Coolsculpting for Upper Arms at the Maas Clinic - San Francisco, CA

Hi,

I have always been of average weight (5 ft 6", 130 lbs) and my weight has never varied much (except when I was pregnant with my two kids). I have always had a healthy diet and relatively regular exercise. I have had disproportionately larger upper arms since I was a teen and it has always bothered me. After much research and hesitation I finally splurged and decided to get Coolsculpting on my upper arms earlier this year. The doctor I normally go to said that Coolsculpting would not work on my arms (applicator too big) and that I should try Ultrashape but the only available place near me was the Maas Clinic. I went to the Maas Clinic and they gave me the "holiday special" price of $2000 for Ultrashape for both upper arms which I paid in advance. When I went in for my appointment on April 6th, they said that Coolsculpting had just come out with a new, smaller applicator that I should use it instead of Ultrashape as they believed Coolsculpting would be more effective. I said, Ok. I probably should have shopped around for prices but I had already paid and just wanted it done.

The Maas Clinic took pictures but did not measure the circumference of my arms. That I did on my own. I measured them at 12.5" at it's largest point before the procedure. I had the procedure which was slightly uncomfortable but nothing unbearable. I had some bruising but otherwise no side effects. Three months later it was more than apparent that there had been zero results. I looked exatly the same and I had not gained any weight during this time. There was not even a millimeter of difference in measurement of the arms. I went back on July 20th. They agreed to to give me one more treatment for no additional charge but said they could provide nothing more than that if it didn't work. No credits toward additional or other treatments. Nothing. I had the procedure and it is now December and again, not even the tiniest bit of difference.

I am unhappy that the Maas Clinic did not start the consultation with the acknowledgement that people often need multiple Coolsculpting treatments to see results. They said they were very confident I would have a great result with just one treatment. When confronted with zero results after paying $2,000, their response was that I must have "stubborn fat."

I suppose this is the risk you take with these procedures but it is an awfully large waste of money. So I warn you that you should go with a clinic that 1) is honest upfront about the number of procedures you will probably need and price accordingly and 2) cares enough about your results to provide you with some decent remedies when there are zero results.