Coolsculpting applied crooked - cause for concern?

I Would wait a full 3 months and then follow up with your physician.  If the fat looks like it was reduced asymmetrically, I would discuss treating again.  I have never used the flat applicator on the abdomen though... you should probably ask why that was the choice they made.  

Sometimes this does happen but the treatment should feather in. We have used the flat panel (cool smooth pro made for outer thighs) on the abdomen before but only in rare cases. Give it three months and do your follow up photos. Remember the Cool Smooth applicator quotes a lesser percentage of fat reduction than the suction applicators so most likely the "crooked" factor won't be a problem. Best of Luck. 

Thank you for your question. I would wait 3 full months before evaluating the results. If you are concerned or have any questions about your treatment, I would recommend speaking to your chosen provider. Regards, 

you need a hi definition 4D sculpting contouring procedure to get a flat stomach.  Non invasive options may help but I suggest a more defined/athletic look.  Best, Dr. Emer.

I have added a link that might be helpful...Hi 6281anon.  Thanks for sharing photos.  The applicators should be placed over the peaks of fatty bulges for the best results.  Having said that, there are other applicators that are commonly used on the abdomen and yield great results (Core primarily, sometimes Curve +, both come in suction and nonsuction varieties).  Once you see some fat reduction, you may need the edges smoothed out with the other applicators.  Be sure your provider is certified by the manufacturer's advanced training, Coolsculpting University-I personally would not have used a single flat applicator across your belly button.  Best wishes,

I'm assuming your area of concern is the lower abdomen where you can clearly see two peaks of fat. If those areas were included in the treatment then you will hopefully see a reduction. However, I do not agree with the choice of applicator and its placement. I would have used the suction based applicators on you. At this point you would have to wait and see what type of results you get. Best wishes.

First of all, I'm curious why the flat applicator was used on your abdomen and not the suction one.  Normally, the flat applicator is used on the outer thighs, where the suction does not draw in a significant amount of tissue.  Usually on the abdomen, there is enough tissue that can be drawn in to use the suction applicator, which may give you a better result.  The CoolSculpting procedure will only affect the fat and not other tissue, so as long as the entire area of fat you wanted treated was included in the placement, it should not cause any problem.  If the applicator missed any of the fat on one side but not the other, then there could be some asymmetry.    

Although some providers may use the flat applicator on the stomach, there is no protocol on how it should be placed on the abdomen.  The center of the applicator usually should be placed over the peak of the bulge, so you wouldn't want to put the center directly over the belly button where you have a natural depression there.  Since you already have treated the area, I suggest you wait the 3 months and see how your abdomen looks at that time.  Then you may reassess the treatment area and see if you need any further treatments to reach your goal outcome.

Not necessarily.  While it is extremely important where the applicator is placed in planning your coolsculpting treatment to transformation to optimize results, the appearance of an  applicator placed crooked may simply be the result of placement targeting the largest volume excess.  Often this is performed with a larger applicator (Cool Max), to debulk then followed by additional treatment with the smaller applicator to fine tune or sculpt.  The actual results are best assessed at 3 months to allow for maximum fat reduction .

Crooked abs are not very likely to result from your treatment, but you will need to wait at least 90 days before you can know for sure.  It appears from your photos that much of the mid and upper abdomen where treated and I suspect the result from the use of the flat panel applicator here will not reduce the fat enough to show a visible line of demarcation.  If you do see an asymmetry, return to the clinic for a dialogue on options for correction.  The applicators using suction will usually give a better result in this area if the fat is pinchable.  Best, Dr. Shafran