Is it safe to do CoolSculpting on the face?

Question

I used to be extremely skinny, 90lbs at 5'4. When I was underweight, my face used to look very defined and slim. However, now that I've gained weight to 136 lbs, my face looks so much chubbier and irks me. I'm debating if I should starve again to maintain my slimmer face or get buccal fat removal or do cool sculpting on my face. Losing over 30lbs again is a nightmare honestly, but I really want my beautiful face back. Is it possible to do coolsculpting on the face to lose face fat?

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Hi,Coolsculpting has an applicator called the "Cool Mini" which is used for the submental (under the chin) area. That is as close as you will get to the face as far as treatment areas go. Coolsculpt is not FDA approved for any region of the facial area (aside from under the chin).

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

There is no FDA cleared applicator for the face. The CoolMini coolsculpting is done for a double chin on the fat in the neck below the chin and avoids placement over important nerves that control movement of the chin and lower lip. Facial CoolSculpting is not an approved use and might induce a nerve weakness in the cheek, mouth making it difficult to smile, speak and eat. Please avoid having this done. Some facial procedures are done to sculpt the face but carry risks as well. These are liposuction and ThermiTight.  Botox has been used to reduce the size of enlarged chewing muscles but doesn't shrink fat.See a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to evaluate your options.The information provided in Dr. Shelton's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice.  The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs.

Janet Allenby, DO · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question. CoolSculpting can be used under the chin but not directly on the face. You will need to consult with a local provider in person to determine the best course of action. Good luck!

Douglas Wu, MD · Answer

If you have a chubby face because you gained weight, your best solution is to contact a physician about a medical weight-loss program so that you don’t feel like you’re “starving.” Depriving yourself of calories only triggers your body to store them. Once you get back to a healthy weight, if you still have facial issues such as a double chin, then CoolSculpting would be a great choice. It’s not appropriate for the cheeks, however. Consulting with a board-certified dermatologist will let you find out more about how you can use noninvasive contouring to improve your under-chin area.

Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Coolsculpting is indicated and approved for the submental area (or chin) and is proven to give terrific results.  Starving yourself for weight loss is never recommended.  Best to consult with a physician who will help you with a safe weight loss plan and assess you regarding Coolsculpting options.  Best of luck.

Kyle Coleman, MD · Answer

Coolscuplting wouldn't be of any value to slim the face.  The way the device works is by a suction cup that pulls fat in and freezes it.  It works on the under chin area, arms, back, abdomen and legs.  For the face, you may be a candidate for kybella injections.   In some patients, botox can be used to create more definition of the lower face.  The only way to truly know what is best is an in person consultation.   Seek out a couple of opinions from Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Facial Plastic Surgeons, or Dermatologists in your area.  Best of luck.

Muhammad Mirza, MD (license suspended) · Answer

Thank you for your question. Fat freezing is approved to remove submental fat, or a double chin. If you're concerned about other areas of the face, I would suggest consulting with an experienced physician, who may be able to recommend other options.

Andrew Smith, MD, FACS · Answer

CoolSculpting of the face is not recommended for several reasons: *There is not enough control of how much fat is removed, and due to the shape and size of the applicator, not enough detail could be achieved. This is very important for faces.*As we age, we inevitably lose fat in our faces, which can cause sagging of the skin and make us look older. Removing too much fat from the face would accelerate this process.*CoolSculpting is permanent. If you lose weight or experience natural fat and collagen breakdown of the face in the future you run the risk of looking sickly or skeletal in the face. This prevents the face from having a youthful appearance. The only way to reverse this effect would be to transfer fat to the face, which means committing to an invasive procedure which would require general anesthesia. Overall it is not recommended. Neither is starvation! Perhaps in this situation it would be advisable to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in buccal fat pad removal to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure. Best of luck!

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting is FDA cleared to remove fat from the submental region (the chin and neck area.) It cannot treat the face. Schedule a consult with a fat reduction specialist. They can help you determine if there is any treatments available for achieving your desired aesthetic.

Tracy Mountford, MBBS · Answer

This
is a good question. As a previous doctor has mentioned, depriving your body of
calories will only trigger your body to store them more. If you are back into a
healthy weight we can address the fat pad that are appearing in the submental
area (double chin) by using one of CoolSculpting’s smaller applicators, called
the Coolmini. By treating the fat pads underneath the chin, improving the lower
jawline should create an overall slimmer appearance of the face. Some patients
also get concerned by treating this area as they think they will have a lot of
lax loose skin. The Coolmini applicator has recently been FDA cleared to
improve the appearance of lax tissue in the double chin area. We would not
advise treating any other area of the face with CoolSculpting.

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