How long should I wait postpartum (C-section) to have CoolSculpting done on my lower abdomen?

Question

I had 2 C sections, both bikini cut. No complications. I was wondering how long to wait before getting Cool Sculpting done in my abdomen area.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Janisya. We do a lot of CoolSculpting on patients who have had C-sections. Generally we recommend waiting between 3-6 months after a C-section and until you are no longer breastfeeding before proceeding with CoolSculpting. I would also recommend an in-person physical examination to make sure there are no issues in the area of your incision and treatment. This should be done by a physician and not a nurse or a tech. Make sure you find an experienced provider. Best wishes.

Yuly Gorodisky, DO, FACOS · Answer

It is best to let your body recover from pregnancy for a few months. The skin gets more elastic during pregnancy and needs time to shrink.  The fresh incision needs at least 6 weeks to heal. Also, you should not be breastfeeding when you are coolsculpting.

Maria Atkins, DO · Answer

Hi Nicole. We generally suggest that a patient waits at least 6 months after a surgery on the abdomen to do CoolSculpting. However, you may want to wait even longer if you are seeing a provider that is using an older hand piece, as those can take up to an hour for a treatment. The older hand pieces have a lot more tug and pull on the tissues. The newer hand pieces – the Cool Advantage series - do not pull on the tissue like the old ones did. They have less discomfort as well. In that case, if the physician is using older hand pieces, you may want to wait a year.

Vincent A Marino, MD · Answer

I generally recommend waiting 6-12 months after any surgery before getting CoolSculpting done in the same area. The main concern is making sure that the incisions are properly healed, there there are no post-surgical complications, and that you are no longer breast feeding. From a contouring standpoint, you may also want to give your abdomen ample time to heal and shrink down post-pregnancy before contouring. As always, seek out a physician for a consultation to evaluate you and make sure that you are a good candidate for the procedure. Best of luck!

Christopher Dannaker, DO, MPH, FAAD · Answer

There may be a slightly increased risk of having increased pain if your surgical site is not allowed to heal at least 6 months. I would for this reason, suggest wating six months or more after the C section.  Also after prtenancy, weight loss occurs and your body will remodel a bit, best to allow nature to take it's course for the 6 months and allow for you to reach a stable weight.

Mahmood Kara, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Thank you for your question, it is suggested that you wait 12-18 months post c-section to treat close to the incision site - as the scar needs to be a mature/healed scar.
Coolsculpting may irritate even old scars. It is best to have a full assessment done with a certified coolsculpting technician.

How long should I wait postpartum (C-section) to have CoolSculpting done on my lower abdomen?

Answers (6)

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