Is It Ok to Do Coolsculpting in Two 30 Minute Increments, Two Days Apart? Adverse Effects? Effectiveness?

Question

I went in for coolsculpting - about 30 minutes through the treatment the applicator came off. 5 minutes later, the assistant came in and took the applicator off, then the doctor came in and said they needed to get the area back to normal body temperature to resume, she said that would take 15 minutes. 45 minutes later, after having tried ultrasound to warm up the area, it was still not warm enough. Doc said I could stay and wait, or I could come back in two days, but I'm concerned.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

I am aware that some doctors have reapplied the applicator immediately after a full cycle to do an immediate second treatment on the same area but this is an off-label procedure of which I have had no personal experience to-date. Many doctors will perform a second treatment at four weeks to six weeks after the first and even a third treatment four to six weeks after the second treatment.

	Usually if there is a "pop-off" of the applicator and the staff is alerted, it can be reapplied readily in the early treatment (the first ten minutes of the cycle) but half way through when the skin is hardened, the applicator may not fit well so that is why your doctor wanted it to thaw before reapplication and this is what is uncertain.

Michael Law, MD · Answer

In order for CoolSculpting to be effective a treatment must last at least 50 minutes. Consecutive 30 minute treatments will not provide results.

Daniel Shapiro, MD · Answer

A typical treatment can last between one and three hours.Patients can wait 4 months before having another session. However, it has been found that those who re-treat at the 4-6 week mark are happier because they can see a stronger, cumulative result of the sessions.

Steven Hacker, MD · Answer

We always treat patients with a one hour cycle. I am unaware of thirty minute treatment cycles and this is not used in our practice.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

For a Coolsculpting cycle to be effective you need a continuous 60 minute cycle.  2 30 minute cycles are not equivalent to a 60 minute cycle.  Results are achieved by freezing the fat cells and keeping them at that temperature for a fixed period of time.  If that time period is insufficient the fat cells won't die and the treatment will not be effective. You may retreat an area with another 60 minute cycle if you desire additional improvement but we don't recommend doing so for at least 8 weeks.  If you are going to return to have the original cycle repeated it should be for 60 minutes, regardless of how long your initial treatment was.

	Good luck~

	Dr. Grant Stevens

Is It Ok to Do Coolsculpting in Two 30 Minute Increments, Two Days Apart? Adverse Effects? Effectiveness?

Answers (5)