Coolsculpting, no frozen mass: does that mean it didn't work?

Question

With coolsculpting... If you don't have a frozen "clump of butter" when they remove applicator does that mean it didn't work? It was red, but not a frozen glob. It was the 35 minute "new" applicator

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

The “new” applicator is more efficient and there is less suction, so that when it is removed, you don’t usually see the “stick of butter” seen with the older applicators. The tissue is frozen and stiff, but not raised up. Ideally after treatment you should be treated with Zimmer Z-Wave radial pulsed therapy, which breaks up the masses of dead cells so they can be eliminated more quickly for more uniform results. This treatment also boosts the number of fat cells that are eliminated, giving you the best result. Please find a board-certified dermatologist who’s been certified by Zeltiq as an expert; an experienced CoolSculptor’s results are much better than those of someone who isn’t skilled or expert.

John M. Hilinski, MD · Answer

That doesn't necessarily mean that you won't see a nice improvement still yet. Not everyone gets that frozen stick of butter appearance immediately after Coolsculpting. Be patient and follow the instructions of your treatment providers.

Janet Allenby, DO · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question. This doesn't mean that you won't receive a good treatment. Different areas and body types respond differently to the treatment. As long as the area was cold you should have a great response. Please consult with your provider if you are still concerned. Good luck!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

No, this doesn't mean you won't have good results. For best results with Coolsculpting, I recommend a combination approach. 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, but requires more downtime. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Andrew Campbell, MD · Answer

Just because you didn't get the "clump of frozen butter" doesn't mean you didn't get a great treatment or a great result. Let the body recover from the treatment and see your provider as planned.Andrew Campbell, M.D.Quintessa Aesthetic Centers

Vaishali B. Doolabh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi.  Your CS results with the new applicators were likely less uncomfortable and shorter (because they cool to a lower temperature so take effect more) than they would have been with the new applicators.  The "frozen mass" does not indicate efficacy and was a product of applicator  design (size, depth, shape).  Continue to workout, have a balanced diet, and f/u with your provider as instructed (it can take several weeks for any signs of an effect).  Enjoy!

Robert Heck, MD, FACS · Answer

When the applicators were updated in 2016 the shape and time were improved. When the time went down from an hour to 35 minutes for most contouring pieces, all the previous "stick of butter" references are now obsolete. Rest assured it should be fine without that appearance. best of luck!

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

The new applicator that was used for your 35 minute CoolSculpting treatment does generally not leave a "clump of butter" frozen appearance after the treatment.  The older applicators did tend to cause this though.  If the applicator was applied for the 35 minutes, your treatment should have been fine.  It can take up to 12 weeks to see results and some patients require more than one treatment to obtain the desired results.

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Hi there,We do not see the " frozen butter stick of fat" with the new applicators as much as we did with the old applicators. This is the beauty of the new technology, even less downtime and discomfort than before. I would not worry, I'm sure you will have great results. I suggest scheduling a follow up with your service provider 12 weeks after your treatment. During this follow up they will take a series of "after" photos to compare to your "original/before" photos. Seeing these pictures side by side is a great way to see the final result that you got from the treatment. Good luck!

Renee Burke, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. With the newer Cooladvantage hand piece many patients will not see the "stick of butter" that was seen with the older hand piece. This is because the new hand piece has a more shallow cup than the previous one, but has the cooling technology throughout the enter cup rather than the two plates the previous hand piece had. If you do not see a stick of butter that is totally normal. You still received the full effect of the Coolsculpting technology during your treatment. If you have any concerns I would recommend following up with your certified Coolsculpting provider. Best of luck!

Coolsculpting, no frozen mass: does that mean it didn't work?

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