Why do doctors dislike "home CoolSculpting" ice pack self treatment?

While the idea of CoolSculpting may have been inspired by noticing the diminishment of fat in the cheeks of children who ate popsicles, the CoolSculpting system does more than apply ice to fatty areas. CoolSculpting by Zeltiq lowers the temperature of the fat enough to send it into a slow-death cycle, but does not freeze or damage the skin or other organs. The applicators constantly monitor the temperature of the skin to be sure that it will not be damaged.  Also, remember that popsicles deliver cold temperatures to the inside mucosa, close to the deep fat. It is not possible to get the same results through the outside thicker skin and fat layers.
Applying ice directly to your skin could create long-term skin sensitivity, and may even cause freezer burn on the skin. And yes, it would be possible to develop frostbite if you applied the ice packs for too long. No physician can back a technique that has so much potential for harm. Also, ice packs cannot sculpt the body in the way that the CoolSculpting handles can. Even if you didn’t damage your skin, you could end up with oddly misshapen results. Please find a board-certified dermatologist to administer your CoolSculpting to get a beautifully contoured shape without risking damage to your skin.

aguy38. Thank you for your question.  The danger of home ice pack treatments is you take the risk of not only reducing Subcutaneous fat  but simulateneoulsy destroying the skin.  Necrotic, dead skin,  is a major medical problem.   Coolsculpting is safe as it does not harm the skin but directly goes after the fat.