to the skin is possible.  

We have learned that fat cells are susceptible to freezing, which is why Cool Sculpting came into existence and is the #1 largest non-invasive technology in the world. One of the reasons why Cool Sculpting is so popular is because of it’s FDA-clearance along with internal safety measures.  Fat cells have to be brought to a certain maintained for a certain amount of time for the apoptosis to occur.  Gel pads are placed on the skin to protect it from frostbite (which would occur if attempted at home with ice cubes).  

I echo the sentiments of my colleagues. You ask a bright + innovative question! However, fat freezes more quickly than water, and you don't want to jeopardize your skin integrity by applying ice bags on yourself at home. Zeltiq has done the hard work of researching and developing a safe + effective way to remove heat from your body without compromising your skin. We always encourage multiple treatments to have satisfied patients (and results take at least 6 weeks after each cycle), but we have seen very good results. Best of luck.

Medical devices that are FDA approved, have been extensively studied for our protection. Through a series of studies, the peak temperatures, times and treatments were found for Coolsculpting. Sometimes people try to replicate many different types treatments at home with homemade remedies that lead to poor results or side effects. Chose your provider carefully and ask about their experiences with a device. Good question and best of luck to you.

While the discovery of Coolsculpting came out of the observation that repeated cold exposure to an area of the body would reduce fat in the area where that exposure occured, Coolsculpting is a precise method of applying that cold over a specified amount of time under highly controlled circumstances.  The benefit of Coolsculpting occurs safely because of the physical difference between fat and water, mainly that fat freezes at a slightly higher temperature that water.  The surrounding skin is mainly water and will not freeze at the same temperature as the fat underlying it.  If you applied cold packs or ice to an area in which you wanted to reduce fat, you could easily damage the overlying skin by making it too cold and actually cause frostbite to the skin.  Also, it would be difficult to control the temperature for a specified period of time in a specific location to achieve the fat reduction result you are desiring.  That is why the precision of the Coolsculpting applicators delivers precise fat reduction results extremely safely with virtually no adverse effects.  While I applaud your ingenuity, I would not advise attempting this at home. 

Hello Jenny Chicago,
Coolsculpting was designed to kill fat cells by bringing the
fat to a specific temperature. The temperature it takes to freeze the fat cells
is much higher than the temperature of freezing or damaging the skin. The skin is
proctected during the treatment. If this were attempted for the same amount of
time with ice packs, it could cause necrosis of the skin. This could lead to
further issues, including scarring. It is important to have your treatment
completed with an experienced provider.
 
Best of Luck,
Dr. Thomas E. Kaniff

Hello,Thanks for your question. CoolSculpting delivers cold in a controlled way so that it does not damage the skin, veins, etc. If you put ice packs on your fat, you run the risk of frost bite. Plus you would find it very difficult to maintain an appropriate temperature for one hour.

CoolSculpting is a precisely engineered device that is designed to freeze fat cells to the point of triggering cell death while not harming surrounding tissue or skin. This is possible because fat freezes at a higher temperature than water does. When the CoolSculpting device is applied, the temperature is constantly regulated to ensure that only fat, and not water (which composes non-fat cells), will be affected.  There is a protective gel pad, which is applied to the skin that prevents the skin from freezing too. The lowered temperature causes the fat cells to die and, over the next 2 weeks, to be eliminated from the body. If you tried to kill fat cells by applying ice packs or another freezing device to the skin, the temperature would not be monitored and you would end up damaging the skin, and likely cause frostbite.

 Cosmetic surgery is not something you should try on your own. The consequences could be dire. Please schedule a free consultation with a board-certified dermatologist to find out how CoolSculpting can help you obtain the healthy, youthful shape you desire.

Unfortunately, applying ice bags will not work for you.CoolSculpting is an FDA approved,
non-invasive way to permanently destroy fat cells. The procedure of
CoolSculpting takes advantage of cryolipolysis which describes the targeted
destruction of fat cells through cold temperatures. Fat cells experience injury
through cooling leading to permanent removal of these susceptible cells. This
cooling can be performed without physical skin penetration; the specific cold
temperature leads to treatment of fat without causing injury to skin or other
tissues.Consult with your doctor for
further information.