Can I fly on an international flight the day after CoolSculpting and is the procedure safe for the back fat area?

Question

I'm at a wellness resort in SE Asia for a few weeks and returning to Australia. I had Vanquish in my first week and have big, hard lumps in my abdomen, red angry patches of skin and quite a bit of pain. Now they are offering cool sculpting but I'm worried about going ahead especially if we can't refer back to the treating doctor because we will be in another country.

Sheila S. Nazarian, MD · Answer

It is absolutely safe to fly or do anything else after Coolsculpting.  There is literally no downtime. Have fun!Sheila Nazarian

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

there is no flying restrictions after coolsculpting however, you may have pain, swelling and bruising.  I suggest speaking to your physician.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.You are fine to fly after coolsculpting.But if concerned, just wait until after you return.The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.best of luck!Dr Schwartz

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

If you have hard lumps and angry red patches of skin, undergoing Coolsculpting is NOT recommended. This could lead to skin loss, permanent scarring, and compounding the problems you already have. (Even if they offer the second treatment for "free.")You already have had (too much) RF energy delivered to the skin to create hard lumps (scar and/or edema), as well as enough to the skin to create a first degree burn.Freezing the tissues without first allowing everything to heal is a bit like using boiling water to treat frostbite--wrong and harmful, just in the opposite direction, as in freezing after "microwaving" the skin.This has nothing to do with "referral back" to the treating doctor; this is simply bad advice. Just what kind of "doctor" is advocating this?BTW, alone (without the previous problems), Coolsculpting would be fine for both  travel and treating this area of fat. But why would you consider following the recommendation of a practitioner whose "first choice" caused you the problems you describe, and then accept "second choice?"Just say no, and wait till you're back home where you can see a real plastic surgeon. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

I would be perfectly safe to fly the day after a CoolSculpting treatment and the procedure is commonly used and safe to treat back fat.

Can I fly on an international flight the day after CoolSculpting and is the procedure safe for the back fat area?

Answers (10)