Can you have Dual CoolSculpting on the lower abdomen?

Question

I had two consults for CoolSculpting on my lower abdomen that has what I call a small shelf that I want smoothed out. One consult said they wouldn’t duel sculpt because there is an overlap. The other consult said you can dual sculpt that there isn’t an over lap. Both consults are from certified places. Confused which one would be best. All feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

If you have small problem areas you can use non invasive methods like coolsculpting with vanquish to get small areas of fat reduced. Skin also tightens if you combine this with exilis ultra or venus legacy radiofrequency treatments. You boost the results from coolsculpting if you add in radiofrequency. We also combine coolsculpting with radiofrequency and shock therapy like Z wave and cellutone to get even faster results, more improvement, and less risk of combinations like nodules, swelling, neuropathy or paradoxical hyperplasia. Coolsculpting often takes a f ew treatments separated 8-12 weeks apart to get significant improvement. Best, Dr. Emer.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! .. You can defiantly overlap Coolsculpting areas. With specific applicators CoolSculpting representatives require a minimum of 2 inches overlap. However, it's difficult to asses your situation due to not having any photos or having a formal consultation.

Best,
Anil Shah

Best,
Anil Shah

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Coolsculpting, like most cosmetic treatments, is a customized treatment plan for each patient and their specific concerns. Coolsculpting can be placed in various configurations to achieve the desired results and overlapping can be appropriate in certain areas, such as the abdomen, and usually more than one round of treatment is recommended. You may want to consider going to additional consultations so you can chose the provider and treatment plan that makes you feel the most comfortable and confident. Good luck!

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting is an individualized treatment and the best method to determine treatment options is by examining the patient.  There is frequently not just one method to treat an area, and each physician will have their own preferences.  It is very likely you would get good results with either method that was proposed to you in your consultations.  I would focus more on going with the office that you are most comfortable with.

Andrew Campbell, MD · Answer

First of all, I don't think it's horribly important if there is an overlap in the desired area. Everyone needs at least two treatments to get the best result. As such, you can get a dual coolsculpting treatment, then a month or two later, get a second that will overlap the area. You get the best of both worlds!Andrew Campbell, M.D.Quintessa

Michael Kerin, MD · Answer

Hi.  Thanks for the question.  No, I would not Dual Sculpt the lower abdomen.  The reason for this, is because the CS applicator uses vacuum which will pull the skin and fat from all directions.  If you have an adjacent applicator placed, in a way the two applicators will be pulling against each other.  The better way to treat the area, is to do two separate treatments, one on the left, one on the right, with small overlap in the center.  The only thing this will cost you is an extra 35 minutes of time.Best of luck!Michael Kerin MDKerin MedSpaTuckahoe, NY

Normand Miller, MD · Answer

It is interesting that you were given 2 different answers on that topic. We perform a lot of DualSculpting. However, one area where we almost never use DualSculpting is the abdomen. The main reason is that when one puts the applicator in place and applies the suction prior to starting the treatment, it will draw in the entire area that is to be frozen/ melted, thereby creating a significant pull on the adjacent area. If at the same time, you try to apply the second applicator and turns the suction on, it will start pulling on the area that has already been drawn towards the first applicator; therefore the two applicators are, if you will, fighting for the tissues between them&hellip;not a good idea. This leads to a small area of the fat collection not being treated. The only time one could do DualSculpting for the lower abdomen would be when we are dealing with two collections that are not contiguous (not touching each other); that is a very rare occurrence at that level.

Fulvio Urso-Baiarda, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Honestly, both your practitioners are probably 'right' in that there are many right approaches to a good outcome. Generally we wouldn't dual sculpt the lower abdomen as we do like to overlap the midline, but since the lower abdomen isn't usually treated on its own it is still possible to dual sculpt, by combining e.g. right lower abdomen with left upper or left flank, and then vice versa. So the treatments get done in half the time, including the overlap!

Renee Burke, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. In our office we do not DualSculpt the lower abdomen because there is usually an overlap when CoolSculpting the lower abdomen in order to avoid contour irregularities. Also, most people tend to have extra fat in the area that is being overlapped. Having this area essentially CoolSculpted twice helps achieve better results.

Scott D. Holley, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question! CoolSculpting treatment varies patient to patient based on tissue presentation, areas of concern, and the number of treatments needed. There are a variety of ways to treat the lower abdomen and different certified providers may have different ideas. It is okay to overlap CoolSculpting treatment areas as long as there is a minimum of two inches of overlap. It is difficult to assess your situation without examining you in person because everyone’s tissue presents differently. Our office almost always uses an overlap on the lower abdomen. I would go with whichever office makes you feel more comfortable and explains their reasoning for why they recommend that particular treatment plan. I hope this helps!