SculpSure or Coolsculpting for arms? Do you need more than 1 area to reduce 25% of circumference of the arm? is it permanent?

Thanks for your question. My office had had great success with CoolSculpting for the arms. We use one CoolFit applicator on each arm. Depending on how much fat is in the area we may or may not treat twice. Best wishes. 

One answer to all: SculpSure, Coolsculpting and Lipo all remove fat permanently.  The best treatment for you depends on your body type, skin quality and the result you want.  You must also ask yourself, downtime or no downtime, as CoolSculpting and LipoSuction both have few weeks of downtime. It is always best to find a board certified provider in your area for in person consultation. The bottom line, all 3 work when chosen for the right candidate. Hope this helps. Best, Dr.Avaliani

Thank you for your question. It is best to evaluate you in person to determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. However, it looks like you would benefit from treatment. Most patients need a minimum of 2 treatments for the arms to see optimal results. Please make sure you see and expert physician. Best of Luck!

Arms are not an FDA cleared area for
treatment with Coolsculpting. The FDA cleared areas for Coolsculpting include:
abdomen, flanks, inner and outer thighs and submental area (under the
chin). These are areas that have data
proven efficacy and safety. Other areas
of the body such as the arms can be treated but it is important that these
areas are examined by an experienced provider and that you as the client are
made aware that these areas don’t yet have the data proven safety and efficacy. The arms are a common area that are inquired
about. Generally we see on average a
20-30 % fat reduction following Coolsculpting with the optimal results seen at
1-3 months. The arm circumference can be
measured pre and post treatment and may decrease.

But it is only the area of excess fat that
will be treated with coolsculpting so that it is hard to predict how much the
circumference of the arm may be reduced.
However, the fat that is eliminated is permanent. Of note: the arms can be difficult to treat
as there has to be some safety precautions as to where the applicator is
placed. Also because many clients will
have some skin laxity, determining who is a good candidate for treatment can be
tricky. Coolsculpting is not a skin
tightening procedure, and it is important that this is discussed prior to
treatment.

I do not really like coolsculpting for the arms, i find the area is too variable in most patients, so that means that the coolsculpting or sculpsure applicators will not fit precisely on that area and can lead to a shelf deformity or divots.   I recommend either ultrashape followed with radiofrequency treatments for the are or Liposuction followed with radiofrequency treatments.   Both Ultrashape and liposuction allow for more customization of off label areas.   Also, loose skin is frequently an additional issue with arms, so adding a modality that tightens the skin can be helpful.  

Dear SKim214:Thanks for your question.For the past 15 years and to date, I have been underwhelmed with the use of thermal devices like light and laser (ultrasound and radiofrequency) machines to deliver fat loss particularly without pain. It is the heat created by the device that causes the pain and therefore the non-compliance of the patient to return for further or completion therapies. Without reaching the threshold temperature of 44 degrees centigrade, fat cells are not destroyed.I cannot comment on SculpSure (SS) but it is the same technology as the above.CoolSculpting (CS) is tried and true, consistent and reliable. Patients come back again and again to continue their treatments for liposuction-like results toward their non-surgical "Transformation". In both cases, CS and SS, the applicators target a "smallish" area; so, do not expect "circumferential" results until you use the applicators circumferentially in successive sessions. Liposuction is a great way to go if the surgical artist you choose has the skills and talent. It is surgery and has the risks of surgery but the benefits are fully and circumferentially contoured arms with 80 to 90% fat reduction not limited by the applicator so the transitions are smooth and the areas of lipocontouring are unconstrained. Choose your consultants and surgeons wisely. A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with Certification in CoolSculpting and a artistic manner would be my recommendation.I hope this is helpful. All the best! Happy Holidays!

Dear Skim214:I have looked into this issue carefully. Both technologies are effective and have their role, but CoolSculpting is the industry standard for reducing fat on the arms. While both treatments were developed by the well-regarded dermatologist and physicist, Rox Anderson, and both reduce fat cells by 24 to 28%, the CoolFit applicator is larger than the Sculpsure applicator, so you may end up spending more money and the same or more time to treat an equivalent area. The loss of fat cells is permanent. So you are less than your budgeted amount for one treatment with CoolSculpting and you can decide if you prefer further reduction 3 to 4 months later. Many patients are thrilled with the results of one treatment.All the best,Dr. Clark