How Long Do CoolSculpting® Results Last?

The women and men considering CoolSculpting at our Pasadena practice typically are in good overall shape and want to tone areas where fat tends to accumulate, even though they exercise and watch what they eat. Most of the patients want to know how long the results will last and if they’ll need follow-up treatments in the future.

I’ll address those questions in this blog post, explain how CoolSculpting works, and discuss why in some cases liposuction may be a better option for fat reduction.

What Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is a groundbreaking, non-invasive fat reduction treatment that is unique because it uses cold temperatures, rather than heat, to kill fat cells. The targeted cooling technology used by CoolSculpting doesn’t damage the skin’s surface or tissues surrounding the fat cells. Applicators specially designed for specific areas of the body deliver the cold energy to stubborn pockets of fat.

The Results

CoolSculpting destroys fat cells, which the body removes through its natural metabolic process. So, once the fat cells are gone, they’re gone for good. In that sense, the results of a CoolSculpting procedure are extremely long-lasting. Some patients enhance their results by getting 2 CoolSculpting treatments and combining the procedures with Z-Wave treatments. Z-Wave delivers electromagnetic pulses and is more effective than the manual massage that typically follows CoolSculpting.

Most CoolSculpting patients lead active lifestyles and exercise regularly before getting the procedure. It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle because fat cells in other areas of the body will continue to grow. In other words, the results you enjoy after getting CoolSculpting can last as long as you continue watching what you eat and remain physically active.

CoolSculpting or Liposuction?

Patients interested in more extensive fat reduction may be better-suited for liposuction. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat through a thin tube called a cannula. It can create more dramatic results than CoolSculpting, but there is downtime for recovery that you won’t have with CoolSculpting.

As a triple board-certified plastic surgeon and the second physician in the U.S. (and first in Los Angeles) to use CoolSculpting at my practice, I can provide patients with extensive information about the procedure. We are a certified CoolSculpting practice, and I’ve conducted clinical studies of the treatment and published the results.

If you’re frustrated by isolated fat pockets that you can’t get rid of despite exercising often and eating a healthy diet, you can contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call our Pasadena plastic surgery practice at (626) 268-4524 to schedule an appointment.