Can upper arm "flabby" fat be reduced or eliminated with Cool Sculpting?

It really depends
on what you mean by flabby. If the flab is caused mostly by excessive
fat, then I would say yes. I have had excellent results to
permanently remove arm fat, even on myself! If the flab is caused
partly by fat and partly by skin, combining CoolSculpting with
ThermiTight might do the trick, as long as the skin is resilient.
Thermi does an excellent job of contouring the body and tightening
skin. If the flab is composed mostly of lax skin, then CoolSculpting
will not work for you, but tightening devices such as Thermi Tight,
Ulthera or Thermage would be more appropriate. Please consult a
board-certified dermatologist with a number of devices who can pick
and choose the best options to give you the best results for your
type of arms.

CoolSculpting for the arms is an off label use.  This is FDA approved for fat reduction  of the abdomen and flanks, but many offices do offer treatment of the arms. My main concern with this, is that it is possible to get an uneven result because the applicator does not always cover the entire treatment area as needed. I usually prefer Exilis or SmartLipo for this area, since the results are more consistent and predictable. I hope this is helpful.

Yes, coolsculpting works great for upper arms and is the 3rd most requested area for coolsculpting.  I would see a plastic surgery practice to make sure that you don't have excess skin that would remain after treatment that would need to be addressed.  Sometimes a brachioplasty is a better option. 

This is a great question and yes! Candidates for the back of the upper arm "flabby" area takes very well with Coolsculpting. Focusing on elasticity is very important after eliminating the fat cells with Coolsculpting as the skin naturally tends to be a less elastic. Taking a fire (RF treatment) and ice (Coolsculpting) approach to reducing this area is key- eliminating fat cells, then tightening. 

Yes, the upper arm can be treated with CoolSculpting but it does depend on the amount of volume and the laxity of the skin to determine if you are a candidate or not.  Coolsculpting is an excellent form of non-invasive  fat reduction for
the right patient. Some applicators take 1 or 2 hours but the new advantage
applicators take only 35 minutes and have significantly less risk for delayed
onset pain (especially in the abdomen). Results are seen at 2 months and
typically 1-3 treatments will be necessary on each area to achieve ideal
results. The number of treatments depends on the amount of fat there and the
patient's goals.  There is not downtime and the results can be impressive
in the right patient.  We also use the Zimmer Z-wave for improved patient
comfort and added results. The best candidates are those who are in pretty
good shape with areas of stubborn fat that won't go away no matter what.

My best,

Sheila Nazarian, MD, MMM

Beverly Hills, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question.  It is hard to say much without photos or an exam.  To answer your question, we have had a very good experience with CoolSculpting in this area.  It is a very nice way to get rid of the fat in that particular area of the body.  We have not had an issue with extra hanging skin afterward.  I would suggest that you see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon as he/she can best speak if you are a candidate for CoolSculpting vs. Brachioplasty, (arm lift).

Yes, CoolSculpting can be used successfully for fat reduction in the arms. Generally about 25% of the fat will be reduced after 1 treatment. Subsequent treatments may be required to get the desired effect. If you have a large amount of loose skin, surgery may be a better option.

Hello and thank you for your great question! The upper arm area can definitely be examined and considered for coolsculpting treatment. If the "flabby" area that you are addressing is mostly fat, you may certainly be a great candidate for coolsculpting. However, if you have a great amount of skin laxity in this area, coolsculpting would not be the best option for you. Definitely consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to get a professional opinion before making any decisions. Hope this helps!

CoolSculpting by Zeltiq is FDA approved for fat reduction of the belly and love handles. It can, however be used off label for areas such as the arms, back, bra fat, inner thighs, etc. As far as the arms go, the flabbiness can be caused either by fat, loose skin, or loose muscle. If your flabby arms are because of excess arm fat then CoolSculpting can be used to treat the area. The results of CoolSculpting to the arms is not as drastic as the abdomen or love handles, but it can provide a nice contour to the shape of your arms. It's important that you get a CoolSculpting consultation from someone experienced in treating the arms to see if you are a candidate. 

 I have had some terrific results using CoolSculpting to reduce flabby arm fat. Since Zeltiq came out with a number of new handles that can treat various contours of the body, the number of areas that respond to CoolSculpting has increased. One caveat is that flabby arms are often accompanied by flabby skin, which will not be affected by cryolipolysis. Please consult a board-certified dermatologist to find out if you are a candidate for CoolSculpting.