POSTED UNDER CoolSculpting Reviews
Left with Lump, Now have to consider Costly & Scary Lipo
UPDATED FROM CityGrl
Allergan -Coolsculpting Rude Customer Service
CityGrlNovember 7, 2017
$2,500
So anyone can look back at my long Coolsculpting saga which I documented here on Realself. Now spanning over 6 years--I tried Coolsculpting for abdominal area. It did remove some fat...but unevenly! It left me with a golf-sized ball which I still have till this day.
Back then my doctor contacted Coolsculpting. I dealt with Theresita who seemed empathetic. She said that they were working on a smaller, more precise applicator that may be able to target the ball without impacting surrounding area and that I should look out for that.
Flash forward to 2017---I see commercials on TV with the new small applicator which seems to be primarily used for the chin area. I once again contact Coolsculpting and dealt with Danielle who seemed helpful at first. I even sent her the link to Realself so she can see my history. She did find my case on file.
When I didn't hear back I tried again and got a rather rude response...
THERE'S NO PROOF THAT BALL IS FROM COOLSCULPTING
Ummm - yes there is. It is documented in photos and supported by the doctor who did the procedure
IT'S "CURIOUS" THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TRY COOLSCULPTING IF IT HAD THIS EFFECT
It is not "curious"...it was in fact recommended by ...your company.
WE CANT RETURN ANY MONEY TO YOU!!!!
I never asked for any money---just some help.
When considering CoolSculpting please consider that this can happen and there are MUCH worse cases than mine. Things happen--but it would be nice if they had professional customer service to guide and help you. Please also note that their satisfaction rating is much lower than 80something--If you click satisfaction for the year it's only in the 60something %. Lastly---when reading a review learn to pick out the legitimate ones. Those FABULOUS results from posters with only 1 post???? Suspect.
Then you can make an informed decision. As for me I guess I'm stuck with the uneven abdomen.
Back then my doctor contacted Coolsculpting. I dealt with Theresita who seemed empathetic. She said that they were working on a smaller, more precise applicator that may be able to target the ball without impacting surrounding area and that I should look out for that.
Flash forward to 2017---I see commercials on TV with the new small applicator which seems to be primarily used for the chin area. I once again contact Coolsculpting and dealt with Danielle who seemed helpful at first. I even sent her the link to Realself so she can see my history. She did find my case on file.
When I didn't hear back I tried again and got a rather rude response...
THERE'S NO PROOF THAT BALL IS FROM COOLSCULPTING
Ummm - yes there is. It is documented in photos and supported by the doctor who did the procedure
IT'S "CURIOUS" THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO TRY COOLSCULPTING IF IT HAD THIS EFFECT
It is not "curious"...it was in fact recommended by ...your company.
WE CANT RETURN ANY MONEY TO YOU!!!!
I never asked for any money---just some help.
When considering CoolSculpting please consider that this can happen and there are MUCH worse cases than mine. Things happen--but it would be nice if they had professional customer service to guide and help you. Please also note that their satisfaction rating is much lower than 80something--If you click satisfaction for the year it's only in the 60something %. Lastly---when reading a review learn to pick out the legitimate ones. Those FABULOUS results from posters with only 1 post???? Suspect.
Then you can make an informed decision. As for me I guess I'm stuck with the uneven abdomen.
Replies (5)
July 24, 2014
Hi there. I'm also in the coolsculpt lump team, but on my uppers abs. The most scary thing: it seems there is something hard beneath the fat tissue that is not used to be there. It has been 4 months and it is still sore. I don't know how to describe it...
I'm super sad because the lump can be seen when I use tight dresses or t-shirts. No bikini for me anymore. I'm also considering lipo, but I'm afraid even that could not fix this.
D=
July 25, 2014
Sorry to hear that---yes my lump can be seen through a snug T-shirt or dress also.
I am too afraid of surgery to have it done. Too afraid I will make things worse.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
July 25, 2014
The minute that I walk into the doctors offfice they could see the lumps through my shirt. I will only say that the pain of lipo was far less than to be disfigured on my back.
Good Luck
July 25, 2014
Hey there I'm really sorry to hear about your experience but I can completely empathise!... I underwent Coolsculpting and also suffered from the horrendous side effect known as paradoxical hyperplasia. I am in the process of seeking compensation because the area has doubled in size!! It's criminal that they are allowed to run such a procedure with such horrific side effects. They need to state very explicitly what this side effect is PRIOR to the procedure and then we can make an informed choice as to whether to go ahead or not. I know that this procedure has helped many people lose fat- but the fact that other people like us have been left worse off than before is insane! Are you taking this up with Zeltiq? I would be interested to hear any opinions of how much compensation one should be entitled to after having had an area of your body disfigured. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Cheers Sam
July 25, 2014
So sorry that you had that issue. I think I mentioned elsewhere that when I was having Legacy treatments to try and help (massage & heat) the technician mentioned that another client had CoolSculpting on her stomach and now looks pregnant! She had to schedule Lipo. I did contact Zeltiq and they basically referred me back to my doctor where I got a free session (which did nothing).
July 25, 2014
It is damged tissue and very fibrous at least that what my biopsy came back as. I will need a second lipo sesion to get rid of it all. This has been all paid for by the Dermatologist even the hospital bill and plastic surgeon. I did recieve a full refund.. My lumps were very large as well. Size of Grapefruits. I the area that they did the cool sculpting was so much smaller. Good Luck.
July 25, 2014
My Dermatologists office has documented the lumps. Size and pictures. They have refunded me my money and has paid in full for the hospital and plastic surgeon who did the lipo on me as well as a biopsy sent out. This will all go to the FDA from my doctors office. It disfigurred me pretty bad. I still will have to do one more lipo surgery. The first didnt get it all. It does grown much larger then the coolsculpting sight that was done. So far the research that my doctors can find is lipo is the only way to get rid of the Fibrous tissue. YES you doctors office should be paying for you to fix it. Good Luck. Im sorry that none of us new about what could happen. I do know that the company is aware and is changing the contract that we sign.
July 29, 2014
thanks a lot for this and good luck, hope you get back to normal size soon!!
August 11, 2014
What about Exelis? I had Lipo years ago and have on side that the skin didn't didn't lay back properly and left me with a 'bump'. I am thinking about trying that.
July 11, 2015
Hi Winnie--
I am scheduled to have corrective lipo for an area that was destroyed by Coolsculpting (added FOUR inches to my waist, lumpy etc). I was told the lipo would correct this and was excited until I came in here and began reading. My surgery is scheduled for a week from today and I am so nervous!! Can you tell me about your procedure? Did the lipo correct what the zeltiq machine did to you? I'd appreciate any feedback you would be willing to share!
Thank you so much!!
I am scheduled to have corrective lipo for an area that was destroyed by Coolsculpting (added FOUR inches to my waist, lumpy etc). I was told the lipo would correct this and was excited until I came in here and began reading. My surgery is scheduled for a week from today and I am so nervous!! Can you tell me about your procedure? Did the lipo correct what the zeltiq machine did to you? I'd appreciate any feedback you would be willing to share!
Thank you so much!!
July 13, 2015
Yes it did. However, it took two surgeries to get rid of it. Its a little painful. The doctors office that did the cool sculpting paid for both the surgeries. It was worth it to get rid of the lumps. Zeltig it aware of this side effect. Good Luck.
July 18, 2015
Coolsculpting did the same to me....left me bigger and fatter. After much research, I had liposuction done just over a week ago. So far, so good. Yes, there is some recovery, swelling, etc but even after this short time since the lipo I can see how much better I look. I am very excited for final results and believe lipo was the answer for me. If you've got lipo scheduled I say go for it!
March 2, 2016
I'm in the same boat with the "shelf" and asymmetry, one side of my belly button quite a bit bigger. I had SculpSure one week ago to address this so too soon to tell if it will help but will let you know if I see a difference over the next month.
May 16, 2016
I'm curious if Sculpsure worked for you. Coolsculpting left a bulge under my belly button and was wondering is Sculpsure can fix it
May 17, 2016
Hi D2264. I am about 11 weeks out and I am pleased with the improvement of the shelf. I didn't start to see any difference until about the 8 week point, so I was feeling frustrated that it had not worked but Between 8 and 11 weeks I started to see subtle changes each week. My stomach is now flat on the left side. I still have a little residual "shelf" on the right side. I was contemplating having one more plate done just on that right side but it has improved enough at this point I don't think I will. Even tho I still have some slight asymmetry/ shelf on that side, it's much better and I think I will leave well enough alone. Hope this helps! Message me if you have more questions!
November 7, 2017
Hi--Are you still happy with the Sculpsure? Whats the big difference between them?
UPDATED FROM CityGrl
Grand Finale of Long Saga: Coolsculpting Left Me Deformed: NOT WORTH IT!
CityGrlJune 19, 2014
Well---I had this done years ago (when much less info was available). It was touted as totally safe--(no scalpel, no syringes...I figured the worst thing that could happen is it wouldn't work). I was wrong and it left me with a lump of fat and dents above and below that lump on one side. Over the years I've tried everything I could think of: Massage...Ultherapy & Liposonix (Waste of time & $$). I tried several subsequent sessions of CoolSculpt---no change. I tried 8 sessions of Venus Legacy which I really thought would have even a slight effect (even temporary!): 30 minutes of heat, suction and massage, once a week for 8 consecutive weeks......not even the slightest effect. I've also spent on consults ($$$) with two plastic surgeons who said it looked like a bad lipo job, but they said they could fix it. Well---I just can't bring myself to do lipo...where I will get scars and risk more disfigurement. So....I guess I will have to learn to live with it. (The lump shows right through if I wear a clingy dress or T-shirt :(
Why did this happen?----who knows---the body is a mysterious thing. I think this procedure might be good for men with hair on their abs--that will distract from any unevenness--or heavier people who might be happy with any improvement. But if you are slim like me, and care how you look naked....you may want to think twice as irregularities can show up on you much more.
Why did this happen?----who knows---the body is a mysterious thing. I think this procedure might be good for men with hair on their abs--that will distract from any unevenness--or heavier people who might be happy with any improvement. But if you are slim like me, and care how you look naked....you may want to think twice as irregularities can show up on you much more.
Replies (5)
January 17, 2015
I found your post because I was thinking coolsculpting sounded like a great alternative to lipo (I, too, am 46 / no kids / fit but with a little pudge of jelly in my belly). They never tell you about it leaving bumps just like lipo. It sucks that this one procedure has ultimately turned into a saga of thousands of dollars for you.
I really appreciate you posting this -- especially the pics which are so helpful. So mysterious that one small area had clearly resistant fat cells. I'd love to read any further updates you might have, if you do decide to try anything else.
January 18, 2015
Hi--yes it is mysterious and unfortunately still there---I got it done when Cool Sculpting was pretty new and I thought the worse thing that could happen was ...nothing. I had several consults for lipo but they need to go thru the groin area (I thought maybe they could go thru belly button-but no) That sounds too invasive for me and more chances of worse things happening! I actually feel lucky as many people had worse results. You may be one of the lucky ones that has no issues but....you never know. --Good luck
April 29, 2015
Yes, totally agree with your 6.18.14 comment.
Lipo is a nightmare, we should just loose the weight and not play with nature.
I'm very scared from the liposuction, will not touch my body...but at least healthy.
June 3, 2015
I am so sorry to hear about your negative experience. Technology is moving so fast, hopefully they will come up with something that can help without costing a ton of money!
November 12, 2015
Maybe try the newest...Vanquish! It is the opposite of freezing and I have heard there is no pain. I only experienced pain in tummy not inner or outer thighs? It is a great tool to get rid of saddlebag thighs!,,
Replies (4)