Is it possible to develop paradoxical adipose hyperplasia in one area only after all other areas treated had no issue?

Hello clanni23,Swelling, firmness and tenderness is common in the first few days after CoolSculpting so too early to jump to any conclusions. PAH is rare and we don't know what causes it so it may be possible to happen in an isolated area and not in all the other areas that have been treated. Monitor your recently treated areas with your provider.Congratulations on having your procedures, especially your upper arms which were recently approved as a treatment area.Best of luck,Oscar A. Aguirre, MDAguirre Specialty Care - Pelvic Surgery & Intimate Aesthetics®

Hyperplasia side effects aren't seen for about 3 months after being treated. Sounds like you have some swelling to the area that has been treated, which is normal. Hyperplasia isn't common on the arms or with the smaller applicator. It generally is on the lower abdomen with the larger applicator. I would follow up with the office you were treated.Best of luck!

Having had previous cool sculpting  has not been clinically proven to increase your chances of PH for subsequent treatments. I'm sure your treating physician or nurse told you about arms being off label still at this time so though I don't think one day after treatment you should be worried about PH, if it's extremely swollen and hard I would be seen by the nurse or doctor. We do not typically have those symptoms the day following cool sculpt. Best of Luck. 

Hyperplasia is rare but can occur in any areas of coolsculpting. Moderate swelling, which can be asymmetrical, is normal after Coolsculpting and should resolve in several days to weeks. Coolsculpting results can take up to 3-4 months. 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 the best alternative if you want a more contouring outcome.  If you have someone that has PAH you should send them to a physician like myself that treat this complication with liposuction.Best, Dr. Emer

It would appear that there are two issues here. First, PAH(Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia) is extremely rare, and only presents in .01% of patients(1 in 10,000) treated with CoolSculpting, and would most likely not be seen until around 90 days post treatment.  But, to answer your question from a strictly medical perspective, and in no relation to your situation, it is possible to get PAH in only one area, even if other areas have proven to be fine post treatment.  The most common area would be in the abdomen, and PAH is rarely ever seen in other parts of the body. At
At the time of posting this inquiry, you are one day post treatment  and this much too soon to even begin to think about PAH as a possible outcome.  Post treatment, It is very typical that an area will be swollen on one arm and not the other, or one area may feel harder than the other.   This is very common and is not in any way a determination that PAH is going to be the outcome. Give yourself some time to see what is really going to happen after these latest treatments. It would be a good idea to have a follow up visit with your Coolsculpting provider after 1 month or around 6 weeks. Good luck with your results, and thank you for your question!

Thank
you for your question. It is too extremely rare and too soon to develop
paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. Having moderate swelling is normal after
Coolsculpting and should resolve in a few days. It can take up to 3-4 months to
see results of Coolsculpting. If you still have concerns please contact your
treating physician. Best of Luck!

It will not develop in one day.  Please return to your provider for an examination of the area.  This should represent swelling after treatment.

People who get paradoxical hyperplasia don't get it within days of treatment. It is a slowly evolving process over several weeks or months. I wouldn't be concerned at this point about it. It happens about 1/10000 treatments. I think that since you have had successful treatments in the past, you are probably less likely to get it as well. Make sure you use the Cooladvantage handpieces and Z Wave to get best results.

Hello clanni23,I have not seen nor heard of any data to support the hypothesis that previous cycles of CoolSculpting can increase ones risk for PAH which is a rare occurrence in and of itself. Additionally to have it appear on the day after your treatment is not likely. However swelling and tenderness are common in the first few days and is not always symmetrical. Be sure and let the professional who did your treatment know your concerns so that it can be followed accordingly. Be well.