Can cold packs do what CoolSculpting does for the killing of fat cells?

Since CoolSculpting uses cold temperatures to essentially freeze away unwanted fat, it makes sense to wonder whether simply applying ice packs at home would achieve the same results. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. The temperatures applied during CoolSculpting treatments must be very precisely controlled to target fat cells specifically without damaging the surrounding tissue.
 

It would be wonderful if ice packs could freeze away our fat, however an ice pack will only freeze and damage the skin.Coolsculpting reaches a targeted temperature and the temperature is held at that point for enough time to eliminate the fat cell, but not to harm other tissues.All the best to you,Dr. Nancy de Kleer

Cold packs are cold enough to freeze and damage the skin. CoolSculpting is not. CoolSculpting is FDA-approved to kill fat cells with cryolipolysis — a technique patented by Zeltiq. Its cooling temperatures are sufficient to send fat cells into a slow-death cycle (apotosis), but not sufficient to freeze the skin, organs, or other tissues. 
The CoolSculpting machine also has monitors to alert the physician if the treated area is becoming too cold. Cold packs cannot be monitored, would burn the skin and cause frostbite, if applied too long, and would be unlikely to kill any fat. Please find a board-certified dermatologist to administer your CoolSculpting body-contouring procedure to get the most beautiful and uniform results.

Great Question!  Unfortunately, cold packs are not an effective way of killing fat cells, you may end up damaging your skin.  CoolSculpting uses controlled cooling (-12C) for a specific period of time to crystalize fat cells.   Cold packs simply cannot get to this targeted temperature.  Best of luck!

If only the death of unwanted fat cells were that cost effect but unfortunately it's a little more complicated than it seems. You're on the right page with the science of freezing the fat cells, however you're running the risk of exposure such as frost bite when there is direct contact between the skin and freezing temperatures. The CoolSculpting adapters are specially designed to use a combination of suction and freezing to target the underlying unwanted fat cells without any damage to the skin. It's best to seek an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Surgeon in your area, that specializes in CoolSculpting, to evaluate the areas of concern and determine the best game plan tailored to you. Good luck!

Basically, no.  You could always try, but you might also get frost bite and severely damage your skin.

No, cold packs won't be as effective as Coolsculpting. Coolsculpting is good for removing stubborn areas of fat that can't be improved with diet or exercise. However, keep in mind, for best results with Coolsculpting, a combination approach is needed. I recommend adding radiofrequency treatments like Vanquish, Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra for skin tightening and with Z wave/Cellutone for skin smoothing to improve your final results. In our office we use Coolsculpting and Vanquish for a "Fire and Ice" treatment and are getting great outcomes. However, VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF would give you best results for body shaping, but would require more downtime. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Unfortunately, cold packs will not yield the same results as CoolSculpting.  You need targeted, controlled cooling to eliminate unwanted fat cells, and this is exactly what CoolSculpting offers. Best of luck!

In a word, No. CoolSculpting is a technology based system that suctions tightly onto the body and delivers sustained and very specific cooling to permanently destroy fat cells without any damage to surrounding tissue. The temperature is not just the same as ice, and ice would not be able to maintain its temperature for long enough, or to penetrate the cold deep enough into the tissue to do any good. Nor would ice packs even remotely be able to shape the body or target complete bulges the way CoolSculpting can. There is no comparison whatsoever. 

The only way to achieve fat reduction is through very precise, controlled cooling such as the CoolSculpting technology offers. Cold packs would not get cold enough, would not target specific areas and also run the risk of harming your skin and other tissue. Please visit a trained professional if you're interested in CoolSculpting® rather than trying an at-home solution.