Zeltiq CoolSculpting - Are There Any Side Effects?

CoolSculpting is an FDA approved class II medical device. It is safe for most healthy people. There certainly are some exceptions. CoolSculpting (like most aesthetic devices) has not been tested on women who are pregnant or breast feeding. Therefore, women who are pregnant, breast feeding, or trying to become pregnant are not ideal candidates. There are several other contraindications that your doctors office can discuss with you. 

In the office of Michael Law MD, we do will not perform CoolSculpting on people with the following conditions

1) Pregnant, breast feeding or trying to become pregnant
2) Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or currently suffering from any other auto-immune disorder that causes excessive pain, weakness or discomfort
3) Hernia or history of hernia in the area to be treated
4) A BMI of 34 or more (Bodybuilders or individuals with extremely muscular physiques could possibly be an exception
5) Any person currently suffering from chronic pain
6) Any person who has had body contouring surgery within the last 12 months without written consent from your physician
7) Any person who has a health condition or injury that prevents them from walking 1 mile each day
8) Individuals with a history of anorexia or bulimia in the last twelve months
9) Any person under the age of 19
10) Individuals with lymphedema or other conditions effecting the lymphatic system

Coolsculpting is one of the most popular treatments in the cosmetic industry.  There are several common side effects.  Most people do experience some numbness, swelling, possible bruising, and mild discomfort in the area of treatment.  This resolves over the first few days after the treatment though numbness can persist for a couple of weeks.  Some patients bruise easily and some patient swell easily.  It's hard to predict who will and won't so be wary that this can happen and could last 5-10 days in unlikely cases.Rare side effects include nerve pain that starts 5-14 days after treatment and usually lasts about a week but can be treated with nerve pain medications and compression devices.  Extremely rarely the coolsculpting treatment can have the opposite result and fat can increase in the area of treatment.  If this happens, it is seen within the first 3 months after treatment (this isn't weight gain).  Coolsculpting will pay for this to be liposuctioned if it happens so even this can be resolved.  Coolsculpting is a very safe procedure enjoyed by thousands.  The majority of unhappy patients either were better candidates for liposuction or they were undertreated.  We always recommend a consultation with our plastic surgeon during your visit with us to make sure we are performing the right procedure for you prior to treatment. 

Post treatment there is usually some mild redness that resolves after about an hour. Occasionally there may be some temporary mild bruising. Most patients experience some temporary numbness, tingling, tenderness, and itching, which are all completely normal. There are some other rare side effects, but those listed above are the most common. A few of the less common side effects are paradoxical hyperplasia, nerve pain, vasovagal symptoms. You should obtain a consultation so that your provider can go over these with you in more detail and determine if you are a candidate for the procedure

The most common side effects from CoolSculpting are temporary swelling, bruising, numbness, and a tingling sensation. These side effects generally last only a few days to two weeks at most, although the numbness may last for longer. Most patients are able to return to work immediately following a treatment, and are able to manage side effects easily with over the counter medication. Be sure to always see a board-certified, experienced dermatologist for any CoolSculpting treatment.

Major side
effects or complications are rare following a CoolSculpting procedure because
it is noninvasive. There are no incisions and no injections. Most patients
return to work or normal activities immediately after the treatment. You may
see some redness in the treated area, which could last just a few minutes or up
to a couple of hours. Swelling might also occur and could last a few weeks
before completely fading. A dull sensation is another known side effect,
lasting from 1 week to 2 months.

CoolSculpting is a safe way to loose fat cells in the treatment area. Side effects are minimal. Once the cooling applicator is removed,the treated area is still cold (although numb) and will appear prominent. As the tissue regains its normal temperature and with a slight massage, the normal shape will return leaving just some skin pinkness behind. By the next day, many patients do not see or feel much in the treated area; others have described a slight sense of tenderness. Because of the negative suction pressure, the treated area can appear like a “hickey” with some broken capillaries or mild bruising. Total resolution of these signs usually takes a few days, but can take up to a couple of weeks

Most side effects patients experience are minimal and usually self resolve within 2-4 weeks. The most common are swelling, numbness, tenderness and for some pins and needles(nerve based pain). Most patients resume normal routine immediately after treatment. Good Luck!

Thanks for your question. General side effects from CoolSculpting include tenderness, mild bruising, numbness and swelling in the treated area that can last 1-2 weeks. Some people have had moderate discomfort but for the most part our patients have tolerated this procedure with little discomfort. 

The side effects most patients experience are tenderness in the treated area which usually subsides in a few days, some experience numbness or tingling, and swelling can also occur. But none of the side effects typically interfere with daily activities. 

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive procedure which produces impressive results for patients who are looking to reduce fat in targetted areas like the abdomen, flanks, and thighs. Patients will receive a physical exam and complete a comprehensive health history before CoolSculpting can be recommended to be sure that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure. Patients who are pregnant, breast feeding or considering getting pregnant should refrain from treatment until after those conditions are present. Patients with certain health concerns will not make good candidates and may be better served by liposuction or possibly diet and exercise.

                  Coolsculpting
represents a significant advance in the management of localized fat
collections. The procedure is associated with high satisfaction rates and
minimal side effects.

                  A
small number of patients experience bruising and swelling which spontaneously
resolves in 2-3 days. Occasionally, patients experience pain which is often
described as dull and achy. This also resolves quickly.

                  Rarely,
nausea can occur when abdominal coolsculpting is performed and is probably
secondary to traction on the abdominal contents. This is fortunately uncommon
and quickly resolves on its own.

                  At
this point in time, no long term complications have been associated with this
procedure. The procedure is associated with high
satisfaction rates and is an excellent option for treating localized adiposity.