Does Cool Sculpting work on upper back and arms?

Question

I have been reading about upper back fat and many experts say that the fat on that area it's very hard to get rid of it will cool sculpting will help on that because I also read some reviews of plastic surgeons said that even with liposuction makes it hard to get rid of that kind of fat. I want to hear more opinions on that because I was thinking my self to get cool sculpting in that area. But I'm afraid that it may not work and I will end op loosing my money.

Peter J. Capizzi, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting is a wonderful non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that can be effective in treating stubborn fat. Using CoolSculpting to treat the upper back and arms can be done and can be effective, keeping in mind that these areas are considered "off label". As a practitioner, it is difficult to "guarantee" results for any treatment, especially if I have not seen and assessed the patient myself. However, I will say that all of my patients that have gotten CoolSculpting at my practice are happy with the results and many want to treat more areas of the body. The upper back and back of the arms can be difficult areas to target so it may be beneficial to consider a combination treatment of lipo with CoolSculpting after recovering from surgery. It would be best to make a consultation appointment at a board certified plastic surgeon's office near you to discuss your specific concerns.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

CoolSculpting has given us an applicator, (the CoolMini), that can be used in the bra fat area on the back, the area by the armpit, the knees, and under the chin.  Folks are very excited about this.  We have used it in our office and have very nice results.  Best to talk with your well trained, experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that does CoolSculpting and Surgery. They will have the options for you. Tell them what your reasonable goals are.  Together you will come up with a plan.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting is a great option for the upper back, bra area, and arms. It is important to see a CoolSculpting expert to get the best results.

Deborah Pan, MD · Answer

The most important factor in determining whether CoolSculpting is appropriate for any area of the body is to be evaluated by a practitioner who has extensive experience. If an area is evaluated poorly, results will be minimal. These areas are considered off-label, so a physician must direct the procedure and authorize its use in these areas.That being said, in the right patient, these areas can be treated and our patients value the non-invasive nature of CoolSculpting.Being a plastic surgeon, fat of the back can be more fibrous and therefore more difficult to sculpt with liposuction and sometimes CoolSculpting becomes a more elegant solution, bearing in mind that more than one treatment may be needed.

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting can be used to reduce fat on the upper back and the arms, but these are considered off-label uses.  You would need to be examined to determine if you might be a good candidate for treatment in either of these areas.

Linda K. Franks, MD · Answer

Stay tuned! At last month's annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, Dr Jean Carruthers presented preliminary impressive results of using Cool Sculpting to treat upper arm fat and laxity. Not only did the fat lessen, but skin in the treatment zone tightened as well.

Suzanne Kim Doud Galli, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Coolsculpting is a procedure that selectively freezes fat cells to induce programmed cell death. While treatment on the back and arms is considered an off label use of the machine, it has been effective in some patients. The only for you to know if you are a candidate is to undergo a physical examination.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

While not approved for these areas by the FDA, Coolsculpting can be effectively used for upper back and arm fat. The patient must be ideal and the protocols for these areas are still being defined.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

We have had excellent results on the arms with Coolsculpting.  I'm not certain what area you're referring to when you say your upper back.  I will say that again, we have had great results with Coolsculpting for the bra-fat and fat on the lateral aspects of the back.  To find out if you are a good candidate for Coolsculpting in these areas, it is best to have a consultation so you can be properly evaluated.  Best of luck.

Louis C. Cutolo, Jr., MD, FACS · Answer

CoolSculpting is an option for
people who do not want surgery. The beauty of CoolSculpting is that there is no
downtime, and the worst thing that will happen is ... nothing — you will get no
result. That is not true with liposuction. There is downtime, and you may (and
probably will) get some rippling and dimpling in the treated areas, especially
in the upper back area where the fat is more fibrous. CoolSculpting now has the
CoolSmooth applicator, which can be used on the areas that are fibrous, in
order to get a reasonable fat reduction. Because the treatment is not as
aggressive as liposuction, it will probably not get you the same amount of fat
reduction. Thanks for your question!

Does Cool Sculpting work on upper back and arms?

Answers (16)