Are Coolsculpting results TRULY permanent? Also, are repeated treatments safe?

Hi. Once fat cells have died, they are eliminated by the body.  New fat cells are generated with significant weight gain (around >30 lbs)-including pregnancy.  Difficult to predict where fat cells grow, but yes, may in a previously treated area. This is less often with liposuction as the surgical scarring helps to resist regrowth in the same areas.  Remaining fat cells are normal and can also get larger with lesser weight gain/hormone fluctuations/aging--this is all normal and cannot be predicted nor prevented. Repeat CS in the same area is safe and should be undertaken if there is significant fat thickness. No reported association with increased cancer risk and CS. As long as your body is aging and changing, no treatment is "permanent"-there is still a significant investment in lifestyle management to get favorable long term results. Talk to your CS provider in depth about your expectations so that you are not disappointed. Best wishes, Dr. Doolabh

Yes, Coolsculpting results are permanent.  The number of fat cells that die as a result of the treatment can never come back.   If you gain weight, then the remaining fat cells can get larger but the fat cells from your treatment are no longer there.  Coolsculpting has been on the market for 9 years and there haven't been any reports of cancers as a result of the treatment. 

Thank you for your question.  Coolsculpting is a great way to shape the body from unwanted pockets of fat.  If done in an artistic fashion, it can help to dramatically shape the body.  Regarding longevity.... Coolsculpting works by permanently destroying fat cells, and as an adult, our bodies do not normally generate new fat cells.  However, any remaining fat cells can either store more energy (i.e. get larger) or release energy (i.e. get smaller).  Thus fluctuations in weight can influence your results.  The most important thing is to find a trusted provider who can determine if you are a candidate for Coolsculpting or if different options can provide better results.  I would visit with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in non-invasive, minimally invasive and surgical options for your concerns. 

Coolsculpting is an amazing find in research to help people get to their next targeted goal! These results are proven and safe with no surgery. Do you have stubborn fat? Coolsculpting will help target these areas killing off the fat cells. Once a fat cell is crystallized (frozen at -11 degrees celsius) they are destroyed fat cells that can not and will not recover. These fat cells are gone for life. This doesn't mean that the remainder of fat cells can not expand or contract but now having fewer fat cells in a stubborn area will help you reach your goal. This is a very safe procedure and more safe than other alternatives because nothing else like vessels for example aren't interrupted or damaged. Only the unwanted fat cells are destroyed.

Coolsculpting permanently kills a percentage of fat cells through Cryolipolysis which are eliminated from the body and are gone for good. You typically lose 20-25% of the fat in the area treated, each time you treat.  I have done it to myself and my staff.  It is truly effective and has no down time.
Best of Luck,
Sheila Nazarian

Once the fat cells have been eliminated by CoolSculpting or any other fat-cell-killing technique, they are gone for good. They will not regrow after pregnancy nor after 10 years' duration. However, if you gain weight, the fat cells that are left behind may stretch to accommodate the extra fat. It is important to maintain the good results you obtained with CoolSculpting by maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen. There are no known long-term side effects or risks with CoolSculpting. Please consult with a board-certified dermatologist to have all of your concerns addressed and find out if CoolSculpting is right for you.

The quick answer is yes, the fat cells that reach the designated cooling temperature are gone. You do need to remember that CoolSculpting is not meant to be a weight loss procedure, but a fat pocket targeting procedure.Patients who show the best results are those who are close to their ideal weight who have isolated areas of fat accumulation that are not responding to exercise or diet. Fat cells themselves do not multiply, but they can expand and weight gain that is not muscle will certainly enlarge fat cells over the entire body, including in the same areas where you were treated.The treatment is FDA approved and safe. The affected fat cells disintegrate slowly and are swept out of the body in a way that does not trigger increased blood fats.The skin does not "freeze" at the same temperature as fat cells, so no collateral damage occurs. There has been no correlation to cancer risks.

Hello and thank you for your question. The fat cells that get frozen off in a coolsculpting treatment are permanently eliminated from your body. In a best case scenario, you can expect up to 35% of the fat cells in a treated area to be permanently frozen. However, if you gain weight, other fat cells in the area can increase in size which will mask the results of your coolsculpting treatment. That is why it is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise so you can get the best results from your coolsculpting procedure. There is no harm in doing multiple treatments to the same area. It is done often. There have been no long term adverse effects with the coolsculpting treatment, but please remember that the treatment is still very young (only a few years old). It is important that you discuss everything with your provider prior to committing to a coolsculpting treatment. Hope this helps!

CoolSculpting is a treatment for subcutaneous fat pockets.  Once the fat cells are frozen, they are naturally processed by the body and eliminated from the body.  Once the fat cells are gone, they're gone for good.  As an adolescent your fat cell number is already set.  As we get older we make those fat cells grow by gaining weight or shrink by losing weight.  So no the fat cells do not regrow or multiply.  Repeated treatments to the same area are safe.  You should be reevaluated by the CoolSculpting provider after the first two treatments to reevaluate the area to see if more treatments are needed.  If there is no longer pinchable fat in the area, then the treatment is not needed again in the same area.

Coolsculpting permanently destroys fat cells. As long as you maintain a stable/healthy weight, you'll maintain your results. Most patients opt to get re-treatments in the same area for maximum results of up to 40-50% fat cell reduction.  I suggest scheduling an in-person consultation with a physician so you can be evaluated and given recommendations.