If Coolsculpting kills fat cells, why doesn’t it result in any weight loss? (Or is it so small, it’s generally insignificant?)

Question

And Does this mean that, if i maintain my weight, the fat is just redistributed over the body in the form of other fat cells enlarging to compensate?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Body sculpting can be achieved with Coolsculpting alone, or in 
combination with tissue tightening and skin toning therapies such as 
Liposuction, Exilis Multiplane Tissue Tightening, Venus Legacy, Hidef 
Fractional laser, and the Brazilian Cellulite Treatment with Stretch 
Mark Laser. I would use Coolsculpting to address excess fat deposits as 
it is non-invasive tool that can re-establish body proportions to 
improve your body silhouette. 
We specialize in Hidef Liposuction options and Coolsculpting in our office, depending on a carefully curated protocol.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Paul S. Nassif, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. CoolSculpting is a great treatment for "sculpting" the body and targeting areas with stubborn fat. With each area treated, the targeted fat cells are eliminated by the body as waste, not redistributed to other areas. Although CoolSculpting results in a loss of fat, it is not meant as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.

William Groff, DO · Answer

CoolSculpting is a body-contouring technique that only removes about 25 percent of fat at a time. It’s meant to sculpt your figure, not help you lose weight. While you may lose a little weight with CoolSculpting, it is insignificant. Think in terms of inches, not pounds. Be sure to consult a board-certified dermatologist who can help you get the figure you want.

James R. Koehler, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting uses cryolipolysis, a cooling technology, to freeze and destroy fat cells. Once destroyed, the fat cells are excreted during the body’s natural metabolic processes. This means that the destroyed fat will not redistribute around your body or cause existing fat cells to expand. The best candidates for this nonsurgical body contouring procedure are already at their ideal healthy weight. They use CoolSculpting to smooth out areas of the body where diet and exercise resistant fat congregates. Although CoolSculpting eliminates fat, you’ll notice it more in how your clothes fit or how your contours have improved. Don’t expect the number on the scale to change.

Lisa Airan, MD · Answer

This is a great question I am asked often! We like to use the analogy of comparing fat cells to cotton balls because the cells are light weight and “fluffy.” The percentage of fat reduction achieved with Coolsculpting does not equate to pounds lost on the scale. This technology is best for reducing stubborn pockets of fat and not necessarily for patients looking to lose a substantial amount of weight.

Shehla Ebrahim, MD · Answer

The amount of fat that is killed by each Coolsculpting treatment is approximately 20% or a tablespoon. This is not enough to see significant weight loss in numbers. Coolsculpting does not replace diet and exercise. It is used to target stubborn areas of subcutaneous fat that do no respond to diet and exercise.

Rosalind Jackson, MD · Answer

Coolsculpting is for shaping the body not losing weight.  There is not enough fat that can be destroyed to show a difference on your scale.  You will see a result with how your clothes look on and off but not on the scale.  With one treatment you can destroy 25% of fat cells and more with more treatments. 
You should have real expectations and discuss this with your provider before having the procedure done.

Peter Petropoulos, MD · Answer

Even Coolsculpting kills enough fat to make significant aesthetic changes, it's not enough to move the scale significantly.

Martin Everhard, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Fat has a very low density and the amount of fat removed after CoolSculpting(R) does not weigh very much but should result in a better contour.

Jill Hazen, DO · Answer

Thank you for your question. Coolsculpting is not a weight loss solution. It eliminates 25% of subcutaneous fat only to the treated areas. It may result in loss of inches but not necessarily in weight loss.

If Coolsculpting kills fat cells, why doesn’t it result in any weight loss? (Or is it so small, it’s generally insignificant?)

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Answers (14)

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