Bigger lower pooch and now a bulge above my belly button from Cool Sculpting. Can I benefit from Vaser Lipo? (Photos)

Question

I’m 28yrs, 4’9, 117lbs +/- 2lbs. Beside my natural weight gain with aging, I’ve always had a lower pooch, but has since gotten bigger after having done 1 round of CoolSculpting in 2021, and I now have an upper bulge above my bellybutton from that procedure. My concerns are if VASER lipo would be worth it since diet and exercise hasn’t worked (military vet and I live a generally healthy lifestyle), and how much downtime I should expect to take (I’m a helicopter mechanic and PTO is hard to come by)?

George Marosan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. CoolSculpting is known to cause PAH or paradoxical adipose hyperplasia. This is best treated with liposuction. I personally prefer to use the VASER technique due to the significant internal scarring caused by CoolSculpting. I see a lot of patients in my practice who underwent CoolSculpting with poor or no results and these are challenging cases. See a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques for an in person consultation/evaluation. Initial recovery is 7-14 days, but healing goes on for 3+ months. You will need to wear a compression garment under your clothes for 3-4 weeks. Good luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Based on your nicely posted series of photos, I would recommend any type of liposuction with combination of J plasma or Endo to tighten the skin. Fee range from $5000-$10,000. Best of virtual consult with.

Frank Soto Leon, MD · Answer

Hi there! From your description and photos, it sounds like you may be experiencing paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH)&mdash;a rare but known side effect of CoolSculpting. The good news is that liposuction is considered the best treatment for this, and options like VASER or SmartLipo could work well for you.
At your age, your skin’s natural elasticity is a big advantage. Energy-based lipo techniques like VASER and SmartLipo also encourage collagen production, which often helps the skin tighten nicely without needing any skin removal (ie no big incisions).
For recovery, most patients are back to normal daily activities within 2–3 days, with just a few exercise restrictions. Since your job as a helicopter mechanic may be physically demanding, you might want to plan for about 5–7 days before returning to full-duty work, just to be safe.
It would be worth scheduling a consultation with a board-certified surgeon who can evaluate whether the fullness is subcutaneous (which responds well to lipo) or visceral (deeper fat that isn’t surgically treatable). They can help you decide on the best approach to get the results you’re hoping for.
Wishing you the best,Frank Soto Leon, MDImagen Body Sculpting & Cosmetic CenterOmaha, NE

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I suggest you schedule a few in person consultations with plastic surgeons in your community, who have an excellent reputation in Liposuction and approving track record with lots and lots of quality before, and after pictures to show you
Sculpting can sometimes cause a reverse effect .
To make an accurate assessment, we need to know exact weight before, and after treatment and ideally a set of complete proper before, and after pictures if your provider took those.
There are a lot of variables to take the consideration .
Probably the most important variable in his provider selection when it comes to Liposuction.
Finding the right provider is not at all easy or straightforward.
I suggest having several in person consultations.
During each consultation, ask each provider to open up their portfolio and show you their entire collection of before, and after pictures of previous patients, add similar body characteristics to your own.
 Bring pictures of yourself to use as reference during the consultation,
Best,
Mats X drum MD

Bigger lower pooch and now a bulge above my belly button from Cool Sculpting. Can I benefit from Vaser Lipo? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Liposuction after cool sculpting

Answer: Liposuction after cool sculpting

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Bigger lower pooch and now a bulge above my belly button from Cool Sculpting. Can I benefit from Vaser Lipo? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Liposuction after cool sculpting

Answer: Liposuction after cool sculpting

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Vaser Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.