Do you expect with applicator modification that coolsculpting could reduce thick ankles?

For now, an area like the ankles isn't treatable in the foreseeable future for exactly the reason you mention with the cooling panels/plates.  The tissue in the ankle area isn't lack and compressable enough to draw into an applicator to treat.  Drawing the tissue into the applicator as opposed to focusing the cold straight down into tissue is not only more effective but much safer as well.