What happens if you do CoolSculpting sooner than 4 weeks in between sessions?

Question

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Body sculpting can be achieved with Coolsculpting alone, or in 
combination with tissue tightening and skin toning therapies such as 
Liposuction, Exilis Multiplane Tissue Tightening, Venus Legacy, Hidef 
Fractional laser, and the Brazilian Cellulite Treatment with Stretch 
Mark Laser. I would use Coolsculpting to address excess fat deposits as 
it is non-invasive tool that can re-establish body proportions to 
improve your body silhouette. 
We specialize in Hidef Liposuction options and Coolsculpting in our office, depending on a carefully curated protocol.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

There are two reasons to allow more than 4 weeks between sessions of Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting if you are referring to the same area. One is to allow the body to calm down and heal after the session. Although CoolSculpting is noninvasive, and you don’t have any downtime at all, you may be a bit swollen for a couple of weeks or have a little bit of pink skin for the first few days. 
The second reason is that your body needs time to eliminate all of the fat cells that CoolSculpting’s cryolipolysis technique killed. The cells don’t actually die for two weeks, and then it takes time for the body to eliminate them. I think one month is too early to repeat a treatment. There will still be inflammation and swelling at this point, which could diminish the treatment effect on the fat cells. A second treatment would be more effective in the same area if you wait until this inflammation has resolved. So, waiting those 8 - 12 weeks could save you money, too, by avoiding unnecessary CoolSculpting sessions. Please find a board-certified dermatologist to administer your CoolSculpting and request a treatment with Zimmer Z-Wave radial pulsed therapy afterward to speed up results and make your fat removal more uniform and beautiful.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This can cause an uneven result. 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. However, a Vaser with ThermiRF procedure is the best combination for a toned result, but requires more downtime. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Peter Petropoulos, MD · Answer

Hi,
I'm assuming you are asking about treating the same area in less than 4 weeks.  Primarily, the reason is to allow your body to clear the dead fat cells from the first treatment, to allow better penetration of cold to the deeper viable fat cells that are the new intended target.  Treating too quickly doesn't allow you to get to those deeper cells as effectively if there are still dead cells in the way from the first treatment.

Simon Liubinas, MBBS · Answer

It depends on the situation! The results of Coolsculpting take around twelve weeks to become apparent: your body needs time to breakdown and excrete the fat-cells that have been permanently killed and removed from the treatment area.
If you have your treatments in two different areas (for example flanks, followed by thighs four weeks later), then there’s no problem at all. Similarly, some clients have overlapping areas treated on the same day (for example, upper and lower abdomen, with a small overlapping area of fat), or even have the same area treated twice on the same day. These two situations are not a problem.
  
A problem may arise however if you begin a new treatment cycle on the same body area before the full effects of the last treatment cycle are seen. The treating specialist won’t be able to tell exactly which areas have been treated, and there is a higher chance of an uneven result. 
  
Good luck with your treatment.

What happens if you do CoolSculpting sooner than 4 weeks in between sessions?

Answers (6)

Answer: Repeating coolsculpting

Answer: Repeating coolsculpting

Answer: Generally it is best to wait until the final results have been seen before starting a new cycle.

Answer: Generally it is best to wait until the final results have been seen before starting a new cycle.

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about CoolSculpting

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What happens if you do CoolSculpting sooner than 4 weeks in between sessions?

Answers (6)

Answer: Repeating coolsculpting

Answer: Repeating coolsculpting

Answer: Generally it is best to wait until the final results have been seen before starting a new cycle.

Answer: Generally it is best to wait until the final results have been seen before starting a new cycle.

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about CoolSculpting

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.