Does coolsculpting physically remove fat cells from your body or just shrink them?

Coolsculpting is designed to gradually kill fat cells through a process called cryolipolysis. Stubborn fat cells in a localized area are treated, freezing the cells and sending them into a slow death. Over the course of 1-3 months these dead fat cells will be gradually eliminated from your body, so they are permanently removed. Coolsculpting can effectively kill 20-25% of fat cells in an area per treatment. Hope this helps.

Zeltiq's
CoolSculpting system uses a patented technique called cryolipolysis
to send fat cells into slow cell death (apoptosis) by lowering their
temperature to the point where they freeze. The drop in temperature,
however, is not enough to adversely affect surrounding tissue because
fat cells are more prone to cold injury than other cell types. The
cells take days to weeks to die. After the cells have begun to
destruct, their components are consumed by macrophages, which are
part of our lymphatic system and are designed to digest and expel
cellular debris. The cell components are then excreted from the body
via the urine. Thus, the fat cells have not been shrunk, they have
been destroyed and removed from the body. Long-term studies suggest
that these cells cannot re-appear. However, if you over-eat, the fat
cells that remain in the area treated by CoolSculpting can expand,
leading to the development of another fatty deposit. That's why it's
so important to be committed to a healthy diet and exercise regimen
even before having a CoolSculpting treatment. Please find a
board-certified dermatologist who has been certified by Zeltiq as a
CoolSculpting practitioner to remove your stubborn fat so you'll be
beach-ready by summer. 

Coolsculpting is a painless outpatient treatment that treats stubborn fat area by placing an applicator that cools the treated area. Over a period of 1 to 3 months 20 to 25% of the treat fat cells will be lost permanently. Full result take from 1 to 3 months to occur and for best result a 2nd treatment may be required.

Hello and thank-you for your question
Our office offers both Laser Lipolysis, which is a more invasive surgical procedure involving liposuction and the non-invasive alternative Coolsculpting. CoolSculpting is a great, FDA-approved treatment for fat reduction of the abdomen and flanks. Coolsculpting relies on Cryolipolysis due to the fact that fat cells are more sensitive to cold than are other tissues. We utilize the new Cool Advantage applicators which are much more comfortable and reduce treatment time to 35 minutes. The advanced cooling technology selectively targets and eliminates fat cells gently and gradually without affecting the surrounding tissue. Patients in our office have seen an average fat reduction of 20-25% with each treatment. Depending on the patient's body composition and outcome goals, it generally takes more than one treatment to achieve optimal results. A second treatment is general scheduled 30 to 45 days after the initial treatment. It takes about 2-3 months to get a general idea of the final results. The results are long-lasting as long as you maintain a stable healthy lifestyle. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon well versed in all options for body contouring to determine if you an ideal candidate for CoolSculpting.
Best regards,
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Thank you for your question. Coolsculpting permanently eliminates 20-25% of fat cells per treatment. With the use of a cooling technology, fat cells in the treated area are frozen leading to cell death. These cells are then naturally eliminated from your body.Regards,

A Coolsculpting treatment will destroy up to 20% of the fat cells within the treated area. Keep in mind, for best results with Coolsculpting, a combination approach is needed. 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 if you want a more contouring and defined look. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Hi Rob1701.  The fat cells are killed by the extreme cold temperatures and eliminated by your body as any other dead cell.  Coolsculpting results take awhile to manifest as the cells are being cleared.  Gaining weight will enlarge the remaining fat cells.  Be sure to see a certified CS specialist, as applicator selection and placement is central to good results, along with proper patient selection, and post-treatment massage.  Best wishes,

Hello,Thank you for your question. CoolSculpting kills the fat cells and then they are naturally disposed of over 2-3 months. Similar to lipo, they will be gone.

CoolSculpting eliminates fat cells from your body by a process called apoptosis.  The cells are killed at the nucleus and are eliminated by your body just as if they died naturally.  Since you do not make new fat cells after adolescence, those fat cells are gone forever.  You still have to pay attention to diet and exercise, however, as you can accumulate fat in cells that remain.

Thank you for your question. Coolsculpting permanently destroys up to 25% of fat cells per treatment. Fat cells in the treated area are frozen leading to cell death, with the use of cooling technology. These cells are then naturally eliminated from your body. I recommend having a consultation with an expert to determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. Best of Luck!