CoolSculpting: Does It Work? - Healthline

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Does CoolSculpting Work?

Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D. — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on April 19, 2023

How does it work?
Effectiveness
Common side effects
The risks
Who does it work for?
How long do results last?
Is it worth it?

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive medical procedure that removes excess fat cells. There are studies to support its efficacy, but it may not work for everyone and has both pros and cons.

CoolSculpting‘s popularity as a fat removal procedure is increasing in the United States. It received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010. In just 3 years, CoolSculpting treatments increased by 823 percent, according to a 2013 study.

While there have been many studies illustrating its effectiveness, like most cosmetic procedures, there are pros and cons to getting CoolSculpting — and it doesn’t always work for everyone.

How does it work?

CoolSculpting uses a procedure known as cryolipolysis. A roll of fat is placed between two panels that cool it to a freezing temperature.

Some people who do CoolSculpting opt to treat several parts of the body, usually the:

thighs
lower back
belly
sides

CoolSculpting is also supposed to reduce the appearance of cellulite on the legs, buttocks, and arms. Some people also use it to reduce excess fat underneath the chin.

It takes about an hour to treat each targeted body part. Treating more body parts requires more CoolSculpting treatments to see results. Larger body parts may also require more treatments than smaller body parts.

Effectiveness

While the advertisements for CoolSculpting would have you believe it’s 100 percent effective and safe, like most cosmetic procedures, there’s a bit of a range when it comes to effectiveness for the general population.

According to a small 2018 study analyzing the clinical efficacy of cryolipolysis, the procedure “is safe and effective in reducing the fat layer and improving body contouring.”

However, it’s important to note that this particular study was partially funded by a company that makes products that are used in CoolSculpting.

Another smaller study from 2016 also found CoolSculpting to be effective, with 77 percent of participants reporting visible fat reduction. But this study was also funded by a manufacturer of CoolSculpting products.

An older analysis from 2014 that was not funded by any CoolSculpting manufacturing companies found cryolipolysis to be relatively effective, stating that improvements were seen in 86 percent of treated participants across a variety of studies.

However, the authors also point out that “body contouring studies” aren’t that easy to carry out because of the high variability in terms of participants and their fat loss.

So while not completely effective 100 percent of the time, CoolSculpting is relatively effective for the general population.

Just keep in mind that individual barometers of “effective” may vary, especially when it comes to the amount of fat lost.

Common side effects

According to the CoolSculpting website, there are some possible short-term side effects that may occur on or around the part of the body undergoing the procedure. These can include:

redness
bruising
stinging
firmness
tingling
tenderness and aching

People who get CoolSculpting around their neck area may also experience a sensation of fullness in the back of their throat.

What are the risks of CoolSculpting?

In very rare cases, CoolSculpting may lead to an increase in the volume of fat cells in treated body parts (known as paradoxical hyperplasia) a few months after the procedure.

According to a 2014 report (which, again, was connected to a manufacturer of CoolSculpting products), paradoxical hyperplasia was seen in less than 1 percent of reviewed cases.

This side effect is serious enough to warrant additional surgery to fix it, so it’s an important one to keep in mind.

There may be other risks depending on your medical history. Because of this, it’s a good idea to talk with your primary care doctor about CoolSculpting before making an appointment.

Who does CoolSculpting work for?

CoolSculpting is not for everyone.

It is not a treatment for people with obesity. Instead, the technique is appropriate for helping remove small amounts of extra fat resistant to other weight loss attempts, such as diet and exercise.

While CoolSculpting is FDA approved for reducing small areas of body fat in many people, there are some people who should not try CoolSculpting.

People who have the following conditions should not do this treatment because of the risk of severe complications. These conditions include:

cryoglobulinemia
cold agglutinin disease
paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH)

Whether or not you have these conditions, it’s important to talk with your doctor before seeking out a plastic or cosmetic surgeon to perform the procedure.

How long do results last?

Your CoolSculpting results should last indefinitely. That’s because once CoolSculpting kills off fat cells, they do not come back.

But if you gain weight after your CoolSculpting treatment, you may gain fat back in the treated area or areas.

Is CoolSculpting worth it?

CoolSculpting is most effective with an experienced doctor, proper planning, and several sessions to maximize results and reduce the risk of side effects.

It’s also important to note that many of the studies touting its benefits and safety have been funded by companies that have a vested interest in the procedure.

While this does not mean many of these studies are false, it’s an important caveat to keep in mind.

When it comes to fat loss procedures, CoolSculpting does have some benefits over traditional liposuction:

it’s nonsurgical
it’s noninvasive
it requires almost no recovery time

You can drive yourself home after your treatments and return to your regular activities right away.

If you’re considering CoolSculpting, carefully consider the benefits against the risks, and talk with your doctor to see whether it’s right for you.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Alizadeh Z, et al. (2016). Review of the mechanisms and effects of noninvasive body contouring devices oncellulite and subcutaneous fat.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5236497/
Does fat freezing yield results similar to liposuction? (2013).http://www.surgery.org/consumers/plastic-surgery-news-briefs/fat-freezing-yield-results-similar-liposuction-1051795
Ingargiola MJ, et al. (2015). Cryolipolysis for fat reduction and body contouring: Safety and efficacy of current treatment paradigms.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4444424/
Jalian HR, et al. (2014). Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after cryolipolysis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4171727/
Keaney TC, et al. (2015). Delayed onset pain associated with cryolipolysis treatment: A retrospectivestudy with treatment recommendations.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26445290
Kilmer SL, et al. (2016). Safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for non‐invasive reduction of submental fat.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5396277/
Krueger N, et al. (2013). Cryolipolysis for noninvasive body contouring: Clinical efficacy and patientsatisfaction.https://www.dovepress.com/cryolipolysis-for-noninvasive-body-contouring-clinical-efficacy-and-pa-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID
Savacini MB, et al. (2018). Effectiveness and safety of contrast cryolipolysis for subcutaneous-fat reduction.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6304526/
Stevens WG, et al. (2013). Broad overview of a clinical and commercial experience with CoolSculpting.https://academic.oup.com/asj/article-lookup/doi/10.1177/1090820X13494757

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Medically reviewed by Catherine Hannan, M.D. — Written by Erica Cirino — Updated on April 19, 2023

CoolSculpting: Does It Work? - Healthline

Fitness

How does it work?

Effectiveness

Common side effects

What are the risks of CoolSculpting?

Who does CoolSculpting work for?

How long do results last?

Is CoolSculpting worth it?

How we reviewed this article:

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