CoolSculpting done at home vs. in a clinic?

Coolsculpting should only be performed by a licensed, certified practice in a clinical setting.  I do not know of any portable way to perform Coolsculpting in an at home setting, and I would not recommend that.  Thank you for the question.  Find an expert practitioner who is certified by Coolsculpting, with lots of experience, to perform your treatment and you will achieve the best results.  Hope that helps.
Best,
Dr. Paul Flashner

I would use caution if anyone is offering Coolsculpting from their home as this raises several red flags.  Coolsculpting is best done when performed under the supervision of a physician, particularly if the physician has experience with body contouring.  Home made devices are not as well tested and has less science backing them.

CoolSculpting is a medical device that is only available in a clinical setting to physicians. While non-physicians can perform the procedure (persons performing the procedure still have to be certified and trained), it is not a device that can be purchased for home use.

CoolSculpting fat reduction, distributed by Zeltiq, is not a device that can be used at home. It is an FDA-cleared device and should be used under physician direction.  Gel dressing is applied evenly by an assistant over the area to be treated and the device is then applied to the skin area.  The skin and subcutaneous fat compartment is sucked into the machine and held these two or three inches in the device for one hour while two electrically-controlled cooling plates freeze the fat.

I did not realize there was a 'home version' of the Zeltiq coolsculpting device. This is an FDA approved medical device that must be used under the direct care and supervision of a physician.

CoolSculpting is a highly effective device manufactured by Zeltiq, created to nonsurgically reduce unwanted fat. It is FDA approved for use in the office setting, only. There is no at-home version available. Always consult with a board certified dermatologist with experience in non-surgical fat reduction. Thank you for your question, best of luck to you. 

I can understand the impetus behind the growing trend of DIY CoolSculpting, after all, the CoolSculpting technology was inspired by a bunch of kids sucking on popsicles. And who wouldn’t want a cheap alternative to a relatively expensive cosmetic treatment.
But, you would never believe that DIY liposuction is a good idea, even though a sharp straw and a vacuum is a lot cheaper than plastic surgery. Likewise,  it is a major misconception to believe DIY coolsculpting is safe or that  ice packs can deliver the same benefit of CoolSculpting.  
Essentially, the principle behind CoolSculpting is simple: freeze fat. But the delivery mechanism of CoolSculpting is not simple. The patented technology is quite advanced.
First of all, CoolSculpting provides precisely controlled cooling. This cooling is specifically calibrated to be cold enough to freeze fat cells, but not too cold to cause thermal injuries to skin and surrounding tissue.
Secondly, CoolSculpting uses a vacuum mechanism to isolate the treatment area, to draw up subcutaneous fat cells to the surface, and to apply a precise amount of cooling those fat cells.
CoolSculpting machines and handpieces are designed to prevent injury, from the gel pads that protect the skin to numerous built in safety mechanisms.
CoolSculpting has been clinically proven to work. DIY coolsculpting has no scientific research to indicate it works. It simply has traction on the internet. But so does the cinnamon challenge. A lot of people maybe doing it, but that doesn’t make it any less stupid.

Interesting question. CoolSculpting is an FDA cleared procedure that is not available for home use.  It should only be performed by medical professionals.  If someone is trying to get you to do their "at home" method, don't be fooled.  The actual CoolSculpting, by Zeltique, which you can receive only in a medical facility, is a highly effective treatment that will provide stunning results.  

This is a little strange.  These device are sold to medical practices.Body
reshaping can be performed with a cannula that removes fat via liposuction or
with noninvasive technology like Cool Sculpting. With Cool Sculpting there is no cannula
inserted into your body. All treatments
are performed on the surface from the outside in using technology that freezes
the fat. Don’t hesitate to give us a
call in Austin regarding a Body Reshaping Consult at the Upper Room. On our Facebook Page there is an Interview I
recently did with KVUE, a local news station in Austin, that was picked by
affiliates around the United States, including Miami. During the Interview we discussed the
technology of Cool Sculpting as well as it application process.



The discomfort from treatment does resolve. Taking
over the counter tylenol or naproxen resolves this in the majority of cases.
If you have swelling that is persistent then a waist binder is helpful.

CoolSculpting is FDA-cleared for use by trained, licensed physicians only. This is not a treatment you can administer yourself. To find a doctor in your area, go to the CoolSculpting website and use their physician locator. Best of luck!