Does CoolSculpting cause the fat to come back lumpy over time? Or could it make you look disfigured?

Question

I heard that if you do not exercise and stay fit after cool sculpting that is will make you look deformed.

Bhupesh Vasisht, MD · Answer

Once the fat cells are eliminated from the treated areas, they are gone for good. The fat will not return to those areas, but a healthy lifestyle is recommended to avoid the migration of fat to other areas. Optimal results can be seen within two to three months after treatment at which point you will see a beautifully contoured and smooth area. Hope this helps.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

An ideal candidate
for CoolSculpting or any other permanent fat-removal technique is
someone who is already at a good and stable weight and is committed
to a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

CoolSculpting
uses cryolipolysis to destroy fat cells by lowering their temperature
to the point where they begin to slowly die. It takes about two weeks
for the destruction of the cells to be complete and up to six months
for your body to completely eliminate the dead fat cells through the
lymph system. You may need two or three sessions to get optimal
results, with each session spaced apart by a couple of months. In
other words, CoolSculpting requires patience and a significant time
investment. You don't want to sabotage all of the effort you put into
contouring your body by then gaining weight and swelling the
remaining fat cells.
If
you did happen to gain weight, you will gain weight all over relative
to your new shape. The areas treated by CoolSculpting would still be
more proportionate to your body because the excess of fat cells in
that area would still be less.  You’ll still look better even if
you gain 5lbs or so after CoolSculpting, but certainly don’t gain
10lbs or more. You would be mad at yourself for gaining excess weight
and you wouldn’t be as happy and healthy as if you had maintained
your weight. Please find a board-certified dermatologist to find out
if you are ready for a permanent fat-elimination technique such as
CoolSculpting.

Janet Turkle, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting permanently destroys the fat cells in the treated area. Even if you gain weight, those fat cells will not come back. However, fat cells in other areas will increase with significant weight gain. CoolSculpting should never make you look disfigured. Check out the information at the link below. Thanks for your question.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Coolsculpting permanently eliminates stubborn areas of fat. If you gain weight, the fat cells that remain will get larger, but won't lead to disfigurement. If you maintain a stable weight, you will maintain your results. Keep in mind, with Coolsculpting a combination approach is needed for best results. I recommend adding radiofrequency treatments like Vanquish, Venus Legacy, Exilis Ultra for skin tightening and with Z wave/Cellutone for skin smoothing. VASER with ThermiRF is a great alternative. Dont' let distance dissuade you, see an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

The fat cells that are destroyed by a CoolSculpting treatment are permanently gone.  If someone maintains their weight, the results should be stable.  If someone gains weight, then the existing fat cells can still enlarge but this would not result in disfigurement.

Michael H. Gold, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and we always recommend that you have a consultation with a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to learn all about procedures – even CoolSculpting.  The procedure will remove fat over time and these fat cells will not come back and if you do maintain your weight and diet, there will be no disfigurement or deformities as a result of this wonderful procedure.

Dale Prokupek, MD · Answer

Hi Julia, 
Good question! CoolSculpting results in permanent fat-loss, meaning that once the fat cells are treated and frozen, they are naturally processed through the lymphatic system and permanently eliminated from the body. This natural elimination process produces more uniform results and it is unlikely to have "lumpiness" overtime with CoolSculpting. You do not need to completely change your current habits in order for the treatment to be successful, but it's a good idea to maintain a proper diet and exercise regimen for overall health. 
When gaining and losing weight your body doesn't increase or decrease the number of fat cells; the fat cells that you have are swelling or shrinking, respectively. Again, because CoolSculpting permanently kills and eliminates an average of 20-25% of the fat cells in the treated area, once the cells are gone, they are gone for good. If you gain weight, the existing fat cells in your body will just increase in size, but there will be less of these cells able to swell in the treated areas.
Hope this answers your question :)
- Dr. Dale

Edward Stokes, MD · Answer

Hi juliakatjones, thanks for your question. CoolSculpting is the first FDA approved way to permanently remove targeted pockets of fat cells from the body.  Each treatment with CoolSculpting will remove from 20-25% of the fat cells in the treated area. We have performed over 10,000 treatment hours of CoolSculpting and the results are consistently stunning, very smooth and natural looking. Patients do find that proper diet and exercise contribute to the best results, but either way, no one ends up looking disfigured or deformed from CoolSculpting. I would highly suggest that you schedule a consultation with a reputable CoolSculpting provider and see if you are a candidate.  This is a revolutionary treatment that can truly change your life.  Good luck with everything!

Garry K. Kim, MD · Answer

Hi Julia,
CoolSculpting will not make you look disfigured and will not cause lumpiness.  We often get people who have had liposuction coming to us for CoolSculpting.  The nature of liposuction can cause lumpiness, but CoolSculpting will not cause lumpiness.  Nor will it cause you to look disfigured.  If your provider were to treat one side only, then maybe.  But in general, CoolSculpting will not cause any unevenness or lumpiness.
Hope that helps,
Dr. Garry K. Kim

Does CoolSculpting cause the fat to come back lumpy over time? Or could it make you look disfigured?

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